Amplifier + Subs. Help !

[bob_gti]

In my gti ! i have ..


A pair of 12" Pioneer TS-W306 DVC Subs

- Dual 4 Ohm Impedance
- Peak Power Handling: 1000 Watts
- RMS Power Handling: 400 Watts


A Pioneer GM-7300M amplifier

- Peak Music Power: 800 Watts
- Number of Channels: 1 (MONOBLOCK)
- Load Impedance Capability: 2~8 Ohm
- Continuous Power (4 ohm): 250W x 1
- Continuous Power (2 ohm): 360W x 1

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I currently have only one sub running off the amp because the amp simply isn't strong enough for the two subs. Its depressing having two subs in the boot with only one thumping!
My plan is to get an amplifier to pump both the subs to their max.

1. Can an expert please help me in deciding which amplifier i need to get?

2. How much RMS is being pumped into that one sub at the moment, is it 250 or 360W RMS?

3. If possible, can someone give me a neat explanation of the Watts @ ohms ... Like, with these subs am i meant to look only at the Watts @ 4 Ohms and ignore the Watts @ 2 Ohms?

Links to the specs of the subs: http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_529 ... 06DVC.html
Links to the specs of the amp: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/ ... s/GM-7300M

[[YLD80Y]]

The answers depends on how you have the coils wired.

[mickL]

You should be able to have both running, have a look at this wiring diagram. As already stated, the load your amp sees and power it puts out depends on how you have the subs wired.

Option 1 (parallel/parallel) = 1 ohm load
Voice coils wired in parallel, speakers wired in parallel
Recommended Amplifier: Stable at 1 ohm mono

2_4ohm_dvc_1ohm.gif (9.14 KiB) Viewed 22590 times

Option 2 (series/parallel) = 4 ohm load
Voice coils wired in series, speakers wired in parallel
Recommended Amplifier: Stable at 4, 2, or 1 ohm mono

2_4ohm_dvc_4ohm.gif (8.92 KiB) Viewed 22603 times

So you want option 2 which if Im right will have both your subs getting 250 Watts.

[Pauly]

Ditch one of the subs all together and load the sub still in the car at 2 ohm using the amp you have. 2 12's are overkill in a small hatch 1 12 set up properly will s**t all over 2 12's in sq and spl if you really wanted

[mickL]

Option as Pauly said

Option 1 (parallel) = 2 ohm load
Voice coils wired in parallel
Recommended Amplifier: Stable at 2 or 1 ohm mono

1_4ohm_dvc_2ohm.gif (7.23 KiB) Viewed 22581 times

[bob_gti]

Wow thanks for the detailed instructions I ended up buying a Digital Audio amp that does 800W RMS @ 4 ohms and it sounds alot louder than the Pioneer but i think i should get a better brand later.. but for now i'm just going to keep this one

[mickL]

No probs, just wire them up as per option 2 in the first post then.

Mick

[bob_gti]

Thanks alot mick, what would be a smarter act.. keeping the pioneer amp and having 250RMS at each sub or keeping the digital audio (crap brand) amp and having 400RMS at each sub ?

[mickL]

Not sure mate, Id usually go quality over quantity when it comes to electronics....

You will not likely use even close to the full amount of power you have with either amp, especially running two 12's, thats crazy you just wont need that much power for general music listening. I hope you don't value your hearing

I would probably run the pioneer but its easy enough to try both if you have them. If it was me I would keep the pioneer and run one sub at 2 ohm, 1 sub is plenty in a small car.

[bob_gti]

What about from the perspective of a bass lover? ;o
If my aim is to have more bass with maximum quality..

1. Pioneer on one sub at 2 ohm (360 rms?) or
2. Digital audio on both at 4 ohm ? (400 rms x 2)

[mickL]

That is a question only you can answer by trying both setups and seeing which one you prefer.

I personally don't think you need any more than 1 sub in a car as small as a GTI. I have had two 12 inch DVC subs running before and really its a bit much, I am a lot older now so maybe thats why I have changed my opinion I have changed now from 1 x 12 inch to 1 x 10 inch as well.

Your box needs to be built well and tuned properly as well so that could make a huge difference to the bass levels / sound with one or two subs.

I would spend more time / money getting a sub box built and tuned well and my front stage set up as well as possible as I think that will be far more noticeable, get good quality speakers and a good amp to run them and set them up right and with 1 sub that should be ample.

[bob_gti]

Your right but i'm still 16 and just want bass for now but i know that later on i'l most likely think the way you think

[Shazlic]

Your right but i'm still 16 and just want bass for now but i know that later on i'l most likely think the way you think

I was like you. I had 2 12" pioneer subs and swapped my 300W 2ch Pioneer for a 1600W 4ch Rampage just so I could run the 2 subs. You will find alot of new rattles and come to realise that with that much bass your wing mirrors and center mirrors are useless whilst shaking violently. But enjoy it while you are still young. I'm only 19 and I will be going back to having 2 12"s eventually but not have the bass cranked up and have them tuned in properly.

[bob_gti]

Are you going to customise your boot or just pop them in like i have them?

[Shazlic]

This is how I did have them previously in my 4dr barina (sold them and the box after I got a GTi):

Would like to do an actual proper sub enclosure next time and mount amps behind plexi glass so you can still see them. Can't see it ever happening but it's what I would like to do.

[bob_gti]

Mine looks pretty much the same as that except the subs are facing me and the speakers are drilled onto the sub box lol, no boot space for anything at all..im hoping to have some customisation later though

[JDGTI]

I'm with you. I love bass too . I am running 2x 15" soundstreams. Loud as [email protected] Just need to get my fusion splits in to finish it off.

[DeXtOrAu]

Your right but i'm still 16 and just want bass for now but i know that later on i'l most likely think the way you think

I was like you. I had 2 12" pioneer subs and swapped my 300W 2ch Pioneer for a 1600W 4ch Rampage just so I could run the 2 subs. You will find alot of new rattles and come to realise that with that much bass your wing mirrors and center mirrors are useless whilst shaking violently. But enjoy it while you are still young. I'm only 19 and I will be going back to having 2 12"s eventually but not have the bass cranked up and have them tuned in properly.

Oh the memories

[NickG13B]

Thanks alot mick, what would be a smarter act.. keeping the pioneer amp and having 250RMS at each sub or keeping the digital audio (crap brand) amp and having 400RMS at each sub ?

Dont be so quick to write-off cheaper brand amps. My g/f is using 2x Rockford Fosgate 10" subs off a "sansuai" 4 channel amp and we haven been told by a few people right into SPL competions that her stereo would be around 120-125 dB. Her whole stereo has cost less than $500..

[Pauly]

Thanks alot mick, what would be a smarter act.. keeping the pioneer amp and having 250RMS at each sub or keeping the digital audio (crap brand) amp and having 400RMS at each sub ?

Dont be so quick to write-off cheaper brand amps. My g/f is using 2x Rockford Fosgate 10" subs off a "sansuai" 4 channel amp and we haven been told by a few people right into SPL competions that her stereo would be around 120-125 dB. Her whole stereo has cost less than $500..

1x12" old fusion power plant = $50 6 years ago
1x400watt schneider mono channel amp =$100
1 MASSIVELY undersized box and I mean undersized! = $20 worth of mdf and screws

I pulled 130.7 db wired at 2 ohm in my soft top Sierra with the sub facing forward between the front seats.
Plenty of bass to give you a headache could have gotten bigger numbers but I couldn't be bothered building a suitable ported box

[bob_gti]

Haha wow that's pretty good, considering the money spent

But the cheaper the less quality!

[scotta1966]

i used to have 2x 12'' clarion subs that were alright but they were in a sealed box, then i went to jb hifi and got a 12'' pioneer champion series which which smash my old clarions. dose anyone know why that is ?

[Fyrestorm]

Yeap. Quite easy too if you think about it. The port hole pushes air out of the sub box which in turn, moves the air around the entire car. Hence why it sounds louder.

I used to have x2 12" pioneer champions in the boot of my car in a sealed box. Running off an avantgarde amp.
Now running one of the x2 10" Sony xplods off an option audio amp. It's a lot louder then my 12's, but at the same time, I've also deadened the boot hatch, the rear lights, and c-pillars. Still need to do dynamatting throughout the whole car.


Both my 10 and 12's were/are dual sealed boxes. Not sure if the 12's had a divider in it though.

[Rasputin]

If you hadn't bought everything already, I'd recommend the focal BUS25 under seat sub. It has a built in amp too. I have it under the passenger seat. My girlfriend loves it!

It absolutely pumps without sacrificing sound quality. Too much bass, and you cannot hear any mid and treble.