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They always wire them to a 2+ ohm load and overpower the the subwoofers for the cleanest possible sound. When you hear demo vehicles from all of the big car audio brands, they are never wired to a 1 ohm load. Wiring the subwoofers to a 2 ohm load is going to draw less current, the amp will run cooler, and the amplifier is not going to have to work as hard as it would if it was wired to a 1 ohm load. Now, most people don't drive that way because it is unnecessary wear and tear on the engine. You are getting maximum horsepower and output from the engine all the time. While not a perfect analogy, think of a 1-ohm load as if you are flooring the car everywhere you go. More current means more heat and more heat leads to more distortion. When you wire your amplifier to a 1 ohm load, the amplifier is pushing its limit with the amount of current it draws from your vehicle's electrical system. The case for 2 ohms: Less Current = Less Heat So, you can save some money with the cost of your amplifier by getting more amp for your money, if you will, when you power it at 1 ohm. The P1000x1bd will put out 874 watts at 2 ohms on the birth certificate. The P500x1bd will put out 787 watts of dynamic power on the birth certificate, and you will have more than enough power.
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You could run a P500x1bd at 1 ohm, or you could run a P1000x1bd at 2 ohms. Let's say you have a Rockford Fosgate subwoofer that can handle 500 watts. You can also save some money by wiring your subwoofers to a 1-ohm load. There is no substitute for power if you are looking for maximum volume and at 1 ohm, the amplifier will put out more power. At 1 ohm, you will get more power output from your amplifier and your subwoofers will play louder than if you wired them to a 2-ohm load. If you like loud bass, and you are trying to get maximum output for your money while also getting maximum output from your subwoofer(s), get an amplifier that is 1 ohm stable, and select subwoofers that will allow you to wire them to a 1-ohm load. Are you going for the best possible sound quality? Are you looking to maximize bass output for your money? Will your ear be able to tell the difference in sound quality? The case for 1 Ohm: Maximum Volume Unfortunately, the answer is "It Depends." The right answer for you will depend on the subwoofers, the amplifier, your budget, and what you are trying to do.
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This is a situation where they limit the current draw in order to make sure that the amplifier does not overheat and burn itself out. You might see 300 watts at 4 ohms, 600 watts at 2 ohms, and 800 watts at 1 ohm. Now amplifiers are not all the same and the circuit design is not always linear. But as we saw above, as resistance decreases, current increases, and therefore power increases. At 3 ohms:Īt 1 ohm we have 12 amps, 12 x 12 = 144 watts.Īs you can see, as you drop the resistance, the power output in watts increases. At 2 ohms:Īt 2 Ohms we have 6 amps, 6 x 12 = 72 watts. So from the equation above: At 4 ohms:Īt 4 ohms we have 3 amps. Since on a car, we will assume it is 12 volts and the vehicle is not running.
#4 channel amp to 1 dvc sub series
Additionally, on some amplifiers like the JL Audio HD series or the Rockford Fosgate Power Series, the output is the same at 1 ohm, 2 ohms, and even 4 ohms. The difference in the power output may be as little as 10% or, you might see twice the power at 1 ohm that you do at 2 ohms. The difference between a 1-ohm and 2-ohm will depend on your amplifier. Usually, subwoofers are wired to either a 1 ohm or 2-ohm load in order to maximize the power output from the amplifier.īut, is it better to run an amplifier at 1 ohm or is it better to buy the bigger amplifier and run it 2 ohms? The subwoofers you select and how you wire them will determine the impedance or load, that the amplifier sees. Then there are dual voice coil subwoofers with dual 2-ohm, dual 4-ohm, dual 8-ohm, or dual 1-ohm voice coils. There are single 4-ohm voice coils, single 2-ohm voice coils, even single one-ohm voice coils. When selecting your subwoofers and the amplifier to power them, there are so many choices.
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