car audio buffs, I have a question for ya

[240sxspeedracer1]

hi, I bought a sony xm1600gsd amp.
now, it states that it is a 1 channel 1200w amp.
How come it has 2 slots for two speakers?
I have connected 2 speakers and they work fine, why does Sony state that it is only a 1 channel amp?
Also, I can't figure out how much power is being given to the speakers, there is no rms figures anywhere, can someone help me out please..

thanks in advance

[uiuc240]

The 1200 watt number is the amount of current the amp will put out at 2 ohms. The reason for the pair of terminals is so you can hook up two single voice coil subs...thereby getting you 2 ohms. One sub will be 4 ohms, and you'll get half the power (600 watts).

Make sense?

Eric

[240sxspeedracer1]

umm, Im not really too knowledgeable at car audio stuff.
How does one know if a sub is 2 voice coils or one?
Basically, I had my friend's dual kicker 12" subs connected to it and now none of the subs work.
Im just wondering if the amp messed them up or were they just on the way out cause I was using my 10" rockford fosgates and they were working fine.
So yeah, does it make sense to rock 2 subs with my amp or would it be better to buy one 12" or 15" kicker??????
Please help

[syco3d]

Are you saying that none of the subs (your two and the 12" kicker I'm guessing) won't work on YOUR amp? ...or they just won't work on ANY amp. If it's just your amp, check the onboard fuses and/or the fuse between the battery and amp. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any ?s ...if I can't figure it out I know people who prolly can.

[240sxspeedracer1]

I tried the amp on some 6x9s I had and it worked fine, and my RFs worked fine, but his speakers just stopped working and I was wondering if it was my amp's fault cause he beat the shiznig out of those speakers and they always worked fine, but then I conncted it to my amp and all of a sudden the speakers dont work.

And I'm still wondering about the 2 coil thing.

thanks

[mrdirty]

Originally posted by 240sxspeedracer1
umm, Im not really too knowledgeable at car audio stuff.
How does one know if a sub is 2 voice coils or one?

if u have 4 posts: 2 voice coils

[andrave]

www.elitecaraudio.com is a pretty good car audio site.
Your amp has two terminals wired in parallel, which will half the ohm load of the subs if you wire two subs. for instance, two 4 ohm subs will present the amp with a 2 ohm load if wired in parallel.
Dual voice coil subs, as the guy said above, have two sets of terminals, usually one on each side of the magnet. They also often are marked "DVC" somewhere.
As for the subs, well, if the amp works with other subs and not with those at all, I'd wager they are blown. Now, a possibility is that the kicker subs might be 2 ohms or something, which drops the amp down below its safe impedance, and its protection circuits are kicking in. If this was happening though, it is likely it would play the subs for a short time then drop the volume out as the amp overheated. It could also cut out suddenly.
You need to find out the impedance of the subs, which is measured in ohms.

[mrdirty]

Go get yourself a few basic tools; they'll save u a lot of time and money in blown parts:
-Multimeter
-Soldering iron
-Quick strip wire strippers (not the scissor kind)
-Shrink tubing
-Decent connectors

learn to use the multi, check impedence before hooking anything up (there could be an internal short in the sub which may either send your amp into protect or blow it and the sub)

[240sxspeedracer1]

If the subs have a problem, wouldn't the fuses protect the amp?

[b_dyche]

http://www.eatel.net/~amptech/elecdisc/spkrmlti.htm



Check that link for what wiring will give you what ohms... it's really comprehensible...

[mrdirty]

Originally posted by 240sxspeedracer1
If the subs have a problem, wouldn't the fuses protect the amp?

not always:
Running an amp @ impedence below manufacturer recomendations may draw a ton of power but may not blow a huge power line fuse; the circuits will just melt or an internal fuse will go (some amps have internal fuses like in my fosgate) or an external amp fuse will pop;

Also; if u hook up an amp backwards (posetive in negative side) some amps will be ruined; some will trip a protect circuit. Hooking up an older fosgate backwards will destroy it and void your warantee for instance.

It's a good idea to have someone w/ experience show u how to wire your first system, you'll learn a lot the easy way and you'll see how simple it really is...

[240sxspeedracer1]

Originally posted by b_dyche
http://www.eatel.net/~amptech/elecdisc/spkrmlti.htm



Check that link for what wiring will give you what ohms... it's really comprehensible...

wow, thats an awesome page. It actually taught me everything I needed to know. Thanks a lot.