too much power?
Thread Starter
0 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 30
too much power?
okay so ive got my system all setup, Kenwood KAC-8104D 1000w max and 500w rms at 2 ohms, with 2 10" MTX thunders 750w max and 250w rms. its in a bassworx ported box. Now in my head unit i listen to it with the super bass equalizer with bass set at its lowest 0, (ranges 0-6) and the bass setting on the amp is farely low, i listen to it at a high volume, just wondering if im on the verge of blowing my subs or overpowering them. just worried thats all
500 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 723
You're fine with that. No worries.
If your 2 subwoofers are wired to present a 2 ohm load to that amp, then the amp will send 500W to your subwoofers. Each will get 250W, which is the RMS for the subs, as you've stated.
When you say the "bass setting on the amp is fairly low", or you referring to the gain, or the bass boost?
T4510-04 <<< I'm going to venture a guess that this is the model # of your subs? If so, they should be wired in parallel to create a 2 ohm load.
The only suggestion I would make is to lose that Bassworx box (sell it?). The reason is that generic boxes are just that, generic. Sort of a one size fits all - the problem is that the internal volume of these boxes are not necessarily the optimum (or manufacturer recommended) volume for your particular subs. Having a custom box built to the specifications suggested for your subs can greatly enhance their ability to play good bass for you.
With that said, what prompts you to worry that you're damaging your subs? Do they sound a little 'off'? I would suggest turning the gains to minimum, and the bass boost off, if possible, or at least to minimum as well. Set your head unit's EQ to Flat too. Then with the volume up to your normal listening level, bring only the gain on the amplifier up so that the bass sounds good. If this is the only audio upgrade you've made, I wouldn't suggest pounding out too much bass, not because its bad for your woofers, but because they drone out the music the rest of your speakers are playing.
Also, not using the Bass Boost should allow the bass to meld with the music, not be a 'thing' all on its own.
Hope that puts your mind at ease a little.
If your 2 subwoofers are wired to present a 2 ohm load to that amp, then the amp will send 500W to your subwoofers. Each will get 250W, which is the RMS for the subs, as you've stated.
When you say the "bass setting on the amp is fairly low", or you referring to the gain, or the bass boost?
T4510-04 <<< I'm going to venture a guess that this is the model # of your subs? If so, they should be wired in parallel to create a 2 ohm load.
The only suggestion I would make is to lose that Bassworx box (sell it?). The reason is that generic boxes are just that, generic. Sort of a one size fits all - the problem is that the internal volume of these boxes are not necessarily the optimum (or manufacturer recommended) volume for your particular subs. Having a custom box built to the specifications suggested for your subs can greatly enhance their ability to play good bass for you.
With that said, what prompts you to worry that you're damaging your subs? Do they sound a little 'off'? I would suggest turning the gains to minimum, and the bass boost off, if possible, or at least to minimum as well. Set your head unit's EQ to Flat too. Then with the volume up to your normal listening level, bring only the gain on the amplifier up so that the bass sounds good. If this is the only audio upgrade you've made, I wouldn't suggest pounding out too much bass, not because its bad for your woofers, but because they drone out the music the rest of your speakers are playing.
Also, not using the Bass Boost should allow the bass to meld with the music, not be a 'thing' all on its own.
Hope that puts your mind at ease a little.
Thread Starter
0 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 30
yea im talkin about the bassboost level, and not meaning to sound like an idiot but what setting would the gain be on my amp, its not titled gain on mine, probably a dumb question . and i agree with the box idea too, im thinking when spring hits il make one to fit the subs specs.
500 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 723
Gain my also be referred to as "Input Sensitivity", and looks like that's what they call it on your amp. Turning that dial counter-clockwise is minimum - 5V position. I'm having a hard time finding a clear picture of that side of the amp. Usually they go from 5V to .02V, or something like that.
From what I can find on your Pioneer Head-Unit its sending out a 4V signal. Which is good. Since the source signal is already quite strong you don't need the amplifier to be too sensitive to it, so you can probably set the "input sensitivity" dial to the 9 o'clock position and have it work really well. If your head-unit only sent out a 2V signal, as some do, then you'd want the amplifier to be more sensitive to a weaker signal to keep your volume. The problem with weaker H.U signal being sent to the amp is that by increasing the gain (input sensitivity) to compensate, you can actually induce extra "noise" created by the amp's process of boosting that signal, which isn't desirable. On a mono subwoofer amp, that's probably not too much of an issue.
Any other questions? None of them are dumb.
From what I can find on your Pioneer Head-Unit its sending out a 4V signal. Which is good. Since the source signal is already quite strong you don't need the amplifier to be too sensitive to it, so you can probably set the "input sensitivity" dial to the 9 o'clock position and have it work really well. If your head-unit only sent out a 2V signal, as some do, then you'd want the amplifier to be more sensitive to a weaker signal to keep your volume. The problem with weaker H.U signal being sent to the amp is that by increasing the gain (input sensitivity) to compensate, you can actually induce extra "noise" created by the amp's process of boosting that signal, which isn't desirable. On a mono subwoofer amp, that's probably not too much of an issue.
Any other questions? None of them are dumb.
Thread Starter
0 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 30
Yea i think that is what it is called because i do remember the 5V to .02V on one of the dials, okay thats good to know about the head unit to i didnt know that, and thats good for now thanks alot, if i have any other problems il start up another thread lol
You're fine with that. No worries.
If your 2 subwoofers are wired to present a 2 ohm load to that amp, then the amp will send 500W to your subwoofers. Each will get 250W, which is the RMS for the subs, as you've stated.
When you say the "bass setting on the amp is fairly low", or you referring to the gain, or the bass boost?
T4510-04 <<< I'm going to venture a guess that this is the model # of your subs? If so, they should be wired in parallel to create a 2 ohm load.
The only suggestion I would make is to lose that Bassworx box (sell it?). The reason is that generic boxes are just that, generic. Sort of a one size fits all - the problem is that the internal volume of these boxes are not necessarily the optimum (or manufacturer recommended) volume for your particular subs. Having a custom box built to the specifications suggested for your subs can greatly enhance their ability to play good bass for you.
With that said, what prompts you to worry that you're damaging your subs? Do they sound a little 'off'? I would suggest turning the gains to minimum, and the bass boost off, if possible, or at least to minimum as well. Set your head unit's EQ to Flat too. Then with the volume up to your normal listening level, bring only the gain on the amplifier up so that the bass sounds good. If this is the only audio upgrade you've made, I wouldn't suggest pounding out too much bass, not because its bad for your woofers, but because they drone out the music the rest of your speakers are playing.
Also, not using the Bass Boost should allow the bass to meld with the music, not be a 'thing' all on its own.
Hope that puts your mind at ease a little.
If your 2 subwoofers are wired to present a 2 ohm load to that amp, then the amp will send 500W to your subwoofers. Each will get 250W, which is the RMS for the subs, as you've stated.
When you say the "bass setting on the amp is fairly low", or you referring to the gain, or the bass boost?
T4510-04 <<< I'm going to venture a guess that this is the model # of your subs? If so, they should be wired in parallel to create a 2 ohm load.
The only suggestion I would make is to lose that Bassworx box (sell it?). The reason is that generic boxes are just that, generic. Sort of a one size fits all - the problem is that the internal volume of these boxes are not necessarily the optimum (or manufacturer recommended) volume for your particular subs. Having a custom box built to the specifications suggested for your subs can greatly enhance their ability to play good bass for you.
With that said, what prompts you to worry that you're damaging your subs? Do they sound a little 'off'? I would suggest turning the gains to minimum, and the bass boost off, if possible, or at least to minimum as well. Set your head unit's EQ to Flat too. Then with the volume up to your normal listening level, bring only the gain on the amplifier up so that the bass sounds good. If this is the only audio upgrade you've made, I wouldn't suggest pounding out too much bass, not because its bad for your woofers, but because they drone out the music the rest of your speakers are playing.
Also, not using the Bass Boost should allow the bass to meld with the music, not be a 'thing' all on its own.
Hope that puts your mind at ease a little.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the standard Bassworks Dual 10" box is only 1.1cuft per driver and your subs recommended ported box size is 1.45cuft per sub. It's a real pain adding volume to a box (anyone seen my MDF stretcher lately?....
) so it looks like selling the box is going to be your best option. The subs and amp are actually a nice combination power-wise.........use the $50 you get for the Bassworks box to buy some MDF and get some help on here with a design for a proper box for those subs. You'll probably be a lot more impressed with the output once you get them into the right size enclosure......
Thread Starter
0 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 30
yea im gonna build one this spring , got a whole woodshop to work in. the subs come with a diagram on buliding a single ported box so i dont know if i should just make two or how would i combine it into one or is there a better way to do it then what the manufacturer sends out?
I would start with the MTX specs.....throwing up a post in the enclosures section might get you a reply from someone else who has used those subs before and can share their results.......you could build 2 separate boxes and bolt them together but it's a waste of wood.....you can just combine the volumes into one.....
HTH
HTH
Last edited by BigRedGuy; Jan 14, 2009 at 04:06 PM. Reason: Putting in a link.....:D
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