Expert: Cleggsan - 3/27/2010

Question
QUESTION: how do i wire two dvc 2ohms subs together so that i end up with a 2 ohm load for my mono amp? is there a picture that i can look at to make sure i do it correct?

ANSWER: Go to:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-spLZ6jqIXhY/learn/learningcenter/car/subwoofers_wir

and choose the diagram that fits your need.  Probably this one:

http://a248.e.akamai.net/pix.crutchfield.com/ca/learningcenter/car/subwoofer_wir

Let me know if there is more to know.





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: what would happen if i was underpowering subs..i have a 1600 mono amp and im thinking about getting two subs that are 1400 watts a piece so thier total combined will be 2800 watts..will that be bad for the subs or the amp? if so how many watts combined for a pair should i use on that amp?  the subs are 700wrms a piece and the amp is 800wrms at 2 ohms..

Answer
You cannot "underpower" the subs.  They may not reach the same SPL but you can power them with as low as 5 watts, if you want to.

I think you are confused about amplifier power and speaker power ratings.  Speaker power ratings don't mean much as they are pretty much fiction made up by the advertising and marketing departments.  And power is non-linear. That is check this out:  If you want to double the power to the speakers that turns out to be 3db increase in audio.  But, for the human ear it takes 2 db to perceive a change in loudness.  So, with 3db it would be just a little more than perceivable.   And, to increase the loudness so that it sounds twice as loud it takes about 9db increase.  However, 10db takes 100 times the power!

So, the changes you are talking about are not going to make big, really big differences in how it sounds.

For example if you changed out the speakers for ones that are 3db more sensitive it would be equivalent to doubling the amplifier power.

And your increase from 1600w to 2800 watts will be barely perceptible; maybe not at all.

That is my opinion.  Sorry.