Is doubling wattage very noticeable?
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=64789
Printed Date: May 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Topic: Is doubling wattage very noticeable?
Posted By: luckydevil
Subject: Is doubling wattage very noticeable?
Date Posted: October 21, 2005 at 4:06 PM
Right now I have a Kicker ix402 powering a 10" Kicker CompVR at 4 ohms. The amp is putting out 120 watts rms bridged and the sub sounds fairly good to me.
Now I am debating on whether or not to replace the amp with a JBL GTO that would be putting out about 260 watts bridged to the same sub.
I know that doubling power means a 3dB increase.
Now would I honestly be able to hear a significant difference between these two amps and the amount of power they put out to the same sub? 3dB just doesn't seem like a whole lot to me and I'm not sure if it will be worth the money for me to upgrade amps.
Thanks guys.
Replies:
Posted By: tcss
Date Posted: October 21, 2005 at 4:38 PM
120 RMS bridged is not a whole lot of power for most subs you're probibly beating the amp pretty hard. Not only will the doubiling of power give you more volume but it will give you the headroom to cover peaks. I would do it.
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Posted By: godblessdremil
Date Posted: October 21, 2005 at 6:52 PM
In loudness, no.
Posted By: tcss
Date Posted: October 21, 2005 at 7:25 PM
If 1 db is the smallest increase in volume a human ear can detect by definition, how is 3 db not louder?
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Posted By: auex
Date Posted: October 21, 2005 at 7:27 PM
I thought that 3 db is only a noticable differance that a human can hear. Could be wrong. Oh wait, nevermind
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Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: October 21, 2005 at 7:56 PM
It depends on where you start out. If you're starting with 1 watt, doubling will seem louder. If starting with 10 watts, doubling will bring the music to life and will seem much louder. If starting with 50 watts, doubling will start to hurt.... Headroom, as tcss suggested, is the benefit...because even talking sub power, the normal listening level in db's will be lower than what you're running now. With a well-balanced system, quality power components, and a car that is well-damped, you might just end up disappointed that you upgraded your sub's power only to find that you don't hear a difference because you just don't play it that loud. The key questions are: do you feel it is lacking something now? And would it make you feel happier to have a JBL amp? Is the sub enclosure on the smallish side and sealed (indicates more power could probably be used)? Or a box as large as the limits given in the specs? (...questions are just rhetorical...) ------------- Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: October 21, 2005 at 8:08 PM
3db is noticably louder. About 1/3 louder than wherever you begin. I agree, though, with the above point that the most important benefit from alarger amplifier is head room, meaning you can raise the volume farther before you begin to get amplifier clipping. If you really want things louder, it requires 10X the amplifier power with the same driver to be twice as loud. If you want deeper bass, build a bigger enclosure. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: luckydevil
Date Posted: October 21, 2005 at 9:27 PM
The box size is 1.48ft^3 (not including the port) and it is a slot ported box.
Posted By: boulderguy
Date Posted: October 22, 2005 at 12:57 PM
I thought 3db was double-volume? Or is it just double wattage? What db=double volume? I agree that the new amp will sound much better even tho it won't be much louder - headroom is key with bass.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: October 22, 2005 at 1:13 PM
10db = double volume. 3db = double wattage, same driver. 1db = the smallest change most humans can notice. Loudness is a logrithmic scale. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: boulderguy
Date Posted: October 22, 2005 at 1:22 PM
thanks - Db's always confuse me's.
Posted By: Blowntweeters
Date Posted: October 22, 2005 at 4:18 PM
i would upgrade your amp and get a second sub
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Posted By: tcbturbosux
Date Posted: October 25, 2005 at 9:52 AM
u, hu and a 3db gain.
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Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: October 25, 2005 at 10:00 AM
tcbturbosux wrote:
Posted: October 25, 2005 at 7:52 AM - IP Logged
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u, hu and a 3db gain.
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Uncle Gumby
Wow... a FONT of useful knowledge, and the rest of your responses (all three of 'em in the last five minutes) seem to be JUST as helpful. We try to be adult on this board, offering ACTUAL help, and whenever possible, we like to use proper grammar and punctuation. Please, we will welcome your input, but please make it helpful and concise. ------------- It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."
Posted By: Hornshockey
Date Posted: October 25, 2005 at 1:46 PM
so you're saying that post was not concise? I agree, the helpfulness is debatable, but if it was anything it was concise.  ------------- Life moves pretty fast; if you don't stop and look around once in a while; you could miss it.
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