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Using a resistor to simulate a voice coil

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=67567
Printed Date: May 12, 2025 at 3:12 PM


Topic: Using a resistor to simulate a voice coil

Posted By: j_darling2007
Subject: Using a resistor to simulate a voice coil
Date Posted: December 03, 2005 at 3:05 PM

I have on Infinity Reference 1242w 12" sub.  It is a dual 4 ohm model.  However, my box is built for 2 subs and I have yet to order the other sub.  Crutchfield has a 2 for one special on the 1240w, which is a single 4 ohm version.  I want to order the 2 1240w's.

However, my amp is makes 600watts rms @4 ohms, and that would make the subs see 300 watts a piece, if the amps sees a 4 ohm load.  Can I use a 4 ohm resistor in series with each woofer, and then parellell the woofers together to make a 4 ohm load?  Why or why not.



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There are 3 kinds of people in the world, those who can count and those who can't



Replies:

Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: December 03, 2005 at 3:12 PM
Sure you can but any gain in power is wasted at the resistor. So if you wire the resistor in parallel or series to a sub, the power would still be spread across the combined load evenly, resulting in a 50% power loss, 50% to the speaker, 50% to the resistor. You have gained absolutely nothing by doing this. A deal is always nice but in this case, buy the right sub as the deal is the wrong deal for you.

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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.




Posted By: j_darling2007
Date Posted: December 03, 2005 at 3:51 PM

Good point, I'll probably look around to see if I can find some. 

However, my amp is a 2-channel, producing 200 wattsx2 at 4-ohm.  If I go from 300 to 200 watts, i will have about a 1-2db drop right.  Do you think I would ever notice the difference (especially $100 difference)

Thanks for the help

Jacob



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There are 3 kinds of people in the world, those who can count and those who can't




Posted By: geepherder
Date Posted: December 03, 2005 at 6:18 PM
I doubt you'll notice the difference.

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My ex once told me I have a perfect face for radio.





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