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Asked: Feb 24, 2009 - 02:25 PM

Status: Closed

Can I use a 2 ohm Amp on a 4 ohm Subwoofer?

I have two 4ohm subwoofers that put out 2400w and I have a 1400w amp.
I get 350watts x 2 @ 4-ohms from my amp
And 700watts x 2 @ 2 -ohms from my amp
I want to know can I plug my amp as 2-ohms to my subwoofer that is 4-ohms to get more watts out of my amp or is my subwoofer going to get damage.
Here is the link to the subwoofer and the amp that I have.
Thank You.

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/...
http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/...

In Car Accessories > Audio
3 answers - 273 days ago

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texases

Date: Feb 24, 2009
Time: 05:58 PM

The important number is the ohm rating for your amp, you don't want subs that go under 2 ohms. If you have 4 ohm subs, you're fine, you can hook them up individually for 4 ohms, you'll get 350WX2. The subs don't 'put out' 2400w, they can handle an amp with at most 2400w, so you're fine there, too. This all assumes the ratings are correct.

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zaken1

Date: Feb 24, 2009
Time: 06:53 PM

As long as you run it in STEREO, you won't be able to get more power out of the amp by switching to the 2 ohm outputs. Doing so would actually reduce the power slightly, and would also create more distortion. But there is another way you can increase the speaker volume, and that is by running both speakers in one common channel (mono); by simply setting the output switch on the amp to use a 1 channel output; which bridges the amp's two 4 ohm outputs to work in parallel. I see that your model of amp is designed to be used this way. BUT THIS TYPE OF CONNECTION CAN NOT BE DONE WITH ALL AMP MODELS. IT CAN ONLY BE DONE WITH AN AMP THAT IS LISTED AS HAVING EITHER A BRIDGEABLE OUTPUT; OR ONE THAT HAS THE OPTION OF USING 1/2 CHANNEL OUTPUTS. If you try bridging or using 1/2 channel outputs on an amp that is not designed to work that way; you will damage the amp. However, the subwoofers cannot be damaged by these types of connections.

If your amp has a selector switch for 1 or 2 channels; just set it to 1 channel. Leave the outputs on 4 ohms and use earplugs (because the speaker power will double). If there is no channel selector switch; connect both of the amp's "+" 4 ohm output terminals together, and run wires from there to both speakers' "+" terminals. Then connect both of the "-" amp outputs of the other 4 ohm channel together, and run wires from there to both speakers' "-" terminals.

Who needs stereo when the volume is that loud, anyway??!!!

avatar

texases

Date: Feb 24, 2009
Time: 07:02 PM

I guess I'm confused - do you have one subwoofer, or two? If it's one box with two drivers, but one set of connections, then do exactly as described above. If you have two subwoofers (two enclosures), that won't work, you'll have to plug each one in separately.

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