i have a 1000w max. 2-channel amp. if i was to bridge that, the max i would be able to put to one sub would be 1000w, correct??? now, i if i was to turn the level on the amp only up halfway, that would put out the equilivent of 500w to a bridged sub... correct?? i only have a 600 watt amp, and i worry that i will blow it with my curiosity of seeing how loud i can get it...
so would i be safe to just turn the level on the amp up halfway, then blast my stereo??
understanding the operation of an amp
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Looneybomber
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Re: understanding the operation of an amp (xxcrashxx)
Umm...Simplistically speaking, I can't answer that. There are too many variables.
Things you have to take into consideration.-DISTORTION-The brand of your amp.-Voltage level of your preamp outputs.-Input sensitivity of your amp.-Power available from your charging system.-Impedance of your driver (subwoofer).
Now, don't worry what your driver says for how much power it can take, that's pretty much determined by the enclosure. For example, if you place that driver on the floor without being in any enclosure, it will not be able to handle as much power since it's free to move however it wants. If you place that same driver in a tiny enclosure, it will hardly be able to move and will be able to handle more power.
Small enclosures are not nessesarily a good thing. Ignoring frequency response, it will require you to supply the driver with more power. The more power you give it, the hotter it becomes. The hotter it gets, the more distortion and power compression you get.
***Here is a rudamentory way of setting up your system***-What you need to do is get a test CD with -0db level test tones and sweeps. -Turn every volume on everything down the minimum.-Press play and start to slowly turn up the volume until you hear some sort of distortion from your cars' speakers.-Back the volume off a tiny bit. Now your headunit is at maximum volume, which you will use as a reference for everything down stream.-Start to turn up the gain on the amp(s) until you hear distortion from the sub(s).-Back the gain off a tiny bit and now your amps gain is set.
If the sound is now too bassy, turn the bass or the sub output on the headunit down. If it's not bassy enough, buy another subwoofer or a bigger amp.
Things you have to take into consideration.-DISTORTION-The brand of your amp.-Voltage level of your preamp outputs.-Input sensitivity of your amp.-Power available from your charging system.-Impedance of your driver (subwoofer).
Now, don't worry what your driver says for how much power it can take, that's pretty much determined by the enclosure. For example, if you place that driver on the floor without being in any enclosure, it will not be able to handle as much power since it's free to move however it wants. If you place that same driver in a tiny enclosure, it will hardly be able to move and will be able to handle more power.
Small enclosures are not nessesarily a good thing. Ignoring frequency response, it will require you to supply the driver with more power. The more power you give it, the hotter it becomes. The hotter it gets, the more distortion and power compression you get.
***Here is a rudamentory way of setting up your system***-What you need to do is get a test CD with -0db level test tones and sweeps. -Turn every volume on everything down the minimum.-Press play and start to slowly turn up the volume until you hear some sort of distortion from your cars' speakers.-Back the volume off a tiny bit. Now your headunit is at maximum volume, which you will use as a reference for everything down stream.-Start to turn up the gain on the amp(s) until you hear distortion from the sub(s).-Back the gain off a tiny bit and now your amps gain is set.
If the sound is now too bassy, turn the bass or the sub output on the headunit down. If it's not bassy enough, buy another subwoofer or a bigger amp.