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Best Amp for Kicker Subs?

Discussion in 'Audio & Video' started by rcfreak201, Jan 22, 2012.

  1. Jan 22, 2012 at 2:46 PM
    #1
    rcfreak201

    rcfreak201 [OP] Well-Known Member

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  2. Jan 22, 2012 at 2:55 PM
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    brian

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    I don't know much about those subs, but if I know kicker, they can usually hold their power. I would go with a JL 500/1, probably the perfect power without blowing them. You have to turn your bass down because you never tuned it. Theres a poor mans way that basically says turn your volume to 2/3rds to 3/4 and adjust it there. Your gain is probably maxed and your crossover is probably far too low for tens, aim for a crossover freq of around 80hz. Thats a good starting point for 10s. Also I just looked up the amp.... 1000w amp for less than 100 is surely junk. Sorry.
     
  3. Jan 22, 2012 at 3:00 PM
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    brian

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    You always get what you pay for in car stereos. I'm runnin a Fosgate shallow mount 10 in the back of mine with a JL 250/1, and some people have said they thought I had a set of 12s back there. Proper enclosures and proper tuning goes a long way. Kicker has never been anything 'special' but they're as good as it gets for the price!
     
  4. Jan 22, 2012 at 3:00 PM
    #4
    Tacomanator

    Tacomanator Well-Known Member

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    King 2.5" extended travel coilovers with compression adjusters, Camburg UCA's, King 2.5" rear shocks, TRD 1st gen CAI.
    Just match the rms watts to the subs and make sure the amp is at least 2006 CEA-compliant.

    Lot's of great amps out there, it's hard to say which is "best". I have a Kenwood KAC-8104D that powers my 12" L5. The speaker is actually underpowered by 100 watts, but my Kenwood still pushes it, no problem.
     
  5. Jan 22, 2012 at 3:07 PM
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    brian

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    Oh and that amp you have... I doubt it even pushes 500watts... a good ampifier will cost a buck a watt, at least thats the way it was when I dumped a couple grand on my last vehicle system.

    JL 500/1s were bench tested and put out closer to 733 watts, but best of all, they actually sound good. A cheap amp just doesn't ever have that full sound, instead its muddy and just horrible. You said that you had to turn down your bass when you turn it up... thats a clear sign you need to tune your stereo. I have all my EQ settings flat, find an open parking lot, turn it up about 3/4, (maybe grab ear plugs haha) and tune it to where it sounds good. 3/4 should be the point where you're almost max, but you won't have any distortion. On your amp, turn your bass boost OFF, period, none. Crossover to 80hz, gain set to almost the lowest point and play a IASCA track, such as a bass sweep. If you hear distortion, turn your crossover a little higher, or just adjust your gain accordingly.
     
  6. Jan 22, 2012 at 3:11 PM
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    brian

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    You'll be fine with your subs. If you blow them, oh well. You can never get your money back in car stereos... lol. They were cheap.

    I would upgrade the amp. Before I arrived at the amplifier I have now, I bought a 'budget' JL amp, their new JX series. Rated 250/1, it couldn't push my subwoofer at all, and would distort easily. I found my friend who had a set of the old school silver JL amps, one of them being another 250/1. I had never been able to put the two side by side before but the difference was NIGHT AND DAY. Same power rating, but twice the sound.

    JL 500/1 (Slash series) can be found on eBay or just look on craigslist. They're pretty smart, so their hard to break. You'd be pretty safe buying one used.
     
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  7. Jan 22, 2012 at 3:15 PM
    #7
    Tacomanator

    Tacomanator Well-Known Member

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    In short, CEA compliant just means the amp has been tested to give the exact or more watts that is advertised.

    Match the rms watts from the amp to the rms watts on the sub. Also make sure the amp is able to handle whatever ohms your speakers are wired for.
     
  8. Jan 22, 2012 at 3:18 PM
    #8
    Tacomanator

    Tacomanator Well-Known Member

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    King 2.5" extended travel coilovers with compression adjusters, Camburg UCA's, King 2.5" rear shocks, TRD 1st gen CAI.
    Class D mono for subs.
     
  9. Jan 22, 2012 at 3:18 PM
    #9
    brian

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    500/1 implies monoblock. 1 channel.

    EDIT: Class D is a good idea. Class A/B amps will dim your lights quickly. Class D circuitry more efficient :D

    You've inspired me to go take a video of my stereo later today. I told a few guys months back that I would. Never did... lol
     
  10. Jan 22, 2012 at 3:27 PM
    #10
    07TacoRidah

    07TacoRidah SHHHH, this is interesting

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    I think he meant 500 watts. 500 amps is amazing!!!! :eek: imo Crunch amps are over rated (I doubt the 500w rms on the Crunch). Although I do rock Maxx Sonics (company that makes them) amps, I mainly stick to the Hifonics (Crunch and AutoTek ... eh) brands.

    The kickers you posted are only rated to 150w and are single 4 ohm (combined that memeber is only going to get 300w from them)
    these are the ones you have (according to your post)
    http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item...rm={keyword}&gclid=CKDXi77j5K0CFQ1chwod-naVTQ

    which are dual 4 ohm and can handle 400w rms (so combined you have 800w working rms), your under powering them with the Crunch amp, how do you have them wired to your amp?
     
  11. Jan 22, 2012 at 3:36 PM
    #11
    brian

    brian Another Traitor

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    They do, but I'm not pushing enough air to blow my window seals on this system :D Its just plain LOUD. When I take the video, you will see. I can open my doors, be 100 feet away and it will be just as loud as if you were right next to the truck, best of all, I'm only pushing about 550 watts into the whole system. I have a JL 300/4 as well at the 250/1.

    If theres one thing I learned in car stereos, wattage is not everything. You can re-wire your subs for a heavier current draw, but you're just asking for more distortion.
     
  12. Jan 22, 2012 at 3:42 PM
    #12
    07TacoRidah

    07TacoRidah SHHHH, this is interesting

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    yes please. not sure which Crunch 1000w amp you have, but this may be it.
    http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_25489_Crunch-P1-1000.2.html

    according to the specs on this site, to get the 500w, you will need to bridge the amp with a 4 ohm min/max load. or wire yoru subs to read out 2 ohms and wire them regularly. imo since you have dual ohm'd subs you have options v. svc subs and not much of an option :(
     
  13. Jan 22, 2012 at 3:47 PM
    #13
    07TacoRidah

    07TacoRidah SHHHH, this is interesting

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    x2 i learned that one from this one vid on youtube. some audio guys took an Audio Bahn 6.5" woofer, made a box for it and make it sound like there were two 10's or 12's. Literally subbin in front of like truck with high rated subs and having them listen first them peep with awe.
     
  14. Jan 22, 2012 at 3:56 PM
    #14
    07TacoRidah

    07TacoRidah SHHHH, this is interesting

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    if possible to get a picture of how the subs are wired and how it is wired to the amp, as well as the amp model.
     
  15. Jan 22, 2012 at 4:06 PM
    #15
    brian

    brian Another Traitor

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    Thats pretty much irrelevant at this point. If he decides to keep the amp, he could tune it properly and it might be more than enough. Clearly though, rewiring is not going to change things since he says 'its too loud, and distorted'.

    I'm gonna try and go down to my work where I can get enough space to crank up my stereo without pissin people off. Its raining though, so no guarantees.
     
  16. Jan 22, 2012 at 4:08 PM
    #16
    brian

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    rcfreak. Go look at your amplifier. Turn your gain down to about 1/4 to maybe 1/3 of the way up. Turn your crossover to around 80hz. Crank your volume up. You're gonna have a much different sound, but it shouldn't distort or sound like crap.
     
  17. Jan 22, 2012 at 4:13 PM
    #17
    brian

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    EQ off or FLAT.
     
  18. Jan 22, 2012 at 4:19 PM
    #18
    Maverick904

    Maverick904 Resident Fishing Expert

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    since the OP is looking into a new amp possibly. as am I, any brands people specifically like, hifonics? kenwood, jl (obviously)
     
  19. Jan 22, 2012 at 4:20 PM
    #19
    brian

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    what are you powering.
     
  20. Jan 22, 2012 at 4:21 PM
    #20
    Maverick904

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