Hypothetical Sub Question... Your Opinion Please

[Fish Chris]

Okay, so here's the scoop.

You have 1 amplifier which is rated at 1000 wts rms into 2 ohms.

You have a choice of running 1, 2, or 4, 15" subs rated at 1000wts rms each.

Whether you run 1, 2, or 4 subs, you will be giving the amp the same 2 ohm load, so these subs will be getting either 250 wts, 500 wts, or 1000 wts, depending on how many subs you run.

Also, whether you run 1, 2, or 4 of these 15" subs, lets assume you have enough space available to give each one of the subs the optimum recommended cubes.

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Now, I'm not interested in anything like, "Well you could add this amp, or this or that, later".......

I'm talking about the differences in output (both in SQ, as well as SPL), ran just as I mentioned.

I know their are guys who believe you should run speakers with close to the rms power ratings, but I've also heard that two speakers with half of the rms power to each one, will be louder, and stand less chance of thermal damage.

Your opinions please,

Fish

[ISO]

I don't like to go lower than the middle of the power handleing rating on a sub.

So if a sub can handle 1000 watts, I wouldn't go lower than 500 watts and so on and so on.

I feel the more power you give a sub the better the sound quality.(of course to its recommended power rating)

If you ran 4 250 watt RMS 15 inch subs off that 1000 watts. It shoud be a hell of alot louder than 1 15 with 1000 watts or 2 sealed box 15s with 500 watts apiece.

Now ported 2 15s with 500 watts apiece could get close to the 4 15s mentioned before.

I hope this is on track with what you want to know.

[Fish Chris]

Much thanks ISO. That was exactly the kind of response I was looking for.

Of course the more opinions, the better......

Peace,

Fish

[Boon]

A 1000wrms sub will have inherently lower sensitivity than a 250wrms sub because of the stiffer suspension needed to handle that power mechanically.

Also remember that the optimal box for 4 subs at 250w each will be larger than 4 times the volume for a single sub at 1000wrms.

Another thing to keep in mind that theoretically the 4 subs with 250w each will do the same on a meter as 1 on 1000w due to the double cone area = +3db, half power per sub = -3dB

If you only have 1000wrms to go around and aren't planning to upgrade any time soon you're best off getting 4 subs at maybe 3-400wrms a piece, they'll be well within their ability while moving lots and lots of air... also consider the price ramps up steeply when you get into high power subs.