I have my kenwood KAC-9105D currently hooked to 2 shallow rockfords at 2 ohms supposedly playing 900w and I'm not liking it. my roommate has my one kicker L5 10" 450 watts out of my old truck playing at 400 watts and just plain blows my two away in every aspect. I am going to buy an L7 8"(biggest hat will fit) which is rated at the same 450w that the L5 10" is rated for. My real question is should I buy the 4 ohm DVC L7 which would run a 2 ohm load off the amp which claims would be 900w RMS for the 450w sub. Or should I buy the 2 ohm DVC L7 which would run a 4 ohm load off the amp which claims to be 500w RMS for the 450w sub. Thanks

 

Do you have those Rockfords wire in parallel or series?

Brad

 

http://a248.e.akamai.net/pix.crutchf...2-ohm_mono.jpg

 

I would run a 2 ohm final load, then you have some room if needed for gains

 

You should not run 900 watts to a 450 watt sub. You will need to keep the volume down to prevent clipping and possible burning of your voice coil so there is no point to the high power from the amp if you can't use it. Gain matches headunit to amp not amp to sub. A 2 ohm load will get you the most from that amp.

 

M'kay.

Are you wanting more volume from your setup or is the problem with the quality of sound (won't go deep enough, clips, distorts, etc)?

Brad

 

the shallow mounts really dont play the low notes like I wish they would and the volume is also lacking...

 

Sealed box or ported?

Brad

 

That isnt that much or too much for the sub. The reason for this would be to be able to keep the gains low and not clip the amp. Head room is a good idea. That amp may not be a true 900 watts. Even if it was, the lower the gain, less noise, less distortion.

 

And less use of your amp. Again gain is to match source to amp not amp to sub. Why buy a 100 gallon fish tank and only put 70 gallons in it? Headroom is a good thing but proper gain structure allows full use of your amp.

 

Well I beleive it depends on the amp. If your gains are cranked up you are taxing your electrical and with a good number of amps will show floor noise when the levels are set high. There is more than one way to skin a cat. I have had success with keeping the gains low, using amps that are higher than what the subs can handle. Then again I am hooked on jl amps and I havnt seen one with floor noise.

 

You match your gain to the source, of course, but only as long as it doesn't mechanically compromise sound via the woofer. You can easily clip an amp by turning the gain too high, but you can also clip the volume by playing the subwoofer too loud, which results not only in ugly sound but premature thermal malfunction of the woofer. Now that's not to say the gain is the volume control, but it's technically a limit when running more power than your subs call for. With the case of the OP, 2ohms or 4ohms will present with close to the same volume in his particular setup, with that being the case he's better off just going 2ohms to allow for better headroom so he can reduce the chances of noise, especially if he's going to be running multiple amps or miswiring something. And being that it's bass, chances are he won't hear the distortion between a 2ohm and 4ohm setup.

 

x2. I'm right there with you. I've learned the hard way numerous times that you are far better off achieving better sound by reducing the possibility of floor noise if you run more power and just keep the gains low. My next build I'll have my shallow Rockfords be run by either a T1000.1 or T1500.1 amp, just to run more power (while still sitting comfortably in my budget!).

 

Then the gains were not set correctly.

If your gains are set correctly you will not have a raised noise floor. I agree with both of you on headroom. It is better to have more power to keep you from turning it up beyond clipping with an amp that is too small for the job. That will damage the woofer as will having an amp that is capable of twice what the woofer can mechanically handle. It usually goes like this:
A buddy comes over and you decide to show off your new system and he cranks it beyond the safe point and all the magic smoke is let out.

Gain setting itself does not tax your electrical system. It is the fact that the amp is working harder that taxes it.
Bottom line is that a properly designed and installed system will not need bandaids to begin with.

 

Well put. Each system is individual with its own characteristics. This could turn into a huge debate like "which subs are best"......ive put my .02 cents and feel satisfied.