How much power is left on the table.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,150
Likes: 459
From: S. FL
I haven't read all 5 pages word forward so forgive me if these points have been made... the human ear GENERALLY needs a 3dB increase in volume to perceive a difference. That equates to a doubling of power. in other words, if you have 150W going to a 4-ohm speaker you would need to send it 300W to increase the volume 3dB. There are ways to "play" with this rule (i.e. equalizers). Additionally, at a given Hz a speaker has a different Impedance(ohms), say at 100Hz is at 3.8 ohms then at 4KHz it may be 9 ohms. So, this plays with the perceived volume as well.
The other thing to think about when talking about output power to remember is that music is dynamic! Just because you use an amp rated at 150W per channel at 4 ohms doesn't mean you are sending the speaker 150W RMS continuously. Its likely only a fraction of that 150W rating. Just because you have a 1000W amp doesn't mean you are pushing a 1000W all the time, often it's probably 10% of that.
These may be novice things that are way too obvious to bring up IDK, but to have a conversation about power these things have to be considered. I am in the stereo only crowd for the most part. I'll use part of my system as an example. I use a JL Audio XD 400/4V2 to run my (4) 4-ohm PRV Neo 6.5s. This results a 75W per speaker potential amplification. Had I used the 8-ohm version of this speaker I could have used the same amp and achieved 100W per speaker of potential amplification. 25W per speaker would not have made an audible difference in sound in my opinion. Especially considering the environment that has already been discussed in this thread. Now I don't fault anyone for trying to strategize to extract every last watt out of their setup it's totally a preference thing. Also, I applaud anyone trying out of the box stuff to try and get that next little bit of SQ/loud out of there system. Google "alan dante spl car" images to get a taste of "out of the box" thinking.
The other thing to think about when talking about output power to remember is that music is dynamic! Just because you use an amp rated at 150W per channel at 4 ohms doesn't mean you are sending the speaker 150W RMS continuously. Its likely only a fraction of that 150W rating. Just because you have a 1000W amp doesn't mean you are pushing a 1000W all the time, often it's probably 10% of that.
These may be novice things that are way too obvious to bring up IDK, but to have a conversation about power these things have to be considered. I am in the stereo only crowd for the most part. I'll use part of my system as an example. I use a JL Audio XD 400/4V2 to run my (4) 4-ohm PRV Neo 6.5s. This results a 75W per speaker potential amplification. Had I used the 8-ohm version of this speaker I could have used the same amp and achieved 100W per speaker of potential amplification. 25W per speaker would not have made an audible difference in sound in my opinion. Especially considering the environment that has already been discussed in this thread. Now I don't fault anyone for trying to strategize to extract every last watt out of their setup it's totally a preference thing. Also, I applaud anyone trying out of the box stuff to try and get that next little bit of SQ/loud out of there system. Google "alan dante spl car" images to get a taste of "out of the box" thinking.
Tourer
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 269
Likes: 31
From: Alberta
Great read. Lots of great info. Unfortunately I missed the target when I pulled the internet trigger finger and bought a bunch of stuff. Now trying to make it all work together.
Buy high sell low. Thats my moto.
Buy high sell low. Thats my moto.
New ideas lead to new products. New products leads to a stack of old products on the garage shelf.
Hell I'm in the middle of upgrading right now, knowing there's a good chance I'm probably going to want to upgrade some of it again next year.
The good thing is there is usually someone happy to buy my old gear, and unfortunately some new gear I probably didn't need.
Tourer
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 278
Likes: 98
From: Berwyn Il
Just Go to Crutchfield.com.
I had to go take a cruise around to see what kind of things are offered in the world of bike audio, since this thread makes things seem so "new" and "different".
I found the "new" to be Bluetooth...maybe, and the "different" to be, how poorly laid out specs are at some "popular" moto places, which makes it absolutely impossible to plan a system.
Other than that, the math is the same....
Whadyakno!?
3 truths.
1. Front and Center on a Touring Bike with Speakers in the Fairing is ONE OF THE BEST PLACES ON EARTH TO ENJOY STEREO SOUND.
(mono everywhere else)
2. An overpowered system Will Always sound cleaner if played at appropriate volume levels.
3. Crutchfield.com walks you through installation, and usually provides $30-60 of free harnesses/install kits with your purchase..
Sorce
I found the "new" to be Bluetooth...maybe, and the "different" to be, how poorly laid out specs are at some "popular" moto places, which makes it absolutely impossible to plan a system.
Other than that, the math is the same....
Whadyakno!?
3 truths.
1. Front and Center on a Touring Bike with Speakers in the Fairing is ONE OF THE BEST PLACES ON EARTH TO ENJOY STEREO SOUND.
(mono everywhere else)
2. An overpowered system Will Always sound cleaner if played at appropriate volume levels.
3. Crutchfield.com walks you through installation, and usually provides $30-60 of free harnesses/install kits with your purchase..
Sorce
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 353
From: Tyler Tx
No disrespect at all brother. Thus is audio and the the minute everyone thinks they got it all figured out, it changes. That's half the fun. I change golf clubs a bunch too. Lol!!!
But are guys/gals going to 8 ohm due to product availability within the pro audio / mid bass / mid range arena or are 8 ohm speakers something that folks really should seek out? Do they really play better? More or less efficient? Require more of less watts to obtain the same DB? Are the more suitable to pair with amps for amp watt management / efficiency?
Cavity back or forged golf clubs? Same concept?
T
But are guys/gals going to 8 ohm due to product availability within the pro audio / mid bass / mid range arena or are 8 ohm speakers something that folks really should seek out? Do they really play better? More or less efficient? Require more of less watts to obtain the same DB? Are the more suitable to pair with amps for amp watt management / efficiency?
Cavity back or forged golf clubs? Same concept?
T
Cavity back all day, on my consistent days I could make a forged Adams club sing. On my inconsistent days, the titleist AP1s kept me out of the 90s.......
That said, I run a mix of 4 and 8 ohm speakers depending on where Im putting them, power demands, and power availability of the amps I want to run. 8ohm allows me to bridge a 4 ohm amp and get a bit more than I could running it with 2 4ohm speakers in stereo.
Others Ill leave in stereo because of where they are or what I have available.
Took me a few tries to make 6 speakers sound good but I think it came out ok.
Now we move to 10 because its never enough and Ill select them and the amps accordingly for what Im trying to do.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Northwest Louisiana
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Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,186
Likes: 444
From: Mi
I try to send my speakers somewhere between rms and max power or program power if you are dealing with some of the pro audio brands.
My set-up
Beyma cx6 woofers are getting 300 watts each
Beyma cx8 woofers are getting 300 watts each
Gz Red 6.5 getting 400 watts each
4 Beyma horns getting about 43 watts each
Prv10w650a getting 600 watts each.
Amps were tuned with head unit at 43/50 volume
I have not turned my head unit up past 32.
Sound is loud and clear, with some good bottom end.
So out of 3,450 watts i have everything tuned about 3,380 watts. This is all rms at 12.6 volts.
Not a whole lot left on the table.
Juice
My set-up
Beyma cx6 woofers are getting 300 watts each
Beyma cx8 woofers are getting 300 watts each
Gz Red 6.5 getting 400 watts each
4 Beyma horns getting about 43 watts each
Prv10w650a getting 600 watts each.
Amps were tuned with head unit at 43/50 volume
I have not turned my head unit up past 32.
Sound is loud and clear, with some good bottom end.
So out of 3,450 watts i have everything tuned about 3,380 watts. This is all rms at 12.6 volts.
Not a whole lot left on the table.
Juice
Last edited by Juice; Jun 4, 2019 at 09:22 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,186
Likes: 444
From: Mi
Let's bring this back to the top..
GBS is advertising some new amps. "Banda", they look like a good footprint size, for the power they are rated at.
Downside some of these are 1 channel and 1ohm stable. What are your thoughts?
I know some people have recently bought the wrong SD amp, wrong as in 2 vs 4 ohm rating for their set-up.
Trying to get some discussion and if anyone has knowledge or experience with the Banda.
Juice
GBS is advertising some new amps. "Banda", they look like a good footprint size, for the power they are rated at.
Downside some of these are 1 channel and 1ohm stable. What are your thoughts?
I know some people have recently bought the wrong SD amp, wrong as in 2 vs 4 ohm rating for their set-up.
Trying to get some discussion and if anyone has knowledge or experience with the Banda.
Juice