Amp advice for a newb

[BigBL87]

Last year, my older sister bought me 2 Dual Subwoofers. I know they're crappy, but it's what I have, so I have to work with it. I just finally got around to buying a box for them, so now all I really need is an amp. I'm wondering how powerful of an amp I should get so as to maximize what I have without blowing them.

Here's a link for the info on the subs:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1059573942761

Like I said, I'm not looking for a "sell those and buy some other ones" response, as I know that's what would be best, but I don't have the money for that. Thanks in advance for your responses.

[alkemist]

You need an amp with at least 300 RMS power handling 150 + 150 are your subs. I purchased Rockford Fosgate (used) from ebay and am happy with it so far. I say look around online (if you consider saving money) to find something good at a reasonable price.

Go by the following chart:

Originally Posted by Diceman83

NOT RECOMMENDED:
-------------------------------------------
Boss
DHD
Dual
Jensen
Legacy
Optimus (Radio Shack)
Lightning Audio (lower end models)
Pyle
Pyramid
Sony
Soundstorm
Thump
Verge
Volfenhag


AVERAGE:
-------------------------------------------
Bazooka
X-site
MA Audio Visonik Cliff Designs (Anaba Group) (Execpt for high end amps)
Low end Alpine
Kenwood
Lightning Audio (high end)
Pioneer (minus high end head units and premier series)
Lanzar
Audiobahn
Crunch
MTX (minus amps)
Panasonic
Rockford Fosgate
Blaupunkt
Kicker (subs)
Alpine (low end subs and speakers)
Polk
Audiopipe
Concept
Cerwin Vega
Infinity
Alphasonik
Digital Audio
JVC


GOOD:
-------------------------------------------
Autotek
Hifonics (for the price)
MTX (amps)
Profile (price is AWESOME)
Pioneer premier and high end HU’s
Ma Audio, Visonik, and Cliff Designs high end amps (especially for SPL applications)
Phoenix Gold
Directed
Orion
PPI
Viper
Alpine (higher end subs and speakers, lower end head units)
Kicker amps
Avionixx
Alumapro
Audiomobile
Boston
Clarion
Crystal
Crossfire
Earthquake
JBL
Memphis
Soundstream
MB Quart


HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
-------------------------------------------
Alpine (higher model head units)
Cadence
Eclipse
JL Audio
Elemental Designs
Helix
a/d/s
Adire Audio
Arc Audio
Brax
CDT
Diamond
DD
Focal
Image Dynamics
Kove (borderline good/highly recommended)
McIntosh
MMATS
Morel
OZ Audio
PPI (old stuff before they were directed)
RE Audio (resonant engineering)
US Amps
Zapco
Linear Power
Incriminator Audio
Ascendant Audio
Stereo Integrity
Sound Splinter
Audioque
Xtant
Tru Technology
TC Sounds
Rainbow


BOLD means that this is a brand we talk good of frequently on this board and is within most people's price range. A lot of these products will be recommended.

[BigBL87]

This is one I had been looking at. Not listed one the Poor/average/etc. list.

http://www.hifisoundconnection.com/S...31232237236239

[pimprolla112]

It belongs on the average list.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Profile-Clarus-C...QQcmdZViewItem

I wouldnt put much more than this to those subs. 100 rms each should get them thumping pretty hard.

heres a new one not refurb for a little more

http://cgi.ebay.com/Profile-AP600-2-...QQcmdZViewItem

If you dont like profile

http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPINE-MRP-F250-...QQcmdZViewItem

Any of these are perfect for you application. I wouldnt give it more than 100 to be safe.

[dbfreak147.5]

i'm gonna have to agree with pimprolla on this one(dual subs are like sony decent but no body respects them) but i had one of their tens and blew it hooking up to a 600 watt amp so i wouldn't get anything bigger than 100 watts RMS, or get ready for a smoke show

[bjboertje]

you could go well over 100 rms with your amp, just know how to set gains. look at my sig 1500 rms amp to three 150 rms subs, going strong for over 6 months.
that way if you wanted to upgrade subs later you wouldn't need to upgrade the amp as well.

[BigBL87]

Originally Posted by bjboertje

you could go well over 100 rms with your amp, just know how to set gains. look at my sig 1500 rms amp to three 150 rms subs, going strong for over 6 months.
that way if you wanted to upgrade subs later you wouldn't need to upgrade the amp as well.

Problem being, I don't know the first thing about car audio. Replacing my 6x9's was about as complicated as I can get. I don't know the difference between 4 ohms/2 ohms (except that 4 is safer, I think), and I don't even know what gain is.

[bjboertje]

gain is the level matching knob on the amp. lots of people confuse it for volume, but it's not volume. you have to match the output of the head unit to the amp with the amp's gain. otherwise you will blow the subs.

[BigBL87]

Another question. Will I have to replace my stock HU? I'd prefer not to if possible, as I'd like to keep the steering wheel controls.

[bjboertje]

yes

[JunkTitleGolf]

He won't. He will need a line out converter. Since you are it sounds like electrically challenged as well as audio challenged...(not being rude or anything) but it might be easiest to take it to a Best Buy or something and buy one of their amps and have them install it for you. But that is just my opinion.

[BlasZ24]

No you dont have to replace the stock HU you buy an amp with a high level/speaker input. The amp would come with a connector that you would have to splice into the speaker wires for your rear speakers and hook the connector into the amp.

[BigBL87]

Originally Posted by JunkTitleGolf

He won't. He will need a line out converter. Since you are it sounds like electrically challenged as well as audio challenged...(not being rude or anything) but it might be easiest to take it to a Best Buy or something and buy one of their amps and have them install it for you. But that is just my opinion.

No offense taken, what you said is pretty much true. The Best Buy idea was what I was kind of leaning towards. I just prefer not to be screwed over if I can help it.

[BigBL87]

If I have to buy the amp at Best Buy, would this one work?
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1138083263869

It has the right RMS as far as I can tell, and it's a decent price.

Oh, and is this what you guys mean by a line out converter?

http://www.ebizenterprise.com/index....ID=23656&MMP=1

[PlayStation3]

i'm not a fan of sony but try this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1134701342982 it's rms is at the subs rms but thats at 4 ohms which the sub you have is so it should be like better