Hey guys, I'm new to this section of the forum... so please be kind :).

Anyhow, I currently have a Nakamichi 1000W 6 CH amp running 4 speakers and a sub.

The highs and mids are crisp and clear, but there is no low end, even with bass boost up, deck full bass etc...

Problem is I am running my sub off ch 5,6 which is a sum of chan 1,3. So obviously, distortion will occur on the speakers if i try and increase the bass output.

My question is, how do I get more bass from this setup? Is there a way to equilize the amped signal going to the sub? Or do I have to run another amp (which I dont want to add more weight to the car) for the sub specifically...

TIA!
Ritchie

I would say add another amplifier. One more amp only adds a few more pounds.

tell me what sub you have, what box it is in (size/type), and how the box is positioned in the car (location and direction it is firing) and ill tell you how to make it louder.

maybe you have wired the sub out of phase, with one channel backwards from the other one. That would definitely give you no bass. More info on the sub will help - but SPL will probably have a better answer then me because he is mad pro at car audio.

^^you cant wire one sub out of phase, only out of polarity. you might pick up a dB or two from reversing the + and - wires, but i doubt it will make a difference in his case. if he had two subs, then i completely agree, in fact thats the first thing i would suggest! ;)

Hey all, thnx for the intersts in my problem... maybe pics are best to describe my setup.. (BIG PICS) doh, servers are down right now.





The sub is an entry level pioneer sub... and box is just a standard MTX sub box for a 10".

I should clearify my problem a bit more.. since Im not an audio buff, please bare with me. There is bass, cause I can feel it hit, just at loud volumes and not as deep as it was before when I was running it on a dedicated amp, cause it could run on low xover pass.

Anyhow... what are my options? What does a DVC sub do? I don't really want to add another amp cause it seems like a waste of channels 5,6 since theres enough power to go around anyhow.

Im not looking for loud, im looking for deeper bass, cause its plenty loud now

TIA

maybe the filter on channels 5, 6 isn't a low pass and it is high-pass instead (which means your sub is not playing at all what it should be). and that sub won't ever go that loud ;) any more information on your amp? does it let you set different filters on each pair of channels?

Originally posted by BumpinTalon
maybe the filter on channels 5, 6 isn't a low pass and it is high-pass instead (which means your sub is not playing at all what it should be). and that sub won't ever go that loud ;) any more information on your amp? does it let you set different filters on each pair of channels?

That's what im thinking, since its a Soundquality amp and not just a mono block to power subs. But they told me chns 5,6 should beable to be run lowpass.

The sub just isnt deepsounding. Is there a lowpass filter i can install? or that just stupid.

maybe the filter isn't set right, it's hard to tell with an amp that bunches everything together like that. You could always port the box, too, which would give you a lot more output.

it looks liek you have the install down pat..the sub is firing toward the rear, the amp seems like it has been installed very neatly, and you seem to know what you are doing w/ the settings. as mentioned before, make sure your gain/crossover is set correctly, and make sure you dont have a wierd sound setting on the headunit or anything. is the sub BRAND new? if so it might take a while to loosen the suspention and break it in.

as for getting a bit deeper bass, you can do a few things: change the sub (which i doubt you will want to do), get a larger sealed box (will make the bass a little sloppier sounding though), or port it at a low frequency (like around 35hz). none of those are "easy fixes" though.

Originally posted by SPL_Eclipse
it looks liek you have the install down pat..the sub is firing toward the rear, the amp seems like it has been installed very neatly, and you seem to know what you are doing w/ the settings. as mentioned before, make sure your gain/crossover is set correctly, and make sure you dont have a wierd sound setting on the headunit or anything. is the sub BRAND new? if so it might take a while to loosen the suspention and break it in. as for getting a bit deeper bass, you can do a few things: change the sub (which i doubt you will want to do), get a larger sealed box (will make the bass a little sloppier sounding though), or port it at a low frequency (like around 35hz). none of those are "easy fixes" though.

Thanks for the info!

Since it is a entry level sub and box, I wouldn't mind considering a higher quality sub and box... but what one? I dont want to go insane... but would that really give me deeper bass from the same amp? I would think the amp is more important, but at the same time, I don't want to put this amp to waste.

Since I want to keep it at one sub only to save weight... would a DVC sub do the trick wired to 2ohms? Cause this amp supports a 2ohm setup and i can then adjust the cutoff frequency better without distortion?

Thnx,
Ritchie

i wont suggest any new equipment to you, as i dont like doing that. im sure your tastes are different than mine. ;) there are plenty of people here that will though.

a DVC sub will lessen resistence to the amp, but theres a couple things to consider. first, i dont think that amp is designed to take that load. you are talking about a 2ohm load BRIDGED to two channels. it would probably be fine with 2ohms per channel, but not bridged. i went to nakamichis website but i couldnt find any info on a 6 channel amp...maning i could be wrong..but i have a hunch that i am right. also, you have to consider that extra power will not necissarily help "up" the lower bass, only re-enforce the same problem you are having now.

so basically, it boils down to keeping the sub you have and getting i different box, or switching subs (and possibly boxes). do some research on a forum dedicated to car audio and you will find a lot of info.

Originally posted by SPL_Eclipse
i wont suggest any new equipment to you, as i dont like doing that. im sure your tastes are different than mine. ;) there are plenty of people here that will though. a DVC sub will lessen resistence to the amp, but theres a couple things to consider. first, i dont think that amp is designed to take that load. you are talking about a 2ohm load BRIDGED to two channels. it would probably be fine with 2ohms per channel, but not bridged. i went to nakamichis website but i couldnt find any info on a 6 channel amp...maning i could be wrong..but i have a hunch that i am right. also, you have to consider that extra power will not necissarily help "up" the lower bass, only re-enforce the same problem you are having now. so basically, it boils down to keeping the sub you have and getting i different box, or switching subs (and possibly boxes). do some research on a forum dedicated to car audio and you will find a lot of info.

Hey thnxs for the info! Points to you! I think i found the model number, its a Nakamichi PA506. From what I gather it supports 200Wx1 @ 2 ohms bridged chn 5,6 only. So, I guess it would support a DVC sub.

Thnx,
Ritchie

2 ohms bridged on channels 5 and 6?? are you sure? that would mean it has to be 1 ohm stereo stable but I know nothing about Nakamichi and they aren't available in Canada, sooo.... You could get an elemental Designs Kv2 (only around $140usd I think, I dunno the usd prices) which you could get in either dual 4 ohm or dual 2 ohm to make sure you match it to your amp perfectly. It's an amazing sub at a great price - my buddy loves his brand new 13Kv2, the lucky bastard - and I am sure you will be very happy with it...and it will play in that tiny box, its really tight SQ wise, and it'll go really loud (and do them all at the same time, unlike a lot of other subs). Or, you could get the Ov2 for around double the price but off the wattage you would give it there is no real point.
You would have a tough time beating elemental's subs at even double that price. You can find used ones, the nomex flat cones (look kinda like carbon fiber cones), for under $100usd shipped and they are almost as good, too, check the "For Sale" section on http://www.icixsound.com/vb/ ... or you could wait around five months and buy one of my 12" subs I am coming out with ;)

http://www.nakamichiusa.com/auto/specs/amp_specs.htm

thanks for the model number, that narrowed the search a bit, lol. it doesnt look like the amp is stable to 2ohms briged, just 2ohms per channel in stereo (4ohms briged for the full 200 watts). guess its time to go audition/research some subs!

4 ohm single voice coil, 2 ohm dual voice coil, or 8 ohm dual voice coil (is there such a thing?) subs will all work for that impedance. :D have fun.

Hehe, ok now that I actually know that my amp is a 600W amp and not 1000W :P.

Im still kinda comfused...
When it says Bridged Power Output (4 ohms), that means I have to bridge chans 5,6 to 4ohms in order to get 200W?

So, does that mean I can wired the DVC sub in series to get this 4ohm bridgin?

hehe I prolly sounds completely dumb now :).