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I need some help picking an amp.

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Old Nov 27, 2007 | 01:11 PM
  #1  
young_hova07's Avatar
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I need some help picking an amp.

I'm purchasing two Alpine SWX-1243D Subwoofers (3000 Watt Max, 1000 Watt RMS, Dual 4 Ohm, Frequency: 24 - 200 Hz). I'm unsure of what kind of amplifier I should purchase for these (preferably Alpine). Any help at all would be much appreciated. Thanks
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Old Nov 27, 2007 | 09:54 PM
  #2  
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Re: I need some help picking an amp.

What's your price range?
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Old Nov 27, 2007 | 10:36 PM
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From: Bremerton, WA
Car: 1992 RS / 1989 RS
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Re: I need some help picking an amp.

Assuming you wire the subs parallel, you'll want to select an amp that is stable at 1 ohm and can provide up to 2000 watts RMS, but it's not necessary to go that high to get good sound. If it's for the subs only, I would go with a class D mono block (one channel) amplifier. Also, like 87 formy said, find a price range that works for you.
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Old Nov 28, 2007 | 12:40 AM
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Re: I need some help picking an amp.

Price isn't a big concern for me at all. Currently I'm looking into an Alpine PDX 1.100 but I'm not too sure if that's what I want.
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Old Nov 28, 2007 | 01:13 AM
  #5  
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From: Bremerton, WA
Car: 1992 RS / 1989 RS
Engine: 3.1L MFI / Vortec 383 TBI
Transmission: T5 / LS-T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 open / 3.73 Eaton posi
Re: I need some help picking an amp.

I'm a little partial to Memphis, you might consider the 16-MCD1000 (1100 watts X 1 at 1 ohm), or the 16-PR1.1000 (100 watts X 1 at 1 ohm). Both of those are RMS power. http://www.memphiscaraudio.com/

There are other good quality amplifiers out there, that Alpine looks good too, but you won't be able to load it to 1 ohm - it's 2 ohm stable.

Kenwood also has a nice monoblock that would do nicely. KAC-9103D (1 Ohm@14.4V - Over 900 Watts × 1)
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Old Nov 28, 2007 | 02:25 AM
  #6  
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Re: I need some help picking an amp.

I'm looking for a single amplifier to powerboth of these speakers if that's possible. I'm also trying to run everything in my car Alpine since I've already got Alpine everything lol.
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Old Nov 28, 2007 | 01:24 PM
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Re: I need some help picking an amp.

I have two type x subs and originally when with the alpine MRD-1005 for each sub but now moved up to the pdx 1.1000 for each sub. The problem now is that you will crack the back window if you have this setup and turn it more than half gain on the amps! Be VERY friggin' careful!
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Old Nov 28, 2007 | 04:16 PM
  #8  
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From: Bremerton, WA
Car: 1992 RS / 1989 RS
Engine: 3.1L MFI / Vortec 383 TBI
Transmission: T5 / LS-T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 open / 3.73 Eaton posi
Re: I need some help picking an amp.

Originally Posted by young_hova07
I'm looking for a single amplifier to powerboth of these speakers if that's possible. I'm also trying to run everything in my car Alpine since I've already got Alpine everything lol.
Any one of those amps can power both of your speakers. Monoblock just means it has one channel output (not stereo), not that it's for one speaker.

With your DVC woofers, you can wire up a 1 ohm load, 4 ohm load or a 16 ohm load. Most desireable would be a 1 ohm or 2 ohm load, and if you get an amp that is 2 ohm stable, a 4 ohm load (which you would have to do with your speakers) would only yeild 1/2 of its power potential.
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Old Nov 29, 2007 | 01:58 AM
  #9  
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Re: I need some help picking an amp.

Wow so I might wanna consider a downgrade in size for my Impala lol. Possibly those same ones in tens than. So you can't run both speakers to one PDX 1.100?
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Old Nov 29, 2007 | 03:09 AM
  #10  
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Re: I need some help picking an amp.

please use a alpine amp and dont look back as from my past experiences they just wont blow, been using my old v-12 amp for the past 7 years and it just keeps going

Ps- 2x12s will noramlly break the hatch glass when cranked so I suggest just 1

Last edited by IrocZ85; Nov 29, 2007 at 03:11 AM. Reason: relooked
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Old Nov 29, 2007 | 10:30 AM
  #11  
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Re: I need some help picking an amp.

2 12'a will not break the hatch glass, many of us have run 12's for years and never had a problem.

Once the car is done, I'll be putting in 2 FI Q series 12's in the back. Not worried about breaking the glass at all.
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Old Nov 29, 2007 | 11:12 AM
  #12  
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From: Bremerton, WA
Car: 1992 RS / 1989 RS
Engine: 3.1L MFI / Vortec 383 TBI
Transmission: T5 / LS-T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 open / 3.73 Eaton posi
Re: I need some help picking an amp.

Originally Posted by young_hova07
So you can't run both speakers to one PDX 1.100?
You can, but then the amp won't be outputting all of it's available power. It will still run fine, even cooler because it won't work as hard.
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Old Nov 29, 2007 | 11:18 AM
  #13  
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Re: I need some help picking an amp.

Alright so what I've got now is two SWX-1243D 12s and 1 PDX-1.100 amp to run em both. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this should be a perfect set-up for now until I can run both speakers to a single amp, right?
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Old Nov 29, 2007 | 11:56 AM
  #14  
Al Hasse's Avatar
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From: Bremerton, WA
Car: 1992 RS / 1989 RS
Engine: 3.1L MFI / Vortec 383 TBI
Transmission: T5 / LS-T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 open / 3.73 Eaton posi
Re: I need some help picking an amp.

Originally Posted by young_hova07
Alright so what I've got now is two SWX-1243D 12s and 1 PDX-1.100 amp to run em both. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this should be a perfect set-up for now until I can run both speakers to a single amp, right?
You should be just fine. If I understand that second part, you want an amp for each sub (2 total)? That would be ideal.
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Old Nov 29, 2007 | 12:56 PM
  #15  
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Re: I need some help picking an amp.

Yea I eventually do, but if I can have both of my subs run off of one amp for now that's what I want. In a month or so I'll be able to purchase a second.
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Old Nov 29, 2007 | 05:55 PM
  #16  
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Re: I need some help picking an amp.

Are you going to upgrade your alt and the Big 3.

What size power wire are you running to your amps?
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Old Nov 29, 2007 | 09:01 PM
  #17  
Al Hasse's Avatar
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From: Bremerton, WA
Car: 1992 RS / 1989 RS
Engine: 3.1L MFI / Vortec 383 TBI
Transmission: T5 / LS-T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 open / 3.73 Eaton posi
Re: I need some help picking an amp.

Originally Posted by cdoyle
Are you going to upgrade your alt and the Big 3.

What size power wire are you running to your amps?
Thanks Chris, I was going to add that when I got home. Sometimes it's difficult posting at work and staying discrete
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Old Nov 29, 2007 | 09:37 PM
  #18  
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Re: I need some help picking an amp.

I have pioneers in my car and they work out pretty well.
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Old Nov 30, 2007 | 01:14 AM
  #19  
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Re: I need some help picking an amp.

Whatever power wire is necesarry.
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Old Nov 30, 2007 | 01:01 PM
  #20  
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Re: I need some help picking an amp.

Since it sounds like you're going to be running multiple amps in the future, I would recommend going with 0 gauge wire, so you can expand your system as you need too.

Don't forget to put a fuse near the battery too!

You should also really look into upgrading your alternator too, and upgrading the big 3 http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/...TID=73496&PN=1
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