I am new to this whole car audio thing and i want to know like if my subs 500 watt rms then would i need an amp that has about 700 watts power or what?

 

Rule #1 in car audio:

Amplifer power ratings don't mean dick.

Rule #2 in car audio:

Speaker power ratings don't mean dick.

As you can see, this isn't as easy to answer as it should be. No 2 companies rate their products the same, so it's not wise to base your purchases on power specs. Start going to stores and listening to subs. Find one you like. Along the way, ask every salesman what he reccomends for an amp.

Buy the sub(s) first then choose the amp to match.

 

i disagree you can always turn an amp down, you cant always make a sub handle more power, if you buy a better amp to begin with, you will have alot more room to grow, and most people do outgrow thier systems.


adam

 

I would say look into subs first. IMO the amp needed is install dependant. If you had a JBL amp but made a ported enclosure you would still need to buy a subsonic filter or any number of different coil combinations you need.

 

Maybe so, but the point that I was trying to get across is that obcessing over power ratings won't get you very far, and unless you're just a bass-head, the way to choose a sub that you'll be happy with is to buy the one that sounds the best to you, then amp it accordingly.

You can always buy an amp that's got more capabilities than the speakers it's powering. As long as you don't overdrive the subs, you'll be fine. You'd be surprised what a pair of speakers can handle when they get fed a CLEAN signal, and are in the right enclosure. My Oz subs are rated for something like 150 watts (I really don't know, because like I said above, power ratings are worthless) and the pair can take everything my Kicker ZR 600 can give them (it benched at 871 watts into 4 ohms bridged, and I'm running 2 ohms bridged).

 

Jim is correct. Don't always go off ratings, or a speaker parameters. They are a good 'guideline' but not 100% a true story of how a speaker will sound in a certain setup.

Boss, great example. If you think you'll get 1200 watts for $19.95, go ahead and buy it.
Not gonna happen.

You need to make sure to get good woofers, install them right and get an amp with headroom. <power over the RMS> so you don't underpower them.

Underpowering subs don't kill subs, users with to low of power will.

 

My friend has always had KICKER sub woofers. I like the sound of them but he has the sub in his truck. Does anybody know how it sounds in a camaro? It's two (2) Kicker Comp Vr Duel voice coil @4 ohms. I have no idea what kind of amp he has. So the best way to get speakers is to listen to them and not go by the pwer ratings?

 

For two Comp VR 10" 4 ohm, you need an amp that puts out max power into a 1 or 4 ohm load.

Now specs give you a good 'general' feel for the driver, but installtion is more important.

 

well I wanted to put two 12" Comp Vr 4 ohms in my car.....but I have no idea if I have enough space to make them sound good, I don't know if they will even fit, I have no idea what it might sound like either. Pretty much, i'm totally clueless.