So I recently bought a used amp, a Pioneer GM-X862.I also just bought a new 12" DVC sub, the Infinity Reference 1252wNow, since this is a dual voice coil sub, I can either get a 2ohm or 8ohm impedance.Here are two examples of what I could do:http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/ca/learningcenter/car/subwoofer_wiring/1DVC_4-ohm_mono.jpgORhttp://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/ca/learningcenter/car/subwoofer_wiring/1DVC_4-ohm_2ch.jpgHere are my amp specs:Maximum power output --- 250 W × 2 / 760 W × 1Continuous power output ---125 W × 2 (at 14.4 V, 4 Ω, 20 — 20,000 Hz, 0.08% THD)380 W × 1 (at 14.4 V, 4 Ω, 20 — 20,000 Hz, 0.8% THD)190 W × 2 (at 14.4 V, 2 Ω, 20 — 20,000 Hz, 0.8% THD)Load impedance --- 4 Ω (2 — 8 Ω allowable)(Bridge connection: 4 — 8 Ω allowable)What would be the best way to wire my DVC sub up to this amp to get the most power out of it? Would putting the DVC in parallel (2ohm imped.) and putting it on channel one be the best? Am I able to do that, only bridge it (or can I not bridge a 2 ohm imped?)?Thanks for any help!
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Also, what if I hook up one coil to channel one, and the second coil to channel two? Is that a big NO-NO? The gain would match, and I could have both channels be from same input...
Edit2: Since my sub spec says "power range: 60-300 watts RMS (150 watts per voice coil)", if my amp says 190W, will that be to each coil, or a total to both coils?
First of all, great first post! You included all relevant model numbers, links, and specifications, something very rare for a first any post!
mbowen89:Would putting the DVC in parallel (2ohm imped.) and putting it on channel one be the best? Am I able to do that, only bridge it (or can I not bridge a 2 ohm imped?)?
That amp is not stable at 2ohms bridged to 1channel. You can run it at 4 or 2ohms in 2ch mode, or 4ohms in bridged mode.
mbowen89:Also, what if I hook up one coil to channel one, and the second coil to channel two? Is that a big NO-NO? The gain would match, and I could have both channels be from same input...
It isn't necessarily a "NO-NO" if you take the right precautions, but definitely not my first recommendation. You will need to sum the RCA inputs so each channel receives the same signal. The easiest way to accomplish this is with two sets of Y adapters back to back. The first set will combine the two separate RCA signals together, while the second set splits the new signal for the amp inputs. (Depending on your HU, it may have a dedicated sub preout that already does this for you, but YMMV.)
mbowen89:Edit2: Since my sub spec says "power range: 60-300 watts RMS (150 watts per voice coil)", if my amp says 190W, will that be to each coil, or a total to both coils?
If you don't want to change any of the equipment that you have, your two choices will be running each voice coil off a separate channel or bridged at 8ohms. Wiring each voice coil on a separate channel will give you 125W RMS per channel, or 250W RMS total fed to a 300W RMS sub; not a bad match. I don't usually recommend running voice coils on different channels of an amp (especially an older or cheap one) due to the inherent signal differences between the channels, but if you take the aformentioned precautions, you should be fine. Running at 8ohms bridged would be better for stability, but not sure about the power output at 8ohms.
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For my rear speakers for example, either way I wire them up, they still seem to work normally. Does a speaker wired up black-to-red sound different than red-to-red for example?
I reversed the wires that were going from my right rear speaker into the line converter, then turned both knobs on the line converter to the right (should be all the way on). No bass. I unplug one of the RCA's (red I think) and I get bass.
Now, when the pan is centered I get full bass, like it should. Panning left or right doesn't change it much at all... so that is fixed. But I only have one RCA input plugged in to get it to work now...
I'm not sure why it is using only one RCA ....
To clarify what J Ro said - speakers are polarized, they move in or out when Direct Current (DC) is applied. However, amplifier output is alternating current (AC) and music is sine-waves, so in reality the speaker vibrates and phase doesn't really matter unless one is connected different from the corresponding speaker and then you get cancellation effects.
Hope This Helps!!!
2002 Ford Focus Sony CDX-GT410u Sony XT-100HD HD Tuner Stock speakers, no amp, no subs
Does that help you guys? Does that mean I only need one RCA input then? Here's the thing. If I only have one RCA in, I can adjust the head units pan all the way left or right and still get bass. Is that because my line converter is still spliced into both channels? I have to have one channels adjustment all the way left, the other all the way right to get sound at all for my sub.
Forgot to mention something earlier ....
No, the image doesn't mean you only need one RCA input then. (Manual does not show this, but with a single sub hooked up to the amp, the sub should play (at maybe 3/4 volume) with only one RCA connected - but volume should vary with the fader control then).
The left to right fader losing bass in the center clearly suggested that the phase was incorrect (although usually you would only see this with multiple speakers).
WIth only one RCA connected, you should only hear bass with the HU faded fully left or fully right and no bass fully the other way. (Even with both channels connected to the line-output converter).
The only thing I can really come up with is maybe there is:
It is a 2-channel LOC (not 4-channel), correct? - b/c the wire colors you mentioned (white and gray) would be for the front speakers, but you said you hooked the rears up to it.
Anyone else have suggestions?