Im looking to get 2 10s for my 01rs. Im thinking about the alpine type E subs, they have a sale on crutchfield, 2 for $130. The place where im really lost though is in picking out an amp.

The subs run at 4 ohms, so if the amp was 400w x 1 @ 2 ohms that means it would really be 100w at each sub right? (divid by 2 for 4 ohms then divid by 2 again for each sub?).

How much power should i really be looking to run though these? I wouldnt mind being able to wake up the neighbors from time to time, but for the most part i wouldnt lission to them all that loud. Im also thinking ill get 10s instead of 12s because i heard they are crisper, and hence better for rock, is that really the case?

Im open to buying stuff just about anywhere online if theres a better place...

Cheaper the better! I know the usual thing is people ask how much will you spend then they say "pay a little more to get this" or they find the thing that is 1 dollar under the amount...so just something quality to go along with the subs, but not break the bank, under 200 would be really cool if thats possible.

 

I would go for something like a Phoenix Gold xenon 400.1, 200.2, or 100.2. They aren't super expensive and Phoenix makes a solid quality product.

 

Looking at the 400watt amps, they seem to be 300-400 range, is that the amount im going to have to spend for a quality amp?

Also the phoenix gold say "400w rms 1-4 ohms" what does that mean, the rms wont chance with the resistance? How would that be possible? Does it have a selector for how many watts you want to run the subs at?

Also it seems like all the subs are 4 ohms, while all the amps are 2 ohms, why would this be other then a marketing ploy? This just means all the amps are really haft as powerful as they say, right?

 

where are you looking at that info? the PG website (phoenixgold.com) has watt @ ohms, it makes pretty good sense.

 

On here http://phoenixgold.com/2004/xenonamps.html

at the very bottom of the specs for each amp it has the wattage, and it says "400W x 1 (4-1 ohm)" what does that mean? is it 4 or 1 ohms or variable or what?

 

Looking at the page again it has some more specs on the left side, one of which is "Xe.load™ optimized for any impedance load" so does that mean it will be 400w for any resistance, specifically 4 ohms?

 

I'm pretty sure, but not 100%. I'd say just drop their support dept an e-mail.

 

Well i just emailed their tech support...and then i was poking through their wiring digrams and remembered something, if i have 2 subs in parallel the resistance will be cut in haft. So two 4 ohm subs look like one 2 ohm load to the amp. This is correct right? Are there any other factors im forgeting about?

They also have a thing about dual or single voice coils, which are the type Es and how does this effect things?

Also the wiring diagram basically answers my question with "*Phoenix Gold Mono Block amps make full power at 2 ohm"

 

I just recieved this from their tech support

"The X400.1 will produce 400watts RMS at any load that is placed on the amp
between 1 & 4 ohms it is a regulated power supply that'll adjust according
to the load it is presented. Yes this amp will work well on the subs you
have chosen according to the power rating that you have provided."

so i guess thats what ill be getting...now i just need to save up 400 bucks...

 

just so you know, yes you are correct about the 2 4ohm loads making a 2ohm load total *when wired in parallel*. If you wire them in series they will be an 8ohm load so be careful, I'm sure illustrations of this will be included in the instructions.

 

Well i would have to wire them in parallel so they both get the full voltage, right?