I purchased a complete system for my 2005 Focus ZX3 while on an extended assignment in Alabama. I'm now back in Ohio, so I can't drive over to the authorized JL dealer who sold and installed my system with this question.
Looking over JL's documentation, it says 3 ohm is not recommended for bridged channels with the A6450. See table on page 14 of manual. I'm looking for info on why this is a problem, and if I need to contact the dealer or JL.
System:
Alpine CDA-9857
JL A6450 ->
A6450 Manual
TR570-CXi (4)
Stealthbox (10W3V2-D6 wired for 3 ohm mono) ->
Stealthbox for ZX3 ;
10w3V2 Manual
System sounds great. I had one problem during the drive home - random loud thumps from the sub, at any time, any or no volume, not while driving over bumps. The problem is not present now.
Is the A6450 suitable to power my sub?
Thanks,
Steve
stevetireguy wrote:
Is the A6450 suitable to power my sub?
Absolutely.
I have an identical amplifer, the e6450... the differences between the amplifiers are cosmetic.
This I wouldn't worry about. JL's documentation is *exceptionally* conservative.. JL's equipment tends to perform better than they admit. If the wiring was going to damage the amplifier the protection circuit in the amplifer would prevent it from turning on and the little red light on the side would light up.
For several years I ran paralleled 4-ohm coaxials from the back channels of that amplifier... a 2-ohm load... with no problems what-so-ever. The amplifer is still an exceptional performer to this day.
Looking at your system you're still barely asking the amplifer for half of what it can do.
stevetireguy wrote:
System sounds great.
Looking at that equipment, I bet. Nice system.
stevetireguy wrote:
I had one problem during the drive home - random loud thumps from the sub, at any time, any or no volume, not while driving over bumps.
This isn't really enough information to go on, but it certainly doesn't have anything to do with impedence.
Nice job on the links to the owners's PDF's. No one ever does that without prodding.
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"I'm finished!" - Daniel Plainview
I don't know about that Jamie. He said he was bridging the rear two channels while you were running 2 ohm loads in stereo. The amp is only rated down to a 4 ohm load when bridged. This might be the problem.
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There is no such thing as free installation!
tcss]I wrote:
don't know about that Jamie. He said he was bridging the rear two channels while you were running 2 ohm loads in stereo.
Naww I was running the 4-ohm coaxials (VR series 6.5's, BTW, if I recall the DCR is a hair lower than 4-ohms) paralleled together, then bridged on the 5th & 6th channels of the amplifier for a net of 2-ohm mono, or 1-ohm stereo.
Actually, I never even caught that I hooked them up that way. When I was removing the coaxials to accomodate some mid-basses that would match an EQ that haemph hooked me up with.... I noticed how I had them wired. For two years the 6450 ran the beejezus out of these coaxials with nair a complaint at a lower impedence than our OP did.
I suppose if I were selling this stuff I probably would have done something for a net 4-ohm load on the rear-channels, but I still don't believe this would cause an issue with that amplifier.
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"I'm finished!" - Daniel Plainview
Following up, I checked with JL tech support. The guy I talked to didn't seem concerned. He also mentioned the protection circuit.
Even so, considering the fact that I'm nowhere close to the power my sub can handle, I'm tempted to upgrade. I could get a dedicated amp for the sub and keep the A6450 for the other 4 speakers, but I like the idea of a single amp in my small car. The StealthBox takes up almost no room at all, and I have the amp mounted to the back seat. I could almost talk myself into the 500/5 (not sure what the suggested retail price is). Of course then I would probably talk myself into something else, like components in the front...
Any other good single amp solutions that would supply the 10W3v2-D6 closer to 250 watts? It sounds great with the existing amp, but I imagine the sub would sound even better with more power.
Steve
The 500/5 would be an exellant choice. It retails for $899,95.
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There is no such thing as free installation!
stevetireguy wrote:
I could almost talk myself into the 500/5 (not sure what the suggested retail price is). Of course then I would probably talk myself into something else, like components in the front...
While the 500/5 is an *amazing* amp, I think this would be a fairly absurd upgrade in your position for about 20 reasons, the least of which is the $900 price tag. Believe it or not, the extra 100 or so watts on the 5th channel is *not* going to sound much different than the setup your running now. It *might* be ~1.5 - 2db louder..
Match the 6450 with the smaller JL monoblock.
https://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_amps.php?amp_id=399
Then bridge your front channels so your running 150x2 to your front speakers, and run the rears off the 5th and 6th channels.
stevetireguy wrote:
Of course then I would probably talk myself into something else, like components in the front...
You have no idea how good JL componets sound running off 150 watts. Do it.
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"I'm finished!" - Daniel Plainview