Sub and amp for the boat
- Thread starter BlueWaffle
- Start date
BlueWaffle
New member
Ok I think this is what I'm doing..
a dual voice coil sub with 2ohms each coil, wired in parallel to produce a 1 ohm resistance to pair up with an amp that pushes 500 watts rms at 1 ohm. Any issues with heat generation or anything running at max power and low resistance?
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products/details/p500x1bd
Pushing either a
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_5751P3D210/Rockford-Fosgate-P3D2-10.html
Or
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_575T0D210/Rockford-Fosgate-T0D210.html
a dual voice coil sub with 2ohms each coil, wired in parallel to produce a 1 ohm resistance to pair up with an amp that pushes 500 watts rms at 1 ohm. Any issues with heat generation or anything running at max power and low resistance?
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products/details/p500x1bd
Pushing either a
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_5751P3D210/Rockford-Fosgate-P3D2-10.html
Or
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_575T0D210/Rockford-Fosgate-T0D210.html
Last edited:
BlueWaffle
New member
Makes sense but since its in an open air cockpit, wouldn't raw power trump precise quality? Needs some serious db's in a boat...
That being said, I could run a fosgate p400x1 and push 400 rms. that's not max rms power for the sub though??
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JrStroker
New member
Just mount the amp in a well ventilated area or mount a fan to it to pull air off it.
The power series subs are HUGE. I'd stick with a P3. That is, unless you have the room and money for a T0.
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The power series subs are HUGE. I'd stick with a P3. That is, unless you have the room and money for a T0.
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jdc753
New member
You will be good with that. There is no noticeable difference in sound between a SVC (single voice coil) and DVC (dual voice coil) or 2ohm or 4ohm or anything. It just gives you options to tailor your system.
Also don't worry too much about that power rating and "pushing" it with max power. That rating has a big safety factor built into it. As long as you feed it with good clean power and don't clip the signal it will run with that 500w forever. I really can't image the that amp making a ton of heat, and if it were there is a thermal protect circuit inside that is designed to trip when the amp gets too hot. Not saying to put it on top of the engine or out in the sun, but pretty much any spot on the boat that is convenient should be good enough.
Honestly if done right you could feed that sub clean 800-1000 watt and I bet it would be totally fine on music. But this gets into the range of over fueling a truck and pushing EGT's you have to know what to listen for and how to control before the sub fails, but overpowering when done right is a good thing, but also you won't notice a difference between 4-500w. Rule of thumb is that raw output increases by 3db when power doubles.
This is truth, there is better quality when with the higher resistance. It is slipping my mind at the moment but I believe it effects THD or dampening factor, but I forget.
Now this is for a subwoofer and in a boat, so right off the bat it is less than idea where the overall resistance and sound quality difference really won't be audible at all.
Also don't worry too much about that power rating and "pushing" it with max power. That rating has a big safety factor built into it. As long as you feed it with good clean power and don't clip the signal it will run with that 500w forever. I really can't image the that amp making a ton of heat, and if it were there is a thermal protect circuit inside that is designed to trip when the amp gets too hot. Not saying to put it on top of the engine or out in the sun, but pretty much any spot on the boat that is convenient should be good enough.
Honestly if done right you could feed that sub clean 800-1000 watt and I bet it would be totally fine on music. But this gets into the range of over fueling a truck and pushing EGT's you have to know what to listen for and how to control before the sub fails, but overpowering when done right is a good thing, but also you won't notice a difference between 4-500w. Rule of thumb is that raw output increases by 3db when power doubles.
This is truth, there is better quality when with the higher resistance. It is slipping my mind at the moment but I believe it effects THD or dampening factor, but I forget.
Now this is for a subwoofer and in a boat, so right off the bat it is less than idea where the overall resistance and sound quality difference really won't be audible at all.
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1ohm 2ohm 8ohm etc does not effect sound quality. Its is just the impedance (resistance) of the voice coil. Matching it to a amplifier correctly is what's important.
For a boat I would get as high of quality class d or class g/h amplifier that matches the impedance of your driver(sub).
Personally I like to have an amp that is larger then needed so you have headroom. Think of it this way. Do you buy a truck with the towing capacity exactly matching your boat? Or do you get a nice superduty that easily pulls it and has tons of power on tap and doesn't struggle. Now when doing this you need to be cautious when you set your gains or have a professional do it. So your not driving the sub into its mechanical limits.
Also the impedance of a sub alone isn't the end result impedance. I know this may go over your head but a box and its instilation will affect it. For example, my sub is wired to 1 ohm (quad 4ohm coils) yet at across the curve it was anywhere from 6.9-1.6 ohm. Here is a rough chart from where I played with a frequency generator and a amp and voltage meter. Yes I was bored one day waiting on friends to show up to go on a lake road trip.
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For a boat I would get as high of quality class d or class g/h amplifier that matches the impedance of your driver(sub).
Personally I like to have an amp that is larger then needed so you have headroom. Think of it this way. Do you buy a truck with the towing capacity exactly matching your boat? Or do you get a nice superduty that easily pulls it and has tons of power on tap and doesn't struggle. Now when doing this you need to be cautious when you set your gains or have a professional do it. So your not driving the sub into its mechanical limits.
Also the impedance of a sub alone isn't the end result impedance. I know this may go over your head but a box and its instilation will affect it. For example, my sub is wired to 1 ohm (quad 4ohm coils) yet at across the curve it was anywhere from 6.9-1.6 ohm. Here is a rough chart from where I played with a frequency generator and a amp and voltage meter. Yes I was bored one day waiting on friends to show up to go on a lake road trip.
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jdc753
New member
Right, we have all been talking nominal impedance. Like you said impedance rise is well over most peoples heads, and just 1 example of why gear selection is only a minor part of an overall system and proper installation is the biggest key to good sound.
Quad coil is pretty rare usually just on the bigger SPL subs. Just curious what sub you are running?
Quad coil is pretty rare usually just on the bigger SPL subs. Just curious what sub you are running?
BlueWaffle
New member
Update: got the system ordered and custom box being made to fit underneat the left passenger chair. the sub is a Hertz HX250d pushed by a fosgate M750-1d. spent a little extra on the sub to make sure it takes the extra power and will still hit solid and clear. install is next week.
jdc753
New member
Sweet!! take pics!! Can't go wrong with Hertz.
I don't have any experience with boat systems, but I would imagine the open air environment and cruising/wind noise power is key. Even in cars systems I love about 1000 RWHP worth of wattage but certainly can't go wrong on a boat pouring on the power.
I don't have any experience with boat systems, but I would imagine the open air environment and cruising/wind noise power is key. Even in cars systems I love about 1000 RWHP worth of wattage but certainly can't go wrong on a boat pouring on the power.
Hertz is great gear. Open enviroments are hard and space that is direct radiating to the cabin is even harder.
I have a digital designs 3500 12.
I didn't order it with that coil configuration, it was on the shelf and they made me a deal on it.
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I have a digital designs 3500 12.
I didn't order it with that coil configuration, it was on the shelf and they made me a deal on it.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
BlueWaffle
New member
got the boat back last week and I'm happy with it. That hertz pounds with the right amount of power. still needs to be broken in but once it loosens up, it's going to make ripples on the water for sure.
