Hi all Pro and Sifu,

I need some help from all of you, any recommendation and suggestion is always welcome.

As i just into the world of ICE, a lot of questions prompted.

I wish to start up wish a simple setup (Ignore those component speaker at the moment)

1 x 12" Subwoofer
1 x 2 Ch Amp

Here is the questions:
1) How do i determine what minimum specification is required to power up a single Subwoofer (e.g. 1500W)?

2) How can i bridge a 2 Ch Amp, as in which + and - teminal to choose? (e.g. 1st Ch (-) with 2nd Ch (+) or vice versa)?

3) What will happen if the amp specifications is LOWER or HIGHER than the minumum requirements to power up the subwoofer?



Hope to receive your recommendations and comments, Thanks

Regards,
XCloudz

wat is ur budget?maybe can drop me pm. i have some nice for sell

Haha...
Need to verify all the questions before deciding what and how much to spend...
but i not a hardcore ICE user yet since it is still new to me...
any help or comment is appreciated...
=)

Here is the questions:
1) How do i determine what minimum specification is required to power up a single Subwoofer (e.g. 1500W)?
- depends on specs of amp or specs of sub, which ever u get first, in watts rms, not max


2) How can i bridge a 2 Ch Amp, as in which + and - teminal to choose? (e.g. 1st Ch (-) with 2nd Ch (+) or vice versa)?
if the sub is single voice coil then its straightforward, +ve from one channel and -ve from the other channel. if its double voice coil then theres parallel or series connection, which u can google for diagrams


3) What will happen if the amp specifications is LOWER or HIGHER than the minumum requirements to power up the subwoofer?
preferably look for something 50% more than sub's rated rms power, look at amp's bridged mono power rms specs.
more importantly is to keep the amp's gain level below distortion level

So for example i have a Subwoofer which is 1500W, so rms would b around 700w. Therefore recommended amp is rated as 1400W since your said preferably 50% more...correct?

zenn means rms X 1.5
i'd say rms X 1.3 is enuf
700 X 1.3 = 910w rms

always look at rms/nominal ratings.
peak/max ratings dun mean anything.

Owh icic...i get it...910W rms...
so is either i get a amplifier that produce around 910W or bridge both channels...

Here another question:

If a head Unit only got one RCA output...
i need to use the 'y' cable to seperate to two if i'm using two amplifiers...
is that ok?

it is ok... but you loose the RCA signal strength when you do that...

Pros:
1. you could still get music for all the amps you connect it to.

Cons:
1. Low signal strength means higher gain from amp which means possible of distortions.
2. no fader control.
3. if your amp doesnt have a built in x-over you will have trouble getting the sound right.

noted...thanks for all of the comments given...

I'm just wondering since everything is about specifications...
so how am i able to identify a woofer or amp spec,
if i do not have the box or manual or it is not a well known brand which can be locate from online resources?

for example by looking at a amp the channel connectors there wrote 75w...
so it is rms or peak or others?

for subwoofer is it printed 1500w mean peak or rms?

sorry for all the noob questions here...

i guess that depends on the brand's normal habit of printing these numbers...

some brands like sony puts up ridiculous claims on the wattage, which normally is their max rating,

some brands like TruTech doesnt print anything but their amps model number has a clear indication of the rms wattage value...

some brands like rockfords, well, sometimes i just dun undertsnad what the numbers means....

so cant tell you exactly...

Its either printed RMS or PMPO...if none..just ignore it..find something that is clearly stated...makes life alot easy.

Haha...icic...i get it...there is no device that can used to check izit?
perhaps something the can test the output...

I think it'll be safe to say, if you stick with the better brands, just take note of the Watt RMS rating. Most of the Watt ratings printed largely on the amp/sub itself could most probably be MAX PMPO and not RMS.

As for a matching amp, for example, if you have a sub that's about 100WRMS, try getting a 150WRMS or 200WRMS per channel amp to pair with it but you have to be mindful of the correct gain settings.

Personally though, if your HU only has a pair of RCA outputs, you would be better off upgrading to a 2-channel amp with a pair of decent ready-matched component set, or if your budget permits, get a 4-channel amp, a pair of components, and a subwoofer.

If you still ain't satisfied down the road, then only you upgrade your HU with at least 2-pairs of RCA outputs for better control of fader or crossover settings.

Personally, I would always say if you gonna upgrade HU, at least get a decent one with at least 2-pairs of HU or you'll spend more down the road. Like the saying goes "The Poor Man Pays Twice"

This post has been edited by GRexer: Jan 7 2012, 01:58 PM

Haha...thanks a lot for your time in explaining and answering my questions here...
finally thing clarified...for more inquiry i will get back to here...
once again thanks to all those who have contributed...

Regards,
XCloudz

This post has been edited by XCloudz: Jan 7 2012, 07:24 PM

there are device that you could use to measure...

1. multimeter... but you will have to convert the values to watts rms... which involves some equations...
2. wattmeter... which displays the power output directly but these machine are hard to get by and expensive...

Hi..sorry to disturb ur thread..but i found that some of the forumer here can help setup ICE:)im also a newbie...this will be my first time installing amp and woofer..budget kinda low..but i think would be enough for my small kelisa..

So..i like to listen to some acoustic music, also love some bass..

Current setup is kenwood ddx5036+Rockford Fosgate Prime for both component and rear three way speaker...No amp.

So my budget is around RM500 below for amp+woofer with box+wire cable...i dont mind used one..hehe..

anyone can help me?

I got!!!
Lightning audio 2ch amp + RF 12" with box and cable.
500.... take it.