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probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 7:27 pm
by destinationtoby
picked this up the other day. i have one sub and i want to run it with the one amp, i figured this would be powerfull enough as its a one channel mono block and the one sub is the only thing ill be running thru it. ive pointed out the area that is confusing me. the sub has TWO CONNECTIONS, positive and negative. the amp has FOUR, two of each + - . can someone please explain how i wire it. (ignore the wires i have there please). i figured ignore two and conect it to the sub, but i deadset have too turn the stereo up fullball to hear it running. i dont want to have it shaking the car and gettin all the highschool kids attention. but i want to have bass coming from sub and the rest from speakers. simple right? :scratch:
it "seems" as though the four connections is for running two subs, but it cant be right because i was told that it is a mono block amp specifically for running ONE sub! right?? right

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 8:23 pm
by Taz
First problem - its a fusion amp :cheeky:

What you do is split the wires into two and screw them down into both terminals, as in spit the positive into two even branches of wire and screw each branch down to their respective terminals.
You will need to 'tune' your amp too - there will be knobs/dials somewhere on the amp you need to fiddle with to get the sound you want right - wire it ll back up correctly, read your instruction manual for recommended settings etc and then start fiddling to get the best sound to your taste.

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 8:26 pm
by Vectose
It's a little more complicated than that Taz. :lol:

If the sub has 4 connections it is a DVC sub. (Dual Voice Coil). You need to find out what impedance the sub is (usually 2ohm or 4ohm) and wire the subs in either parallel or series.

If wiring in parallel you wire the positive wire from the amp to both positive posts on the sub and the negative wire from the amp to both negative posts on the sub.

If wiring in series, the positive wire from the amp would go to the positive post of one coil on the sub and the negative would go to the other coil of the sub, you would then connect a wire between the remaining two posts on the sub.

You also need to find out what impedance your amp is stable at.

If your sub is 2ohms per coil you can either run it at 4ohms (series) or 1ohm (parallel).
If it is 4ohms you can either run it at 2ohms (parallel) or 8ohms (series).

And when tuning your gains, find a song that you know well, set the gain on the amp all the way down, set your head units EQ to flat, turn your head units volume to about 3/4 of the way up, then SLOWLY increase the gain on the amp until you start to hear the sub distort and then back it up a little.

From now on you should never put your head units volume to more than what you had while tuning it.

If the sub has crossover dials you can have a play with those to get the sound you want.

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 10:23 pm
by silverGPX
Ignore vectose, maximum gain for maximum respect :lol:

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 10:28 pm
by Vectose
He said he doesn't want to get the high school kids attention Silver. :lol:
destinationtoby wrote:i dont want to have it shaking the car and gettin all the highschool kids attention
I always chuckle when I see someone blasting their music at full volume thinking it sounds good when it actually sounds like crap and their speakers are distorting.

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 10:42 pm
by silverGPX
What if its loud and clear?

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 10:45 pm
by Vectose
I said when it sounds crap.

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 10:51 pm
by destinationtoby
Taz wrote:What you do is split the wires into two and screw them down into both terminals, as in spit the positive into two even branches of wire and screw each branch down to their respective terminals..


Thank you :cheers:

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 10:58 pm
by silverGPX
This is pure noob wiring fail.

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 11:00 pm
by Vectose
If your sub is 2ohms per coil and your amp is only stable at 2ohms and you wire it as Taz stated (parallel) it will equate to 1ohm and your amp will usually go into protect mode, or it will overheat and blow up.

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 11:05 pm
by destinationtoby
Vectose wrote:If your sub is 2ohms per coil and your amp is only stable at 2ohms and you wire it as Taz stated (parallel) it will equate to 1ohm and your amp will usually go into protect mode, or it will overheat and blow up.
Sub has only one positive nd one negative connection? That's all I know lol I don't really wanto blow it up though :|

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 11:07 pm
by destinationtoby
silverGPX wrote:This is pure noob wiring fail.

Ok yea ill try that, thanks man :thumleft: :thumright:

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 11:23 pm
by Vectose
Well then all you have to do is connect your subs positive and negative to one set of terminals on the amp. There are four terminals on the amp to make it easier to connect two coils, both sets of terminals are connected to each other inside the amp.

Once this is done, do as I said to adjust the gain to make it louder.

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 9:55 am
by PHIL069
I was going to put in my 2c worth, then thought........Nahhh :twisted:

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 6:13 pm
by ObsidianRadio
Taz wrote:First problem - its a fusion amp :cheeky:
What's your issue with Fusion? I've had a Fusion amp for 4 years now, have been running rather powerful systems off it single handedly at some points and it's still reliable as f**k today! Haven't even had to replace a fuse!

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 6:15 pm
by Taz
Ive always known people with fusion amps and subs that have been of stupidly poor quality - especially the cheap fusion subs. Never trusted em really, probably unwaranted but meh - i prefer my kicker, always have and always will.

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 2:00 am
by ObsidianRadio
Taz wrote:Ive always known people with fusion amps and subs that have been of stupidly poor quality - especially the cheap fusion subs. Never trusted em really, probably unwaranted but meh - i prefer my kicker, always have and always will.
My sound system consists of so many brands :lol: Kicker 6X9s, Clarion front splits, Orion Amp, Fusion amp, Pioneer subs, Sony head unit... 8O

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 9:31 pm
by KyzPride
Good god. Can't get subs to work. Pretty sure everythings wired correctly
Everything is new checked fuses lol. Idk. :(

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 9:42 pm
by silverGPX
KyzPride wrote:Good god. Can't get subs to work. Pretty sure everythings wired correctly
Everything is new checked fuses lol. Idk. :(
I'll fix it Kylieeeeeeeee

Re: probably a stupid amplifier question!

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 11:19 pm
by destinationtoby
KyzPride wrote:Good god. Can't get subs to work. Pretty sure everythings wired correctly
Everything is new checked fuses lol. Idk. :(
It'll be something minor dw