Audio Question - Amplifier Hookup

[BigRed]

For any of you car audio guys, I need a little help. It's been like 15 years since I've wired an amp in so I have some questions.

I have an amp that I'm wanting to run both channels into one subwoofer. My memory tells me that I can run one channel's (+) to the woofer's (+) and the other channel's (-) to the woofer's (-). Is that correct? Also, I have a setting on the amp for 2 ohm and 4 ohm. Would I want to run 2 ohm with this bridged-mono setup?

Just to let you know what I'm doing. I recently bought some 2way Audiobahn 3.5's for the dash and 2 4x10 components (with crossovers) for the rear of my suburban. I plan on running those off of a new 50w per channel head unit and then I'm going to run a sub (not sure which yet) off of a 400W kenwood amp. I've already hooked up the mids and highs to the old crappy head unit I have and it already makes a huge difference. I can't wait until I have everything hooked up.

I'm currently going through a divorce and that's why I haven't been on in awhile. And that's also why I'm now starting to do some more stuff to my truck because I have more free time now.

[Low87]

Nice to see you back around! Sorry to hear about the family, you and Brandon running off together?

[BeerMonkeY]

how many subs and what is the ohm rating of the sub(s), it will be on the back of the sub. if its a single sub then just hook it up bridged, it shound say what terminals on the amp are the ones to make it bridged. also is it a single voice coil (1 set of terminals) or a dual voice coil (2 sets of terminals)?

[corn]

make sure that the amp can be wired mono. if its a stereo only amp you will fry it wiring it mono. also make sure that you have the subs wired to the ohm load you want to run. *see pic*...corn

[phantom dually]

almost any amp can be wired mono. What you have to watch out for is make sure that you dont run say a KENWOOD amp past 4 ohm mono. Most amp are only rated to run 4 ohm mono unless it is a high dollar amp or a mono block. If you had 2 subs that where 4 ohm each you have to run them with the kenwood at either 8ohm mono (series wiring) or in stereo. Essentially 8 ohm would be the same as 4 ohm stereo to 2 subs. Mono wiring would be best even though it is 8 ohm because the subs would hit at the same time. To run the kenwood with 2 subs you will need to 8 ohm subs wired in parallel or 1) 4 ohm sub.

[C-10volvo]

Originally Posted by cornfed63

make sure that the amp can be wired mono. if its a stereo only amp you will fry it wiring it mono. also make sure that you have the subs wired to the ohm load you want to run. *see pic*...corn

agreed.

give us some feed back on how thoes subs sound!!

[swervin ervin]

Damn, what's up with all these divorces?

[BigRed]

Originally Posted by Low87

Sorry to hear about the family, you and Brandon running off together?

Greg, if I was to run off with anyone, she'd have a lot more hair and a lot smaller waist than Brandon (no offense buddy). Although, from what I hear, B is getting alot closer to that smaller waist!

Originally Posted by swervin ervin

Damn, what's up with all these divorces?

I don't know Mike. I definitely never thought it would going through this. I just married somebody that hid alot from me and has never been honest. When you can't believe a word your own spouse says, it's really hard to trust and stick by them. Unfortunately, I have two young kids and that is the hardest part. However, I think they will see more love with us apart then they ever did with us together.

To the rest of you, thanks for the help. The amp I have is bridgeable and can be switched between 2 and 4 ohms. From what y'all have said, it should be fairly simple. Like I said, I've done this stuff before. I haven't bought subwoofers yet. My plan (because I'm on a budget), is to just buy one 12" and a ported enclosure. I'm not going for tremendous bass, however I do want some good sound. With only a 400W Kenwood amp, I probably will need to stick with the single voice coil sub because that's about all it could push. I'm currently looking at an Audiobahn and an MTX. I figured since all my other speakers are Audiobahn that maybe I should just finish it out with one. We'll see. I'll let you y'all know how it sounds.

[C-10volvo]

if you have'nt gotten the subs yet, check out this site. www.discountsjungle.com my friends and i have orderd a lot from them and they are top notch people