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Old 11-09-2006, 10:05 PM   #1
Tonglebeak
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single amp vs. dual amps

Hi, right now I have a Sony Xplod 1000w amp (yes, the walmart kind, http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=4541643 , my budget=suck). It hits my Sony Xplod 1200w 12" subs hard, but the amp overheats way too easily and frequently (I have the amp bridged...)

Now, let's get this out of the way, I realize Sony isn't recommended, but my budget isn't great, so...

I was wondering this: should I get another amp (same kind), leaving a dedicated amp for each sub, or should I return this amp and purchase a single, more powerful amp from a different store like Circuit City?

My thinking on this is with the dual amp situation, I'll get the same boom with a lot less overheating, and then I can get more. Or am I not thinking about this correctly?

Again, my budget sucks, so let's say if I go the dual amp route, it'll cost a total of $300, so if a single amp is better, I'm open for suggestions up to $300 after taxes.

Thanks.
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Old 11-10-2006, 12:24 PM   #2
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Re: single amp vs. dual amps

Anything is better than sony. ANYTHING. My pioneer amp that i bought from wal-mart 4 years ago costs 10 bucks more than that thing did and is still delivering power today. You also may be thinking about the peak power and not rms power. These are the specs for your amp http://www.sony-mea.com/product_deta...InpProdId=6168
and i'm assuming these are the subs you have or something similar
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-12-Inch-1.../dp/B00025ELDU
Regardless, this tells me that your sony amp is definitely, positively NOT enough to power both which is why it's overheating. sell the sony amp, buy two good name brand amps from ebay and make sure they're not sony.
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Old 11-10-2006, 12:26 PM   #3
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Re: single amp vs. dual amps

it's getting hot because you have it bridged ...... and probably running to low of a load.
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Old 11-10-2006, 01:28 PM   #4
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Re: single amp vs. dual amps

So the amp is too weak to power my subs?

I don't want to go the ebay route for amps again, last time I did that the amp went up and smoke and it would've cost me $40 in shipping costs to get it replaced through the manufacturer's warranty. Any non-ebay suggestions you can give me? I don't want to waste my money again buying the wrong thing.
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Old 11-10-2006, 03:15 PM   #5
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Re: single amp vs. dual amps

It looks to me that it's too weak plus you said you were on a budget, which means ebay is the best place to go. just be a smart shopper. If your subs can handle up to 350 watts like the ones i found that matches your description then i would put in around 250-300 watts each so find something that works whether you get one or two (i recommend the latter). I think you should check out Profile as they are on the cheaper side and i think the AF regulars qualify their amps as at least average (which is better than sony).
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Old 11-12-2006, 12:56 PM   #6
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Re: single amp vs. dual amps

I just purchased two of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...0299&rd=1&rd=1

Please tell me this will be more than enough Thanks.
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Old 11-12-2006, 03:55 PM   #7
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Re: single amp vs. dual amps

if you wire them in 2 ohm you will be golden
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Old 11-12-2006, 04:46 PM   #8
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Re: single amp vs. dual amps

Awesome, one more question there:

Is there a tutorial somewhere that will explain how to wire the subs at a 2ohm load with dual amps?

Thanks.
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Old 11-12-2006, 10:47 PM   #9
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Re: single amp vs. dual amps

Once again..would have sold a Kicker SX1250.1 for 300 bucks with the SXRC. Maybe I'll drop it down to $250 shipped.
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Old 11-13-2006, 06:14 AM   #10
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Re: single amp vs. dual amps

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Old 11-13-2006, 01:58 PM   #11
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Re: single amp vs. dual amps

Got a small problem:

My xplod's are SVC. I can't seem to find a diagram on there for 2-ohm load svc woofers for a dedicated amp (my subs are 4-ohm svc)

Am I just going to have to run one amp and power them both off of it? I would really prefer to have dedicated amps if I could, but if not...
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Old 11-14-2006, 01:52 PM   #12
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Re: single amp vs. dual amps

this is from crutchfield, and i didn't see a svc 2 ohm setup in the list.
http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/le...rs_wiring.html
at the worst, if you ran an amp to each sub they'd get 200 watts according to the specs. your subs each handle up to 380 and they're in the trunk of an Oldsmobile so it isn't that bad.
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Old 11-14-2006, 10:02 PM   #13
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Re: single amp vs. dual amps

Gah, I know it isn't _that_ bad, but it can be better.

I have everything hooked up with the 200w/sub setup right now, and it sounds awesome, it's just I can't help but to think I'm running at just a bit over half power on those subs. (btw, the profile amps don't even get warm O_o)

Is there _any_ way to make this work? What if I hooked up a 4-ohm resistor or something to each of the amps, would that allow the 350w to get to the sub then?

And having said that, if that would work, where could I get a 4-ohm resistor at?
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Old 11-15-2006, 11:59 AM   #14
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Re: single amp vs. dual amps

why did you guys recommend two amps? it would have been much easier to get one bigger amp. like a hifonics bx 1000d or somthing. you will only be able to get 200 rms out of each amp since your subs are single 4 ohm.
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Old 11-15-2006, 02:29 PM   #15
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Re: single amp vs. dual amps

we didn't he just bought 2
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