WHAT TYPE OF AMP SHOULD I GET? IM HAVING SOUND PROBLEMs!

[23 LegaCY]

Hey What Up, I have a 95' Subaru Legacy LS...and i just recently installed 2 12" Audiobahn Subwoofers. They are 400 WATTS RMS-800 WATTS MAX A PIECE...I have a Alpine MRV-F300 V12 AMP, i got it from a friend for cheap...i dont kno how many watts it is...However, i have it all hooked up but when i turn up just a little bit the speakers start to make a twitching noise? Why is this? My speakers arent strong enough? Or is it because my amp is too weak? How many watts should i get in an amp? PLEASE HELP ME OUT!

[Wiscon_Mark]

Your alpine is rated at:
Per Channel into 4ohm > 30w x 4
Per Channel into 2ohm > 40w x 4
Bridged 2 Channel into 4ohm > 80w x 2

So you're most likely way underpowering your subs. You really don't have the right amp for that...you'd want a two channel or a mono subwoofer amp for your subs, not a four channel amp made for speakers. You should get an amp that matches the RMS wattage, and make sure you get something good.
I'd reccommend:
Alpine
JL Audio
Eclipse
There are other good products out there, but you should avoid Sony and Profile as they're cheap junk and unrealiable.

Also, I'd look at resistance (ohms). It's kinda important that they have the same resistance. Check out crutchfield for wiring diagrams and help, they have some good resources. http://www.crutchfield.com

Edit: It's great to see another 95 around! Welcome!

[2deadlegs]

You could always get the amp I am getting..

The audiobahn A5000SPL

High current power plant
High Current circuitry
Non-regulated Power Supply
1 OHM Stable
Full MOSFET Power Supply
Low Level Input
throughput rca terminals
LED Clipping Indicators
Variable Low-Pass Filter: 50Hz - 120Hz
Variable Bass Boost Frequency: 40Hz - 100Hz
Variable Phase Shift: 0° - 180°
Variable Subsonic filter: 20Hz - 50Hz
Digitally Displayed AC Output Voltmeter
VU Meters Indicating Output Response
6 Cooling Fans
Rack Mountable
Remote Bass Control with Blue Backlit Knob
RCA Input: 200mV - 10V
4-way protection circuitry: Thermal, short circuit,
overload, and dc offset
Up to 18 Volts DC Input
Dual 1/0 Power Terminals
4 Gauge Speaker Terminals to push (4) Audiobahn 18's (my setup)

http://www.audiobahn.com/products/2005Products/amps/RackMountAmp.jpg

[Wiscon_Mark]

Bull#%&*, you're getting that! Where on earth would you put it? Or is it for your house?!

I'm sure you have room for 4 18's with a family and all, also...

[2deadlegs]

I swear on the black LS sitting in my garage I am getting that. She is going in the same black LS. I am going to be building a custom fiberglass/MDF box in the back (takes up the entire hatch area) that hold the amp and (4) 18's. Check my mod list. I have the know how to do it all. A good friend of ine owns a stereo shop and and is getting me a great deal on all the equipment.

I am building it for me..not to compete. I love bass.

I guess you missed the post about me buying another legacy. We have a Nissan altima and when we purchase the new car is when I can get started on modding the Black LS.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Sweet! I was just testing you man...that is an awesome setup...Bet you could hear it all the way up here in Wisconsin :twisted:

[2deadlegs]

I am saving the back hatch from my parted out Legacy L so I can put it on the LS when the stereo setup is done just so I can blow out the back window.

You can bet your bottom dollar I will tape it and post that sheeot for all to see. I couldn't keep that much fun to myself.

[23 LegaCY]

so that twitching sound that sounds like something is sparking in my speakers is just because my amp is too weak? how do i hook up this amp just to my speakers then? and would i 4-800 watt amp be good?

[23 LegaCY]

also, i dont know much about this stuff...im still learning...how do i bridge the amp? can someone make this in paint or describe it to me thanks!

[2deadlegs]

The noise you are hearing might be the speaker cone "bottoming out." This is when the speaker is wired properly and over powered or wired improperly and the cone is coming back to hard from being over-exurted.

First off lets make sure that you speakers are wired up properly. If not fix it fast.

Now to cover the briding part. Bridging can't be done with all amps. If your amp is bridgable then look on the bottom for a wiring diagram or look on the side where the speaker hook-ups are. You might see Left +- and right +-,
you might also see under those same symbols...symbols that are the same but you might have just a + on the left side and then a - on the right. This is how you bridge the amp. If you want to use (2) subs bridged, it would be my advice to you to wire the subs up in parallel. This means all the +'s go to the + side of the bridge and the -'s go to the neg side of the bridge.

This will lower the Ohm load and make your amp work harder. Please note that while doing a surch for your amp on the internet I came across an article that say your amp is known for thermal overload and shut down. If you run it bridged and you want it to work....invest in DC brushless fans...like 4 of them or learn how to liquid cool things.

Hope this helps.

http://www.blackls.homestead.com/files/amp.JPG

[23 LegaCY]

thanks man! yeah my amp does get pretty hot at times! However, i still have factory speakers so the wiring has to be right. Also, im going to try to bridge it tommrow thanks for the help. When you bridge it how many ohms that make? One more question lol...how would i eventually use this amp just for my speakers and hook this amp up to my speakers and get a new stronger amp for my subs....do you have AOL? or some type of direct messanger service?

[2deadlegs]

I sent you a PM on the board.

[Perdue]

Profile is cheap junk and unreliable? I would, and do use, a profile California Amp to power my CompVR 12s. It does a great job, but look at the model that is rated for 400RMS then get the next model up and you'll be alright. I've had my Profile amps for 2 years now and they have never let me down, so I can't say that I don't believe in the amp. Granted it's not a competition amp, but it's far from junk and unreliable.

I'd actually recommend a Profile California AP1200 to run a single 12 (2 is overkill to me). That amp is rated by profile as 600RMSx1@4ohms and costs around $170 from crutchfield, but can be had for cheaper (IKESound.com is where I got mine...I have the CA600, same amp but without the remote bass control, for around $120).

[Wiscon_Mark]

Well, the lower lines can be...it all depends on who really makes it. Sony's upper lines can be good too, but they just push out a bunch of slop so they can price it low and ride on their reputation. Infinity can be some really great stuff, but some people have run through bad batches on lower end models. It's that way for a lot of busineses, especially international ones.

[2deadlegs]

I rememper when fosgate and PPI were the sheeeot.

[Wiscon_Mark]

to a lot of people fosgate is still the shit, but I think fosgate is just all about loudness. I don't hear very many RF systems that have 'grace' bass, more hammer base. I prefer as system that can blend all of my music nicely, but when I want it to, it can hammer in my car. That's why I like JL :D Expensive though. :evil:

[Wiscon_Mark]

We used to have top of the line components (5 1/4in) in there. The sticker came w/ the speakers, I just put it there because it looked good. They were installed when the car was new...so the rubber surround on the woofer went last summer and they had to be replaced. :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:
They were some sweet speakers. I'm thinking of getting some JL subs though, I've heard nothing but good things about them.

[2deadlegs]

I'm looking forward to installing the new system. I already have the box plans drawn out and some of the supplies (fiberglass, MDF, dynamat...etc) ready to be installed.

I think I am going to have to get one of audiobahn's major caps too.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Cool
If I'm ever in the area, I'll tell you and you can roll over in your pimped wagon :twisted: .

[2deadlegs]

I was actually going to invite you but I didn't know if you ever came down my way. Once the system is in the car won't be driven all the time because I will have the new gen2 leg wag and my 99 altima so I can leave it in the garage.

It won't be going anywhere. So take your time coming to FLA..unless you want to help me install it all.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Well, I would love to help you install (I did all my stuff, including the ghetto tape deck), but I don't have the money or the time to travel, although our band is going to Orlando for a band trip next april, so that's when I'll be the closest.
But yeah, remember, I'm not even 18 yet, so I can't really go anywhere w/o parental consent. Not Yet :twisted:

[2deadlegs]

I will see you when your band rolls into town. Do you know where your gig is at? I used to live in ORlando so I know it like the back of my hand.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Mind you, this is concert band (although I hear we'll be playing some cool shit next year). Last time we went down we played at the orange county convention center. We generally go down for the week and spend time at Busch Gardens in Tampa and Universal and stuff like that. It's roller coaster mania for me.

[2deadlegs]

Bush Gardens has the new roller coaster that has the 90 degree straight down drop. I haven't checked it out yet but I will and post up a review just to be whorish.