Power differences

[Electrodynamic]

This was posted by a fellow member, GunForHire, in another thread on our forum but the information is so good and can teach so many people what you will really "gain" by increasing your power by a few hundred watts I decided to sticky it.

Quote:

No sound difference. How can I state that?

Open your Windows calculator (or Mac, or Linux).

Type 750 / 500. You get 1.5 right? Now press the "log" button, you get 0.17.

Now press * 10 - you get 1.7. There is 1.7 dB difference between those two amps. A level that you'll go "I think I hear it"... Get to 3 dB and you'll know there's a volume difference, but it won't be much. Get to 8 to 10 dB and you'll hear it as twice as loud.

Bottom line, unless you're talking about a ratio of 2 or more in terms of power, it's really not an issue. Go with the smaller amp (you'll have the same sonics), save the cash, space, weight, and power draw.

[XSNiper]

I want to go from a eD 11kv.2 to a Mag v4 but I'm only getting a 4.1dB increase according to this method...(385W to 1000W) Not sure it's worth it anymore. (delete this if I'm not supposed to post here)

[Electrodynamic]

Originally Posted by XSNiper

I want to go from a eD 11kv.2 to a Mag v4 but I'm only getting a 4.1dB increase according to this method...(385W to 1000W) Not sure it's worth it anymore. (delete this if I'm not supposed to post here)

That's actually a really good increase. Were you expecting more than that? PS: You're also going from a 10" sub to a 12" subwoofer, which will gain you even more output on top of the number you got from the equation.

If it's all about being loud there are other drivers out there that will provide more gain in sheer output. The decision to switch to Mag v4 will provide you with better sound quality, improved tranisients, better low end extension, the same size enclosure, and better efficiency (more output). If those qualities are not what you're after then you could always stick with the 11kv.2.

[XSNiper]

I definitely am not going for just loudness but I am looking to increase the output of my lows. The way I have it right now my components completely blow out my subwoofer and you can barely hear it. (Unless I used loudness which I think sounds like trash) I really would like the double bass in Killswitch Engage to be more....punchy.

[King Alpha]

So I'm currently running a 3rd Gen Mag with a Sundown SAE-1000D. I was planning on picking up a 4th Gen Mag and using that SAE-1000D for it, and also picking up a SAZ-1500D for my 3rd Gen Mag.

After reading this, I guess I'm picking up another SAE-1000D over a SAZ-1500D.

[sundownz]

I agree 100% with Mr. GunForHire - the craze to put "a few extra watts" into speakers is crazy. This is a big reason my Nightshade drivers were optimized for 1.5kw... jumping to 2kw is almost no more output, even going to 3kw is 3 dB in a perfect world, but with power compression at that level 1.5 - 2 dB is more likely, barely any difference.

Nick is on the right track with these new Mags for his target SQ audience. They are efficient drivers and they sound exceptionally good. IMO, ~500 watts on them would be fantastic - an SAX-100.2 on a Mag 12 would be great. You won't be at risk of blowing your driver and it'll sound great since they are so efficient.

[sundownz]

Originally Posted by King Alpha

So I'm currently running a 3rd Gen Mag with a Sundown SAE-1000D. I was planning on picking up a 4th Gen Mag and using that SAE-1000D for it, and also picking up a SAZ-1500D for my 3rd Gen Mag.

After reading this, I guess I'm picking up another SAE-1000D over a SAZ-1500D.

An SAE-1000D per Mag is a very good solution. The Mag 12 liked the 1000D on music in Nick's car

[bose301s]

Ah, I love actual technical talk, lol. Anyway, I am definitely putting my SE-1000D on the new Mag V4, gonna set the gain so it should see at most around 950 watts as not to risk blowing the Mag.