The most important choice you make when choosing a subwoofer is what amplifier you will use to power it. A good subwoofer is not nearly important as a good amplifier. There are a few main considerations that will make choosing an amplifier an easier process. After making certain that you know what you need in an amp, the rest of the decision will come down to personal preference. If you choose an amp to properly power your subwoofer you can even make a lackluster sub sound surprisingly good.
Instructions
1. Determine your amplifier needs. Since you are powering one subwoofer, you do not want a four channel amplifier. While a mono channel amplifier may seem like the best idea, include two channel amplifiers in your search. Two channel amplifiers are typically less expensive and, when bridged, can offer similar power to a mono amp.
2. Understand the ohm load you are going to place on the amplifier. For most individual subwoofers, the ohm load is going to range from two to eight ohms, depending on voice coils and how you wire the sub. If you have a single voice coil subwoofer, it will only list the ohms load that the subwoofer runs at. If you have a dual voice coil subwoofer, it will list the various ohms it can function at. If you are using a single voice coil sub, purchase an amplifier that is rated safe at whatever ohms load the subwoofer requires.
3. For a dual voice coil subwoofer, you will normally want to wire in parallel, which will lower the ohms to the lowest rating for the subwoofer. This means you need an amplifier, typically, safe down to 2 ohms. In some cases you will need to be safe at one ohm. If this is the case, you will almost always want to purchase a mono amp. You can also choose to run each voice coil to its own channel on a two channel amplifier. This option somewhat less common but allows the sub to run at a higher ohm level. Remember when checking an amp that it needs to be rated at the same ohm level or lower than the subwoofer requires.
4. Once you have decided how many channels your amplifier is going to be, decide how much power you need. You will generally find two power ratings. The first will be the RMS, or constant power rating. This is how much power the subwoofer receives throughout use. The other rating will be the peak power rating. If you do not find the peak power rating, you can estimate double the RMS rating. You will also notice that these ratings are different at different ohms. You need to find the power rating that fits the ohm load you are going to wire your subwoofer for. Using the RMS is a much better way to determine an amplifier's ability than the peak power. You need to make sure that your amplifier has enough power to properly push the subwoofer. If you underpower the subwoofer too much, your amplifier may overheat as it struggles to perform or can damage the subwoofer. While you also don't want too much power going to your subwoofer, underpowering is more dangerous.
5. Now that you have narrowed down your choices by using the two most important criteria--impedance and power-- you should examine distortion level. THD is a standard term used to refer to distortion. While many amplifiers boast 1 percent THD, this is actually a poor rating. Instead, you want to look for a THD as close to .01% as possible. That is the percentage at which distortion is not noticeable. Anything larger than that may cause your ears to pick up on sound problems. While you may not want to pay the price of a minimal distortion amplifier, you need to be aware of what you are buying.
6. Finally look for the features you want. Most amplifiers will come with built in filters to adjust what music makes it to your subwoofer. These are helpful in tuning the subwoofer to sound its best. You will also want to see if bass boost knobs are included. These little perks allow for greater control of the sound your subwoofer produces.
7. While there are many other ratings that have been applied to amplifiers, your preferences will guide your decision. Whether or not the amplifier has lighting, if the brand is reputable or if the amplifier fits conveniently on the back of your subwoofer enclosure will all help make your final decision.
Tags: your subwoofer, voice coil, power rating, your amplifier, channel amplifier, coil subwoofer, coil subwoofer will
