I'm currently running a 100 watt Audiobahn Amp with a set of 10 inch JL 10WO's. As of right now, I have to have my amp all the way up to get a descent volume out of the speakers. My amp has outputs for another amp. I just bought a Jensen 300 watt amp so, I will have a total of 400 watts...which I was told would be plenty. I'm not trying to win contests or anything..I just want it to sound better...and not to turn my amp up all the way. Anyhow, I bought a new installation kit...and it comes with an 8 gauge power wire that can hold up to 550 watts. Should I use that or use I'm using now which is like 10 gauge? Also, for the remote wire...can I just splice it in with my other?..so that both amps come on at the same time? I'm kind of new to this stuff...so..please work with me. Thanks

 

No problem splicing the amp turn-on leads together, that's fine. Run the heaviest power cable you can work with, 8g should be okay. Run a single power lead (fused at the supply) to each amplifier.

That is - don't try to run multiple large amps off a single feed unless it's crazy 1/0 g or something similar (thick as your finger).

 

so..I should ditch the 10 gauge and run the 8 gauge then? The reason I ask is because my car is already equipped with the 10 gauge...so..I'd have to remove it and put in the 8 gauge. I already bought a distibutor block..that looks pretty simple to hook up. My audiobahn also had outputs for an extra amp....so..all I have to do is run RCA's from the audiobahn (outputs) to the inputs of the Jensen...right?

 

I was suggesting that you leave the 10 g in place for the existing amp and install the 8 g in addition to feed the new one. You'll still be okay running both on the 8 g, but if you can fit the additional power cable - go for it.

When things start thumping loud, the instantaneous currents demanded by the amplifiers get quite high and it's preferrable to feed them individually.

You should have no trouble patching the audio feed from out of the Audiobahn to the Jensen just like you say.

 

So let me see here, you are running the bass thru the audiobahn and into the *cough* Jenson right. First question is why? Jensons 300 watts is probably about the same as The audios 100. How are you gonna wire them still not sure, if you got a line-out on the Audio and run it to Jenson you don't get 400 do you? It does't work that way does it? i could be wrong But......

 

so..your saying..100+300 doesn't equal 400?? How do you get that a Jensen doesn't produce 300 watts? Yes, Jensen are cheap, but their amps really aren't to bad.

The audiobahn was made to add additional amps...for more power right??

 

the line out is to add amps yes but not to multiply the power you could run 2 amps 1 for each sub but it does not multiply. You have to look at the power ratings for the power level the Jensen is probably max power where as the audio is rms power.

 

Let me get this straight, you what to run one sub off the Audiobahn (maybe 70W out) and the other sub off the Jensen (May be 90W out). Is this right? This will not give you 400W. It will give you one sub with “100W” and one sub with “300W”. Also 8 gage should be used at a minimum. Don’t bother with the 10 gage. And you should consider bigger if you’re running new wire anyway. Give you more headroom down the line. You’ll be OK running both amps off the remote lines spliced together. Any more and you should use a relay, but don’t bother with that until you need to.

 

If I was wiring your car, I'd run 4 AWG to the back of the car. At the back of the car, I'd have a fused distribution block, and I'd run the 8 AWG and 10 AWG from the distribution block to each respective amp. This is the cleanest way to do this, and also supports future upgrades.

But... if you just want a quick fix, you can keep the 10 AWG for the audiobahn and just run the 8 AWG along side it for the Jensen.

BUT... If you're only powering the subs, you can't use both amps. Technically you could use 1 amp for each sub, but that would mean you had a pretty big imbalance between the two subs.

Since neither of those amps is really suited for powering subwoofers (they are both way too low powered) I would consider returning the jensen and getting a Class D sub amp. You can get very powerful ones for under $200 now. Unlike regular amps, most of the Class D amps are very powerful, even the ones from crap names. Most of the class D amps come from the same place in china anyway. There are differences, and the cheap ones are still grossly overrated, but they still do make a lot of power. For Example, Boss has a "2500" watt class D amp for $160 at Ikesound:

http://www.ikesound.com/product-product_id/1946

That thing won't ever make 2500 watts, but it'll make way more than that jensen amp. The Boss is rated at 900 RMS into 4 ohms, and 1500 RMS into 2 ohms. It'll probably do an honest 700 to 900 watts into 2 ohms, which is still a lot of power.

I can't believe I just recommended a boss amp to somebody.

 

I can't believe you did either!!

 

oh..okay, I understand now. So, unless I get a bigger amp...I can't get any more watts to my speakers. I would go with a different amp...but I have a digital volt meter and remote bass boost (an add on for the audiobahn amp) already mounted in my console. So, if I go with another amp....I will have to get an audiobahn...so the meter and boost know will still be functional.

The thing is, is that I have to turn my stereo up pretty loud (head unit) in order to hear the subs, even though the amp is turned all the way up. I thought maybe getting more watts to it would help it in that department..

 

It would help but you are going about getting the extra watt the wrong way. I have 2 audiobahn amps and i love them. My subs run off of the 8000t it 800X1 at 2 ohs pushing my infinity kappa perfect 10s sounds badass and the amps only about half way. Its only about 350 or so not as pricey as some others.
Let me know if i can help any further

Ziggster

 

i guess it owuld help if I new what specs on my subs....the labels are missing on the back of them. Would a 400 watt audiobahn amp be alright to power these? Any guesses?

 

I have one audiobahn 800 watt amp running both of my jl 12's and it is friggin loud.I will upgrade later but I payed 150 for my amp.All youneed is one good higher powered amp,I think.

 

Go to the JL audio web site i think they list the power handling and stuff there, but they are JL's so they are meant to take alot of power.

Ziggster:lala:

Hey just noticed your from IN where is Alexiandria?