I had a quick and prob easy question but just wanted to get input on it. I am about to install my ARC audio subs which are each dual 4 ohm subs. The amp that i will be using is a Cadence Z9000 which puts out the power like this.
4 Ohm Stereo Power-- 2 x 300 Watts
2 Ohm Stereo Power-- 2 x 400 Watts
4 Ohm Bridged Power-- 1 x 800 Watts

Now should I wire the subs in series then parrallel them to get a 4ohm load and run it at bridged power or should I just run each sub parrallel into a 2ohm load and hook into each channel? Its been a while with car audio so i could just be completely off to begin with.

 

If it were me, I'd wire it like this:


Wire the voice coils on each single sub in series effectively making each sub a single 8 Ohm sub. Then wire those two together in parallel, this should present a single 4 Ohm load to your amp. Run your amp in bridged mode. You give up having two separate channels of bass music, but you gain headroom.

 

yeah thats what i figured so i just wanted to see if i should just go with the bridged way or use both channels with the subs each wired to 2ohms. Thanks

 

IF you have a divider in your sub box, I would bridge the subs and (making them 2 ohm) and then run the amp stright that will give you a overall 2 ohm load on each channel

 

ok its going in a subthump box so it is divided. i guess i'm just going to have to mess with it and see what sounds better because it seems everyone has their own ideas on which is better yet some say its the same, and others say, bridged is better or seperate channels are better. But either way I will be getting around 400wrms to each sub correct?

 

That's correct. You're pushing the amp in pretty much the same manner no matter which way you go. The difference is one way puts the subs in stereo the other does not. Personally I would bridge the amp and run them mono because I think there might be less of a possibility of phasing issues. Either way the results should be pretty similar.

 

its easy to get stuff in phase.... mono is cool too though

 

I like the way you think. I would also keep in mind that you will be cutting the low pass at ~150Hz (I hope) there by giving the amp additional headroom from the start (in a way). Many low pass x-overs will force the signal into mono anyway so either way will be fine. Phasing issues will be minimal...unless you wire the subs incorrectly and go 180* out of phase in stereo. I would find an active low pass x-over with at least a 24dB Octave slope and run her in Mono.

 

well its in and hooked up, running at a 4ohm load and pushing about 600+wrms, capable of over 800wrms but kept it lower for sub reasons. Here are some pics




Dont mind the mess!!!

 

oh yeah and the remote switch in the center consol