What AMP do i Need? Help

[flynhigh2007]

Hey guys well the time came where my brother bought a new car and took out his sub and amp out of my golf.

So I'm looking at buying a new sub and amp for the 2.0l golf ( and my next car) but dont know much about this sort of thing. Im looking definetly at sony xplod and only sony xplod due to discounts i can recieve.

http://www.sony.com.au/xplod/category.jsp?id=21982

Thats the site.

So anyway I'm looking at buying a 12 inch subwoofer. This model specifically. XSL124P5B
BLACK CAPLESS 12" SUBWOOFER

http://www.sony.com.au/xplod/catalog/product.jsp?categoryId=22093

All i want to know is which of the sony amps will be enough to power it (I'm not looking to spend loads and laods of money). Is a 2 channel enough, or do i need a 4 channel or a mono amp?

http://www.sony.com.au/xplod/catalog/product.jsp?categoryId=22002

Thats the page for the amps.

Anyway help would be great. cheers

[The_Hawk]

I am by no means an expert, however AFAIK mono block is best for a sub, after than a two or four channel is only as good as the channels you can bridge.

For example my four channel amp only allows me to bridge two channels, so (assuming I have a 4 x 150w) I can run:

4 x 150w
2 x 150w + 1 x 300w (bridged)
2 x 300w (both bridged)

but I CANT run 1 x 600w with all channels bridged.

I'm sure some amps can, but you need to check if thats what you intend doing.

I was also told that you are better off spending more money on a decent set of main speakers than on a sub.

Now lets let the experts expand on that

[Mrk_Mickey]

Mate a monoblock is DEFINITELY the best of the amps you can get for your sub, if you're looking to power a decent (read: powerful) sub. However - the sub that you're looking at has a NOMINAL (RMS) rating of 300watts at 4-Ohms which isn't actually very much; that will work in your favour.

If you're looking to get some nice speakers as well as a sub, what I suggest you do is get a 4-channel amplifier along the lines of 4x100w RMS. I'm currently running two amps, but my previous setup consisted of a Jaycar 4x100w RMS amp (which i'm still using, just for speakers now) which ran two front speakers on one channel each and one sub on one bridged channel (the other two). That worked for what I needed, and if you're looking at getting that sony sub then a similar amp will do just fine. I woudln't worry about a monoblock for 300 watts.

[flynhigh2007]

I'm not looking to get new speakers, the ones in the golf are decent enough.

So with the sub im looking at, the 4 channel amp should be enough?

What do the more expensive amps do etc...?

Sorry im just not an expert on this sort of thing

[Mrk_Mickey]

That's alright man, that's why you're asking here

To answer your second question, the more expensive amps are usually for more fine-tweaking of sound, and more power. a less expensive monoblock amp will almost always be less powerful and less tunable than a pricier one.

I think a 4-channel like I said before should do the trick for you mate; I'd still amp your stock front speakers up just for that extra quality

[flynhigh2007]

whats a better amplifier. The XMZR604 or the XM4S?

[Mrk_Mickey]

From a quick glance of the specs, I'd say the XMZR604, if you can bridge your channels..but that's probably not enough to power the sub you're looking at mate.

Seriously, I'd have a look at this jaycar amp:

http://jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=AA0426&CATID=24&keywords=&SPECIAL=&form=CAT&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=595

I can get it through a relative for a bit cheaper than the RRP (if you're interested) and I've got one and cannot fault it whatsoever!

[flynhigh2007]

so which amp out of those 4 would power the sub i want? Would i have to get the XM1S?

[Mrk_Mickey]

You probably would have to get the XM1S, yeah. It says 290 watts of power at 4-Ohms but I don't even know if that's RMS or peak..I'm sure that sony would have products that match their other products so that amp should be fine mate.

[D3bb4]

You probably would have to get the XM1S, yeah. It says 290 watts of power at 4-Ohms but I don't even know if that's RMS or peak..I'm sure that sony would have products that match their other products so that amp should be fine mate.

It's 400W RMS at 2 ohm, 290W RMS at 4 ohm

2yr warrenty. good ****. Shall be using one to run a 350w rms 15" pioneer in my golf as of next week...

[Chuck]

monoblock for the sub - no question

amplifie the existing factory speakers with a 4 channel or tune the monoblock waaaay down so it doesn't drown out your factory front stage amplification

[Mrk_Mickey]

It's 400W RMS at 2 ohm, 290W RMS at 4 ohm

...that's what I said wasn't it? I'm not sure if the 290w @4-Ohms is RMS or ''peak'' (read: crap)

[Mr ©harisma]

Hmm Sony hey.

What you is budget?

Mono blocks are not always the best amps to run a subwoofer depending on your budget and you seem very against upgrading other components in your car.

[D3bb4]

...that's what I said wasn't it? I'm not sure if the 290w @4-Ohms is RMS or ''peak'' (read: crap)

sorry, i thought you were asking if was rms or not

[Mrk_Mickey]

sorry, i thought you were asking if was rms or not

Haha no probs.

I still reckon you'd love the sound of a sub off a bridged channel with the two front speakers amped..

Maybe there are some forum members here with some different setups that they could show you?