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iTrader: (1)

why would someone want to wire their subs to run at anyhting other than the lowest resistence??

like is there any reason why you would want to run at say 8 ohms?

zzzzzzz

iTrader: (5)

load on amp !
some amps can not do 1/2 ohms but you do not set it up to 32ohms
if i can i run subs at 4ohms for sq

AyZe

im gettin a sub i can wire to 1 ohm but im gonna go to 4, simply because i dont want to overpower the sub/clip the amp

smpl_gy

If your amp can handle a one ohm load, you can do it without any problems (unless your sub cant handle the power)...

JohnVroom

Amplifiers generally behave better when they are not operated close to their design limits. By behave better I am talking about speaker control and SQ.

By putting too large an ohm load you force the amp to put out a higher voltage to get rated power, by putting on a low ohm load you force the amp to put out a higher current. With a high ohm load you test the voltage production of the amp the low ohm tests the output current capabilities. The question is; was the amp made more for V or I production. A good high power 'voltage' amp will cost more and weigh less while a high I amp will cost a little more but have a lot more heat sinking to remove excess heat. A well designed amp should do both reasonably well.

You can tell a lot about an amp by looking at how it deals with low ohm loads, power should double from 8 to 4, 4 to 2, 2 to 1 ohms in a good beefy high current design. A good voltage amp (which is SELDOM seen in car audio) will be rated to higher impedances, but its power will not double into low impedances. A quick caveat, a cheep amp will also not double power into low ohm loads (that doesn’t make it a well designed voltage amp).

For SQ I tend to prefer higher impedances (*) the sub is more tightly controlled and responds a little quicker (less back EMF)

M.C. Ryan

Basically when you half the impedance, you half the dampening factor and the dampening factor is what gives you your "control".

I would suggest you spend some time researching and designing your system especially if you are going to be adding onto it later, this may save you from having to change things in your install later. It's never fun going to add another woofer later and realize that your amplifier cannot handle the impedance you are now running.