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Sub and Amp Question. Power I need

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Old 08-25-2008, 06:24 PM
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Sub and Amp Question. Power I need

Hey, I need some help. I been putting together a stereo system. I bought kicker 2ohm dual voice coil L5 square subs. The problem is I thought by wiring them in a two ohm load. I could use a kicker zx400.1 amp. The subs are rated at 400 rms a peice. I guy told me that I would need a 800 or 1000 watt mono amp to run two of these subs together. Is their anyway of using this amp since I all ready bought it or am I screwed. Thanks any help is appricated
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Old 08-25-2008, 06:56 PM
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You could use the amp you have now, you would be underpowering them. So make sure you dont turn the gains up to high on the amp to send a clipped signal to them as this could damage the speakers. I would suggest selling the 400 and getting something a bit bigger say 600 rms - 900 rms @ 2ohms
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Old 08-25-2008, 08:07 PM
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or just buy another amp just like it and strap them ?.. anywho.. I wouldnt of bought kicker.. overated just like hifonic subs and pyle, etc the list goes on.. why would you need that much power to make a sub sound as good as one thats more efficient !? Don't get me wrong, kicker has a cool factor, but in the end your paying alot for the name and the high rms ratings. underpower them, youll be suprised how loud they can get..
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Old 08-25-2008, 08:26 PM
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I'm just worried about wreaking the subs. I was told under power can wreck the voice coils. I don't think I need to turn my gains up to get the sound I want anyway. So, If I just keep them down, I might be ok. Thanks for all the help. I'm kind of looking at the alpine pdx amps.
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Old 08-25-2008, 11:34 PM
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underpowering them doesn't wreck the voice coils. Cranking the gains does! usually what happens is not enough power= low out put. Cranking the gains = more output but lots and I mean lots of distortion which wrecks the voice coils. The gain is NOT a volume. Get more power than you need so you can keep the gains as low as possible.
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Old 08-26-2008, 02:21 AM
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Originally Posted by TravisP32
I'm just worried about wreaking the subs. I was told under power can wreck the voice coils. I don't think I need to turn my gains up to get the sound I want anyway. So, If I just keep them down, I might be ok. Thanks for all the help. I'm kind of looking at the alpine pdx amps.
it takes alot from both aspects to destroy a sub these days.................
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Old 08-26-2008, 11:09 AM
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Hey one more thought. I bought two 400 amps. Liv2ride mentioned straping them. I should be able to use both 400s and send the rca out from one amp to the in on the other amp? Correct? Just looking for a solution for what I have. I really didn't want to put three amps in but the 400s look small enough I should make them work. What do you guys think about that solution. Thanks again for all the help.
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Old 08-27-2008, 02:39 AM
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Originally Posted by TravisP32
Hey one more thought. I bought two 400 amps. Liv2ride mentioned straping them. I should be able to use both 400s and send the rca out from one amp to the in on the other amp? Correct? Just looking for a solution for what I have. I really didn't want to put three amps in but the 400s look small enough I should make them work. What do you guys think about that solution. Thanks again for all the help.
If you run the rca's from one amp to another you'll just be daisy chaining the amps to strap them you would have to hook the sub out put wires in series and I'm not sure those amps can be strapped could be wrong on that one though. If you have 2 400rms amps just hook one sub to each amp, and get a good dual ported box that's not common chamber and they should be loud. check my sig I get 139+db with a single 12 on 600-700rms. My cooworker has 2 L7's in a ported box doing around 145db on 1k rms. Allthough I do have to say it would be much better to just get one larger amp.
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