Stereo Guys: amp question
 

I have 2 sets of 6x9's, they are 320W peak, and 80W RMS, im looking to power all 4 of them with this amp, will it work??? its a kenwood model # KAC-X301T POWER AMPLIFIER and here are the details


kenwood model # KAC-X301T POWER AMPLIFIER Max Power Output (4 ohm) Normal 200 W x 2 Bridged 800 W x 1 Rated Power Output (+B = 12.0 V) Normal (4 ^) f20 Hz ~ 20 kHz, 0.05 % THD) 75 W x 2 (2 Q) (1 kHz, 0.5 % THD) 150 W x 2 Bridged (4 Q) (1 kHz, 0.5 % THD) 300 W x 1 Rated Power Output (+B -= 14.4 V) Normal (4 Q} (20 Hz - 20 kHz, 0.05 % THD) 100 W x 2 (2 a) (1 kHz, 0 5 % THD) 200 W x 2 Bridged (4 Q) (1 kHz, 0.5 % THD) 400 W x 1 Frequency Response (+0, -3 dB) 5 Hz ~ 50 kHz Total Harmonic Distortion (Rated power) NOTE Sensitivity = Mini Through LPF (30 kHz) 0.004 % (1 kHz) Sensitivity (rated output) (MAX.) 0.2 V (MIN.) 5.0V Signal to Noise Ratio 105 dB Input Impedance 10 kOhm Damping Factor More than 200 Low Pass Filter Frequency (18 dB/oct) 50 ~ 200 Hz (variable) High Pass Filter Frequency (12 dB/oct.) 50 ~ 200 Hz (variable)

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

I'm not finding that amp on their site. Is this an older one, or something from an internet marketer? According to your specs, it's only a 2 channel amp. I would be looking for a 4 channel amp that makes at least 80 watts per channel X4 at 4 ohms.

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

its an older amp, one of my friends he is willing to give me for a great price, i know 4 channel 80W would be ideal, but this might be the best deal i have right now, couldnt i just piggy back them 2 speakers/channel

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

YOU COULD BUT THE AMP WILL NOT LAST LONG. BETTER OFF BUYING A 4 X 100 AMP.

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

I can't answer the question without knowing what the ohm load of the speakers are.
If they are 8ohms you can parallel two and two to get 4 ohms per side and use the stereo amp.

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

I agree completely. The one thing you want to sound good with no problems -besides your engine- is your stereo. Now days you can buy alot of amp for very little money. I just purchase yesterday 3 complete sets of components (Polk Audio) 2 amps, 2 subs and all the necessary wiring. A good amp is an Alpine V Series 450 4 channel. Would make those speakers sound great, forget about the max and focus on the RMS wattage. :D

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

4 ohm

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

Don't buy a 4 by 100 watt amp for the sheer reason of presenting separate loads.
If you do listen to people who give speaker matching advice without knowing what the specs of your speakers really are... at least get one with an input combining feature so you don't have to have rca Y cables just because people want you to have a 4 channel amp to drive a two channel system.

How anyone can predict the life expectancy of your amp without knowing how much resistance the amp is seeing in your specific application is just guessing.

The game changes with every change in speaker impedance.

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

Ok... if the speakers are 4 ohm you can run them in series, get 200 watt max divided by two speakers equals 100watt max into each 6 by 9.

if you want more amp you can always get a bigger two channel.

I would recommend a four channel amp if all four of your 6 by 9s are NOT matched.

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

they are matching sets, 80w rms, 320w peak, 4 ohm, 6x9's, and the amp details are above, any idea, comments, sugg would be great, keep them coming

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

You can run what you have in series and be fine, if you want.

if you run them in parallel you will turn your 4 ohm load into a two ohm load and that starts to get kind of low. Your amp will put out more current but it will also have more THD. THEN your amp might live a shorter life. :D

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

I love those. They sound great.

Have two sets.

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

Thanks FR,

im getting such a good deal on this amp i think it is worth the shot, i dont see why it wont work but i wanted to get some advise before i pulled the trigger, will this set up make the amp more likely to cut out or over heat

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

You didn't mention if all 4 speakers are in the cockpit, or if 1 pair is in the cabin. If it's the latter, you might still want fader control, which you won't have if you run the speakers in series or parallel.
If they are all in the cockpit, I can't see why you would need the fader.

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

cockpit

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

You want to make sure that it is vented ok... but running at 4 ohms is within normal specs.

Have fun. Good luck!

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

Geeez, what happened to just plain ole plug and play. Now ya gotta be a friggin rocket scientist to hook up a stereo. :eek:

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

Plug and Play???? That's sooooo 1900's :D I would recommend a 4 channel, just for the extra control, just in case you want to fade between front and rear. I'll look up some stuff for you later on today and get back to you.

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

Here are a couple of matches with decent prices. (these are MSRP's pulled from JBL's website)
JBL P300.4 $525 makes about 125 watts per channel at 4 ohms
JBL GTO 75.4 II $380 makes about 104 watts per channel at 4 ohms.

Hope this helps.

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

Parralell halfs the ohm load, series doubles the ohm load. Of the two options that I am seeing in front of me I would parrallel them as series you tend to loose a lot of your bottom end and can have HUGE phasing issues. Like everyone else said I would go with a 4 ch amp OR get one that is rated to 2 ohm stereo. While this one is not it will probably run for a while the way that you are talking as long as you do not hammer on it.

Jon

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

this amp can run 2 ohm or 4 ohm, or am i misunderstanding something, cant i get a high powered 2 channel amp that will produce somewhere around 150w rms x 2 channel x 4ohm, then split them so each channel has 2 speakers, thus playing 75w rms x 2 channel x 4 ohm?

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

What the amp will produce is based on the load it "sees" at it's outputs. Your speakers, their impedance, and their efficiency dictate what you will get out of an amp, and what the effective loudness will be.

You wouldn't "split" the outputs of the two channel amp. You would combine the speaker leads using either the parallel (both hots together and both grounds together creating a 2 ohm load in the process ) or series (route from the output to one pole of a speaker, through that speaker, over to the other speaker, and then back to the other output on the amp like a loop, maintaining the 4 ohm load.)

When you parallel a pair of speakers you double the impedance, which halves your ohm load rating. (8 becomes 4, 4 becomes 2)

When you bridge, you turn the unit into a single channel "push-pull" amp and you further increase the resistance and drop the Ohm rating.

You need two bridged stereo amps for stereo, because they each become a mono amp in the process of bridging.

back to the answer to your question.

Your amp will work. It will be loud enough if your speakers have an efficiency of say... 89 dB or above.

It takes double the amp power to create 3 additional dBs of sound. So... 1 watt 1 meter 1 k= 89dB becomes 2 watts 1 meter 1 k 91dB

4 watts 94 dB
8 watts 97
16 watts 100
32 watts 103
64 watts 106

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

what about a 4 channel amp, that is 100w x 4 channel @ 4 ohms but its max wattage, not rms 100w???, the rms wattage on that would be less right, say 50ish

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

so with the amp i mentioned in the first post, i would take one speaker, splice it into the next speaker wire, thus creating the series, plug in the leading speaker wire into the 150 rms @ 4 ohm channel, and this would produce me 75 w rms @ 4 ohm on each speaker, then repeat this on the other side for the other 2 speakers, into the other channel, and i should have 4 speakers, recieving 75w rms @ 4 ohms

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

Fund, I think you got one piece wrong in your description. Wiring 2 speakers in series that are both 4 ohms does not maintain a 4 ohm impedance. When you wire in series, you add the loads up, in this case giving you an impedance of 8 ohms.
This assumes of course, that I remember something from my days as an installer. The possibility that I do not is very real. :D

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

Not sure. We could chase our tails for hours if we don't use the same language.

Here is a link to a pdf with a great diagram of series vs. parallel and the explanations of each.

http://www.installdr.com/TechDocs/999016.pdf

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

Rainmn...

My "not sure" was for the previous question. :D

I spent way more years doing home than car, and more years doing pro than homes.
Inverse square law... right?

You are making me second guess myself rainmn. :D
I almost got up and went and found my meter.

Now I have to go read that pdf.... :D

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

Dam Rainmn.

You're right!

Tells you how often I used series.

In this case he may need a bigger amp because he will get less from the amp with an 8ohm load than a 4ohm load. (What, maybe 40% less?)

The good news is that the amp will run cooler at 8 than it would at 4.
:D

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

Ok... I was full of chit on the resistance of a series load.
That's how you know that it was off the top of my head. :D

The rest was legit.

Sorry Boomer. :D

Good catch Rainmn. One more guy a owe a beer ona long list. :)

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

IF this amp can run on a 2 ohm load DO NOT RUN ANYTHING IN SERIES.

Run them in parallel - run speaker wires from 2 speakers to the left side of the amp and 2 speaker wires to the right side of the amp.

Done deal - simple! :D

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

the amp will draw the ohms off what my speakers are correct, so even running them in parrellel, they will still draw the 4ohms right?

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

No, how you wire your speakers will determine the resistance. Wiring 2 4 ohm speakers in parallel will give you a 2 ohm load. Wiring in series will give you an 8 ohm load. Less load, more power. More load, less power. 4 speakers hooked to your amp(2 to each channel) in parallel will be SIGNIFICANTLY louder than in series. Also running the amp harder and producing more heat.

As long as your amp is 2 ohm stable wire in parallel.

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

Also, I THINK this amp is rated at 100 watts x 2 RMS. So, if you run it at 2 ohms you should be around 130-150 watts x 2 RMS which puts you at 65-75 watts RMS per speaker. :D

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

The 2-ohm power rating of 200 watts x 2 (14.4 volts)

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

That would give you 100 watts RMS to each speaker! :D So, you really won't be working the amp that hard with the speakers you have. Buy it, wire your speakers in parallel and SMILE!!! :D

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

agreed,....... are there any cons to parrellel apposed to series, battery issues, or drawing too much power, over heating the amp or blowing the amp or speaker?

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

It will run the amp hotter. Probably drain the battery a little faster. That amp is fairly new so it should have some built in protection so it doesn't fry. But, if you're putting out 200x2RMS you won't be working it hard. Adjust the gain/volume accordingly so you don't overpower your speakers.

I would never run anything over 4 ohms. Just wasting power. I've never needed fader control so I always used 2 channel amps with 4 speakers on purpose so I could do exactly what you are doing now. Never had an overheating problem or dead battery. The only reason I bought a 4 channel this last time is because I bought 2-ohm speakers. :D

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

Anybody know how running at 2 ohms instead of 4 or 8 effects the headroom and the dynamic range of a system?

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

Now you're waaayyy past what I remember from the "old days." :D

Re: Stereo Guys: amp question
 

It affects it in the sense that the amp is creating more power, more power means more decibels, although not much, say 1 maybe 2 db more unless the amp's ratings double from 4 to 2 ohms, which some car amps do (mainly Class D) then you gain 3 db.