HELP: Ideas for use of 5-channel amp's subwoofer output (already have mono amp)

1322 Views 6 Replies 4 Participants Last post by ousooner2, Sep 16, 2013

jrogers81

Discussion Starter · Sep 14, 2013

I have a 2013 Accord EX-L. The entire audio system except for the head unit was replaced with the following components:

6-Channel LoD: Audio Control LC7i

5-Channel Amp: Alpine PDX-5 (BirthsheetL 107w RMS x 4, 417w x 1 at 4ohms or 2 ohms)
Front: Polk db5251 Components
Rear: Polk db651s Coaxial

Mono Amp: MB Quart RA1000.1 (1000w RMS)
Subwoofer: 15" Alpine SWS-15D4 subwoofer.

The subwoofer channel on the Alpine PDX-5 was intended for the subwoofer but it was just not enough power. I now have a 2nd amp and the 5-channel sub channel is unused.

I was wondering what the forum would recommend to do with the extra 400w channel. I don't want to cloud anyone's ideas, but I like the idea of a smaller midbass driver (or 2 bridged) somewhere in the cabin (doors, lower dash, kick pannel, or ???) to make up for the smaller 5.25" drivers in the doors.

What should I do?

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radiofred

· #2 · Sep 16, 2013

try looking into some bass shackers under the seats i had a set in a acura tl i had powered from the 5 channel on an alpine pdx amp dont know if your going to hear/feel it because of your 15 inch sub

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Bullets

· #3 · Sep 16, 2013

If you are unhappy with the midbass of your car, then I would put a 6.5" jl micro sub under one of the front seats.

If you are happy with the car's sound, then don't add stuff just because you can and have an extra amp channel.

And just curious, why did you decide to put smaller speakers up front?

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jrogers81

Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 16, 2013

Bullets said:
If you are unhappy with the midbass of your car, then I would put a 6.5" jl micro sub under one of the front seats.

If you are happy with the car's sound, then don't add stuff just because you can and have an extra amp channel.

And just curious, why did you decide to put smaller speakers up front?

I put the 5.25s becuase it was the only component set that Crutchfield guaranteed to fit that was at least 100w RMS. After reading on this forum, I may change those out when I get back from Afghanistan.

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ousooner2

· #5 · Sep 16, 2013

jrogers81 said:
I put the 5.25s becuase it was the only component set that Crutchfield guaranteed to fit that was at least 100w RMS. After reading on this forum, I may change those out when I get back from Afghanistan.

First of all, thank you for your service :thmsup:

You shouldn't just be going off that. There are PLENTY of 6.5's that would be just fine on that PDX at 4ohms (even 2ohm mids). If you're unhappy with what you're getting from the 6.5's, then adding more speakers might help, but you're also going to run into more reflections, more crossover area's which could be problematic for dips/peaks, etc etc.

Also, if 400-500 isn't enough for your sub and you're not wanting to just be heard from down the street while your trunk rattles and you think it's cool.....then you need to rethink your sub setup. If you're wanting more sub bass, don't just throw more power at it. Put 2 12's or 15's in an IB setup and you'll be fine off 300-400 each. WAAAAY more output than you'll likely ever need....and that's going to go into the teens, not fall off a cliff at 35hz-ish like most setups. You'll gain pretty much all of your trunk space back, have a helluva bottom end and some IB subs can sound great up into the upper midbass, making it easy to mesh with some 6.5's or 5's. Hell I had a buddy that ran his 2 15" AE ib15's up to 2.2kHz and mated them with his Dynaudio esotar tweeter. Said it actually sounded pretty good! There's soooo much more out there than just putting a large sub in a stupidly large box off a stupid amount of power that all costs way too much.

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jrogers81

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 16, 2013

ousooner2 said:
First of all, thank you for your service :thmsup:
QUOTE]

Thanks! I was in the Army and fought in the first wave of the Iraq War, but now I am just a contractor.

ousooner2 said:

There are PLENTY of 6.5's that would be just fine on that PDX at 4ohms (even 2ohm mids).

Click to expand...

I had to order sight-unseen for the wife to have installed. When I get back we are splitting and I am going to use working on the car as a sort of therapy, so probably more changes to come!

ousooner2 said:

If you're wanting more sub bass, don't just throw more power at it.

Click to expand...

Well the 300-400ish RMS was not enough so I got an amp that will do 500w @ 4ohms, 750w @ 2ohms, and 1000w @ 1ohm. The sub takes 500w RMS so IF it will fit I may get one more 15" and put 2 in there.

ousooner2 said:

Put 2 12's or 15's in an IB setup and you'll be fine off 300-400 each. WAAAAY more output than you'll likely ever need....and that's going to go into the teens, not fall off a cliff at 35hz-ish like most setups. You'll gain pretty much all of your trunk space back, have a helluva bottom end and some IB subs can sound great up into the upper midbass, making it easy to mesh with some 6.5's or 5's.QUOTE]

I have never done an IB setup.
How do you make an IB setup with 2 15's in the trunk of a 2013 Accord?
Does it work with ALL sub, or just some types?

THANKS FOR THE ADVICE!

Click to expand...

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ousooner2

· #7 · Sep 16, 2013

jrogers81 said:
Well the 300-400ish RMS was not enough so I got an amp that will do 500w @ 4ohms, 750w @ 2ohms, and 1000w @ 1ohm. The sub takes 500w RMS so IF it will fit I may get one more 15" and put 2 in there.

ousooner2 said:

Put 2 12's or 15's in an IB setup and you'll be fine off 300-400 each. WAAAAY more output than you'll likely ever need....and that's going to go into the teens, not fall off a cliff at 35hz-ish like most setups. You'll gain pretty much all of your trunk space back, have a helluva bottom end and some IB subs can sound great up into the upper midbass, making it easy to mesh with some 6.5's or 5's.QUOTE]

I have never done an IB setup.
How do you make an IB setup with 2 15's in the trunk of a 2013 Accord?
Does it work with ALL sub, or just some types?

THANKS FOR THE ADVICE!

Click to expand...

If you went from 400rms to 500rms then you shouldn't have even seen/felt a change. Doubling the power will gain roughly 3db, which isn't much of a change down in the sub frequencies. That's a general rule of thumb, but honestly you likely wont gain the full 3db, due to power compression, heat, etc. Granted it's mathematical theory as it's hard to predict exactly what will happen (every car is different, different setups, etc etc), but doubling power should have decent gain.

If it works & you're happy then great! You might look at a sub that's a little more efficient though and ditch the mono if you'd like to look further into this though.

Seriously though, put that 15"...though it's not 'ideal' for IB it'll work...in infinite baffle (IB) and watch it go to town on like 300rms lol. You're not living until you have sub 25hz in-car/in-home.

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