Car Amp Basics: How Much Power?

This short Crutchfield video describes the basics of deciding how much power your amplifier should have when you're trying to match it to your speakers or subwoofers.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Crutchfield
• video
• car
• amplifier
• stereo
• power
• speakers
• subwoofer
• cea-2006
• rating
• basics

[Mississippiking03]

I have a question. I have 2 10 inch mtx jackhammer 4ohm 200 watts rms. I have a planet audio amp that says it puts out around 700 watts at 2 ohm. Can I hook this amp up to 4 mtx jackhammers or would it be wise to just go with bigger speakers?

[crutchfieldtv]

@Mississippiking03 Unless your amplifier is 1 Ohm stable, you would need to wire the 4 subwoofers in “Series/Parallel” to present a 4 Ohm load. In this scenario, you would get less wattage from the amplifier at the higher impedance. To get the 700 watts, you would need all four subwoofers to be SVC 2 Ohm models and wire them in the same series/parallel configuration to present the 2 Ohm impedance at the amplifier. Feel free to call for additional assistance: 800.315.0030--Crutchfield

[knottydreads86]

hi i have jl audio xd700/5 the amp pushes 300x1 rms at 2 ohms n i was thinking of of puting 2 10w3 which is 300 at 2 ohms or putting 1 12w3 500x1. any adivce on which one would be louder? i want it to hit.

[crutchfieldtv]

@knottydreads86

So, you are talking about a single 12" woofer with as much power as it can handle or two 10" woofers with less than half the power they can handle. I'd go with the appropriately powered single 12".

If you could give the 10" subs all the power they can handle then, they will move more air and hit harder than the single 12", the 12" might more accurately reproduce lower frequencies, but the two 10" subs will move more air.

Hope that helps,

CrutchfieldTV

800 315 0030

[FourthBattalion]

I have a 300rms 4ohm sub and want to use a 2 channel amp bridged for 300rms output at 4ohm is that ok or should I look for an amp that has some headroom. I just want to add some bass not wake the neighbor

Or should I be looking at mono amps

[crutchfieldtv]

@FourthBattalion

You'll have plenty of headroom with a good match like that. You are dealing with RMS power ratings, you know the impedance, and you matched everything up well, nicely done.

Headroom is when you get it pretty loud and "can still turn it up more." It's not directly related to how much power you have, but more the ability to turn it up more without distortion.

You'll be able to do that with your sub/amp.

CrutchfieldTV

800 315 0030

[scottbeaz]

@crutchfieldtv i have 3 jl audio 12w6's with a 500/1 on each.. jl audio has a xd600.1 but i'm told the 500/1 still pushes the subs harder.. which jl audio amp will get the best performance out of the subs??