I own an AudioBahn MX2000 amplifier, which I plan to connect to a JL Audio 8" Subwoofer. This amp puts out over 1500 watts at 1 ohm, and 500 watts at 4 ohms. My sub is rated at 450 watts RMS (this is the factory's maximum "Danger Zone" recommended power before the warranty is voided) at 3 ohms.

What I'd like to do is increase the effective resistance of my subwoofer so that it draws less current (to avoid blowing this very expensive component). Can I just stick a resitor in series with the thing, or will that have some weird and negative affect on the performance of the sub? Can anyone recommend a resistor that can take the kind of current I'll be running? Any other ideas?

 

Just keep the volume down. Set the gain on the amplifier so that it dosen't drive it so hard. Adding a resistor will work, BUT, it will nulify the big wires you most likely installed from the amp to the woffer.
Another factor is that any speaker will have an impedience that varies with the frequency of the music. The woffer will not be as "flat" with the resistance in the circuit, but most people would not notice this ( I would not). You will need a 1 or 2 ohm resistor at 100 Watts min, not impossible to obtain but difficult.
Andy

 

Incidently a 250 Watt resistor is a foot long and about 1.5 inches in dia. It will get hot!!
Andy

 

Sell the amp and get a quality one with the right amount of power needed. Done.

 

Thanks for the suggestions! Selling the amp is not really an option, and it sounds like the resistor is a bad idea. What are the odds of me actually blowing the speaker if I set the level to something that sounds good at reasonable volume? The sub is in a sealeded enclosure. I plan to listen to the thing quite loudly.

 

Considering that the speaker is 3 ohm and the rating is for a 4 ohm load I would say that there is very little chance that you will dammage the speaker. The maxim ratings 450 WAtts will be very loud IMHO!
Andy

 

I say the possibility is pretty high to blow the sub. Sure you are giving it a LOT more power than wanted but you have to remember, what kills speakers? Power or distortion? You're giving it way to much of both. Period. eBay the amp and get a JL 250/1 and be much happier.

 

The fact that it's 3 ohm increasing the current, which exacerbates the problem. It increases the chance of blowing the speaker.

Can't I just keep the level down and be fine? In what way am I increasing distortion?

 

Hi: If the speaker is 1 Ohm the amplifier is supposed to put out 1200 Watts but with 4 Ohms the amplifier output is only about 400 watts. As the speaker impedience increases the output power goes down. As long as the volume is not pushed to an extreme level there should be no problem. One solution would be to purchase a second woofer and put it in series with the first.
Andy

 

there are a lot of factors that come into play with this topic.

first thing is,are u sure it really puts out that much power? i tried to look up the amp on the internet and came up with nothing for audiobahn mx2000. it did show autotek mx2000. get me the model or even better, the fuse rating on the amp.

another thing is, audiobahn overrates their amps. wut i mean is, voltage has a lot to do with power ratings and when they rate the amp for specs, they rate it over normal conditions. like... more voltage than the normal consumer will ever get. the more voltage u rate with, the more power u get because voltage measures power and power = watts. so the more voltage u have, the more power u have and the more power u have, the more watts u will have.

"if" they get 500x1@ 4ohms rated at 14.4 volts then u would not blow ur sub. the reason being, a normal car with a good battery will see about 12.5 - 13.5 volts at idle. depending on the resistance from wire gauge, u can lose some voltage between the battery and power wire. so guessing that u have a normal car setup, u will actually see about 12 - 12.8 volts at the amp using an 8 gauge wire. so from my calculations, u will get an approximate 380 watts. now remember, that im just making an educated guess.

i am pretty sure u will not blow ur sub unless u abuse it.

if u want me to be sure, give me the specs of ur system and the correct model number. there are a few small factors that i have left out.