Ok, I know I know..."Go search for the "this is pissing me off..." thread. I just need a simple answer for MY system. I just bought two Kicker solobaric 8" L7's...they're rated at 450 rms a piece. Now, I bought a 550.2 kicker amp at 275 RMS per channel @ 2 ohms (each sub is a 2ohm sub, btw). Now, for the question. If the preout voltage for my deck is 2.2 V at 1k ohm, and the amp is running 14.4V, will I need to turn the gain up or down? Due to the power ratings from the subs and the amp, is this "underpowering" the subs? Most importantly, if I tune everything correctly, will this hurt the subs in the long run? Thanks!

 

I have had similar setups.

You will have a difficult time hurting those subs. Its harder to blower quality speakers (like the L7s) with power than it is to blow them with not enough power. Power usually doesnt blow speakers, its an over worked FET amp that is clipping that usually blows speakers.

Depending on how you wire your speakers you can have 2 ohms (1 speaker per channel) or 1 ohm or 4 ohms. I would run 1 speaker per channel for a 2 ohm per channel load. That would be most efficient (actually 1 ohm bridged would be most efficient but if that amp is not 1 ohm stable, I wouldnt do it 1 ohm)

You have some nice quality parts there, I think you will be good to go. I would start out with the gain on the amp down all the way, turn up your head unit to a decent volume and notch up the gain on the amp until it sounds like you want it. General rule, if you go up past 3/4 gain on your amp and its still not loud enough, you may want to turn up the pre amp levels.

Good luck. I hope some of this helped. Im no pro but have been messing with car stereos for about 15 years.

 

"Power usually doesnt blow speakers, its an over worked FET amp that is clipping that usually blows speakers."


I'm not sure if I completely understand what you are trying to say, but is the overworked FET/clipping thing related to underpowering an amp and turning the gain up too much to compensate?

 

If you use your equipment within its design limits you will have no problems. Even if you connect everything properly, should you decide to act like your amp is more than what it is, there may be trouble. Remember that those RMS ratings are only about the capabilties of the equipment. It does NOT mean that your subs must be driven with that amount of power to perform well. Your combination will be fine as long as you use common sense with the volume ****.

Go to this site and read section 29 and section 63.

http://www.bcae1.com

 

You can probably find a cheap-o 1000 watt hifionics amp that runs at 10% THD. They get away with those super high claims because the amp is unwillingly putting out 1000 watts.

Your Kicker will be alot cleaner because it has power within its limits.

Its takes ALOT of low distortion power to blow a good speaker. The clipping, or amp distortion, is what blows speakers and is usually a biproduct of a low power amp with a claim higher than its clean running capacity. I only said FET (field effects transistor) because tube amps clip "cleaner" and have a pleasent clipping sound.

Im just saying that you have a good low distortion amp and I wouldnt worry about blowing anything. You amp is well matched (good power) with your speakers so there is really no issue of blowing or underpowering anything.

Good luck

 

awesome...that's all i needed to know...muchos kudos to both of yall!

 

the gain adj on that amp is 125mv-5volts in the low setting so I would suggest setting the gain no more than half way with your 2.2 volt out. Proper gain adjustment is always the best but to start with what you have thats what I wolud suggest.