Thought we might start a little discussion. Last night I finally had some time to bridge my 4 channel amp. I am running a Diamond D3400.4 (4 channel for those that don't want to look it up) powering a set of Rainbow SLC componenets.

So my power to the speakers went from about 80 or 90 to 180 each. They do get louder and they are clean, but I thought with as much power as they are getting that they would have been louder overall.

The big question
If doubling the power to your speakers equated to 3db more sound (which is not 2x the volume), and since I'm now sending the speakers their rated power handling is the only way to get more volume is by modifying the installation? I know power doesn't kill speakers, distortion does. Would sending the speakers 300 watts rms each get them louder despite being way above their rated power? Or would this be troublesome to the speakers (eventually it gets to be too much power for the speakers).

I don't need them louder, I'm just curious and would like to hear some thoughts on this. I know deadening my doors at least a little bit would stop those damn door panels from buzzing.


Discuss.

 

3 db gain is double the sound. For every 3 db you go up that is double the previous stage 6 db is double 3 db, 9 db is double 6 db.

Now as far as them being louder overall they should be, did you adjust the gains and adjust your settings to compensate? More aggressive slope on the xover for the mids and higher xover point?

How long have you listened to it since bridging it? You may need some time to get the full difference out of it.

 

Most quality speakers can handle a good bit more power then their rating if it's clean power Also keep in mind that A 300 watt amp, for example, playing music, will hardly if ever actually be putting out that 300 watts, so for that reason with properly set gains and crossover slopes you can send a speaker way over it's rated power (as far as amp rating goes). So gobs and gobs of power is OK. Good music does have peaks that really should PEAK, and lots of power helps get that.

I don't always, but I like being able to really crank up the volume on demand. Sometimes I'm in that mood, and there's some people that no matter how good it sounds, won't respect the system unless it really jams. Also, in competitions they judge you on how well your stereo does at high volumes. and of course stereo systems being my one main hobby that I drop money on, I just don't want to have to compromise.

Stepping up to three way front will often allow you to gain a bit more volume, cause all your speakers are playing in the range in which they can put out the most.

In addition to the three way front stage, the route I go is high efficiency speakers. The horns (especially) and midrange that I run are freaking effieicent, based on proaudio type stuff. If I were actually giving the horns 10 watts, I don't think pepole could sit in my clar without hearing protection they're so efficient. That plus sending my midbass a rated 350+ watts to match it and beforehand 2 12's and coming soon two high efficiency 15's had better get me the dynamics I'm looking for.

Then there's more ways....SQ Maxima's system is very efficient, because he went the route of multiple speakers. He's got two 6.5-7" midbasses, two midrnages, and I think 4 tweeters. It really can hit those peoks.

So in conclusion:
power
efficiency
multiple drivers = efficiency

 

Wow, I botched that.

I just did it last night. I can tell that it is louder, but I haven't had much time listening to it yet. I am just running the Xover that came with the SLC's. I think I need a little deadening and I'll be perfectly happy without a sub (blasphemy I know, I know). I just have other places I'd rather spend money-motorcycle, home theater, school.


I'll get a db reading tonight when I'm testing my bike. I'll be surprised if it's much over 110 though (I'm fine with that-I don't want to damage my hearing).