Which amp matches this sub? (I know nothing audio..sorry)

Ok... here's my situation...
I was pretty much given this 8" sub from my bro.
http://www.polkaudio.com/caraudio/specs/speakers/8inch/mm2084dvc/

Its a dual 4 ohm voice coil 8" sub
200 watts RMS
400 watts peak
Frequency Response 26hz-200hz

I need to know what to look for in an amp to match my sub.
I'm totally dumb with car audio... I don't know anything.

I do know how to make an enclosure the proper volume though. I just need help with choosing the correct amp. (on the cheap too)

Can someone who knows audio tell me what to do please?

I know an 8" aint going to win competitions. I just want some clean base inside my ride.

Thanks!

You'll want a mono amp that reads this:

200rms @ 2ohms.


or a two channel that says

bridgeable to 2ohms
200rms bridged @ 2 0hms

or
100rms X2 @ 4ohms... BUT, make sure each channel isn't getting a stereo signal like this.. otherwise the coils may get slightly different inputs. Just use 1 of the 2 plugs on the RCA cable, and get a splitter that splits it into 2 plugs, then plug into the amp

This would work:
http://cgi.ebay.com/JL-Audio-e1200-Mono-Amp-200...%7C65%3A15%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Thanks!

can a 200 watt RMS 1 channel at 4 ohm amp work?

D_M_A_N wrote:

can a 200 watt RMS 1 channel at 4 ohm amp work?

It CAN but it's not ideal. A 400 Wrms 1 channel at 4 ohm would be better.

so confusing for me

D_M_A_N wrote:

so confusing for me

You can buy the 200 Wrms 1 channel at 4 ohms if you want. You will have to actually listen to the QUALITY from the sub and make sure there's no distortion. If you do that, you won't blow anything (but this is true for all audio stuff). If you're not going to be careful and want to crank it, then get a more suited amp.

yeah I want to get the right amp. I'm not set on anything in particular.

So THE most ideal setup would be what?
400 watts RMS x1 at 4 ohm?
or 200 watts RMS x 1 at 2 ohm?

or do they somehow equal the same thing?

D_M_A_N wrote:

yeah I want to get the right amp. I'm not set on anything in particular. So THE most ideal setup would be what? 400 watts RMS x1 at 4 ohm? or 200 watts RMS x 1 at 2 ohm? or do they somehow equal the same thing?

They are "equivalent." I'm most likely going to further confuse you here.

Since you have a DVC 4 ohm sub, you'll wire the two voice coils in parellel for an overall impedance of 2 ohms. The 200 watt RMS x 1 at 2 ohm amp will deliver the maximum power of 200Wrms to the sub. The sub impedance will match that the amp output impedance. This allows the maximum output from the amp (200Wrms).

For this amp, you would wire your voice coils in series for a total impedance of 8 ohms. The 400 watt RMS x 1 at 4 ohm will deliver 200Wrms to the sub. Since the sub has twice the impedance of the amp output impedance, the amp will only deliver half the power to the sub. Either way, you're going to get 200Wrms to the sub.

It's all a matter of choice. I personally would choose the cheaper one if that was the only difference. Technically speaking, the 200Wrms x 1 at 2 ohms is more efficient. But they will both create the same level of sound output.

Ah! Forgot about 8ohms.

Like he said.. it'll be a little bit more expensive amp, but 400rms @ 4ohms (which would turn into 200rms @ 8ohms) would be good for your setup as well.

Supposedly higher impedance (ie 8ohm vs 2) sound cleaner or something.. if I remember right. I've never really tried it out.