Getting creative with resistance

SMOKINV8 · 11-29-2005, 02:21 PM

My setup is going to be an auxiliary line into a HU, then from the HU out to the amp(s).

First I'll explain the "why's" of what I'm debating doing. I bought an ID8D2 sub, which is a DVC with 2ohm coils, but I bought it without thinking as I meant to run it at 2ohms. This leaves me with two alternatives. I can either eat the shipping cost and return and rebuy the correct sub, or I can try getting creative with my 3 channel amp and make it run at 2ohms anyway.

I'm planning on running an Xtant 403a 3-channel amp (page 7 for specs) which is rated at 50x4 @ 4ohms and 100x1 @ 4 ohms, but I plan on running it at 2ohms instead (exactly twice the power). Here's what a creative friend came up while we were discussing possible work arounds for my problem. He brought up running my components in parallel off of the mono channel and running the two other channels bridged on the 4ohm wire setup for the sub. This would put everything at 2ohms, and I'd get the power out of it that I'm looking for.

So, what am I going to be giving up if I do this? Will I give up any left/right differentiation for movies, as well as some sound quality difference?

MrPerfectionest · 11-29-2005, 03:04 PM

This is a horrible idea. You will lose your stereo image which is certainly more important than extra bass, unless you really are a basshead, in which case just do what you are going to do and ignore all advice here forward.

The difference in 100watts and 200watts (what your amp would do at 2ohm) is 3db. It takes 10db (the difference in 100watts and ~1000watts) for a perceived doubling of volume.

For most normal musical purposes, that 100watts will be plenty for your system to sound balanced. Again, if you are a bass fanatic and you like your sub to dominate the rest of your frequencies, then eat the shipping.

SMOKINV8 · 12-01-2005, 06:36 AM

The more I've thought about this, the more I agree with you. 3db is a pretty noticable difference, around 1/3 louder, but I'm not really going for a lot of bass.

At this point I'm thinking I may sell this amp and go with something with a little more power for my components though. I just want to avoid laying out and installing my amp, twice. Its all custom work so when dimensions change, it takes twice as long to make it look like factory again.

Thanks for the response.

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