Replacing the 8" subs?

[d_dot]

Originally Posted by Technic

If the only thing to install is a stereo amp for a pair of SWS-8 in the Enhanced system then a $43 passive 2-channel LOC would be enough:
http://www.davidnavone.com/cart.asp?24&cat=7

is this the item you were reffering to?
http://www.davidnavone.com/cart.asp?14&pid=362

[frankzlin79]

I've just received my two Earthquake SWS 8xi (2-ohm version) subs and I am waiting for my Rockford Fosgate P300-2 amp to arrive. I should be having this gear installed next week. I'll post a review in a new thread at that time!

[TLud]

Originally Posted by frankzlin79

I've just received my two Earthquake SWS 8xi (2-ohm version) subs and I am waiting for my Rockford Fosgate P300-2 amp to arrive. I should be having this gear installed next week. I'll post a review in a new thread at that time!

Where in town are you getting it installed?

[frankzlin79]

Custom Car Stereo on 59 South and Bellaire, next to the sport bike dealership. I've taken my past two cars there for installation and highly recommend them.

[MrHarris]

Originally Posted by frankzlin79

I've just received my two Earthquake SWS 8xi (2-ohm version) subs and I am waiting for my Rockford Fosgate P300-2 amp to arrive. I should be having this gear installed next week. I'll post a review in a new thread at that time!

Sounds good! Let us know if the upgrade is truly worthwhile and easy.

[quality_sound]

It's been confirmed many times over that the upgrade is worth it as well as the ease of the install. There's even a DIY thread here for those inclined to do it.

[d_dot]

Originally Posted by frankzlin79

I've just received my two Earthquake SWS 8xi (2-ohm version) subs and I am waiting for my Rockford Fosgate P300-2 amp to arrive. I should be having this gear installed next week. I'll post a review in a new thread at that time!

where did you get them from?. i was looking around for them and heard they were back ordered. and would it be a good idea to use the 4ohm version with this amp??? thx

[frankzlin79]

There are plenty of SWS 8xi (2-ohm) on sellers from E-bay, which is were I bought mine from.

I now have my Rockford Fosgate P300-2. I'm getting all my stuff installed tomorrow. This amp should be running with the 2-ohm subs; you should not run this amp with 4-ohm subs. Look at the attached spec sheet that came with my amp below. Rockford always underrates it's amps. Sure, Rockford advertises that it is 150 W RMS x 2 at 2-ohms on the packaging, but in actual testing, mine spec-ed out to 188 W RMS x 2. At 4-ohm, the power is only rated for 121 w RMS x 2. I believe every amp will have slightly different wattages, but should be similar to each other.

Thus, to get more watts into the Earthquake subs using this specific amp, it is best to wire into the 2-ohm subs, because the P300-2 is 2-ohm stable. The Earthquake subs (whether it be 4-ohm or 2-ohm) need 150 W RMS to run nicely. A little bit more (but not too much more..in my case, I'm about 38 W over the recommended RMS) won't hurt it.











Max Power: 1127
Total RMS Power: 376

Those are very impressive numbers for an amp that cost only $160 shipped on E-bay.

Another good thing is that this amp is so tiny, it fits in the cubby hole where the mobility kit is stored, without removal of the plastic container or the styrofoam. The carpeted lid in the trunk will close shut without any bulging. My installation should be completely stealth.

I will post a full review with pictures in a new thread Saturday afternoon.

[PunjabiM3]

Is there any reason to go with a 2-channel amp versus a mono sub amp? Are the SWS-8 subs to be run as true subs or as midranges?

[jml]

Originally Posted by PunjabiM3

Is there any reason to go with a 2-channel amp versus a mono sub amp? Are the SWS-8 subs to be run as true subs or as midranges?

They are most definitely not mid-bass speakers. They sound very bad above 110Hz. I originally wished I had gone stereo, but after spending time in the car with the music I like, where they tend not to try to localize stuff below 100Hz, I don't have an itch to scratch.

[quality_sound]

Even if it was in stereo it wouldn't matter. Under about 200Hz there isn't any real stereo effect to be heard. It's why you can put a midbass driver under a seat or behind you and it doesn't hurt anything. All of the cues for localization are above 200-300Hz depending on the size of the car.

[PunjabiM3]

So basically it may be even better to buy a Rockford Fosgate P300-1 (as opposed to the P300-2) to the SWS-8 subs since it would provide twice the power at the given impedance, not to mention to costs like $60 less?

[quality_sound]

No, each sub would still get 150 (rated) Watts either way.

[PunjabiM3]

Originally Posted by quality_sound

No, each sub would still get 150 (rated) Watts either way.

Hmm perhaps I am a little rusty now on my car audio. The P300-2 is rated at 75w x 2 at 4 ohm and 150w x 2 at 2 ohm. The P300-1 is rated at 150w at 4 ohm and 300w at 2 ohm. If using the P300-2, am I to bridge it to run 300w to the subs, or have 150w from each channel going to each SWS-8? And if using the P300-1, wouldn't each sub be receiving 300w (if wired in parallel)? Sorry for all the questions!

[quality_sound]

300-1 - Two 4 Ohm subs in parallel so the amp sees a 2 Ohm load. This way you get 300 Watts output total, 150 to each sub.
300-2 - Two 2 Ohm subs. Option A - 2 Ohms stereo for 150Watts x 2. Option B - 4 Ohms (subs in series) mono for 300 Watts total output, 150 to each sub.

[dvn]

Would there be an audible difference in SQ when using a mono amp instead of a stereo amp?

The reason I ask is b/c I have two SWS 8s (4-ohm) that I'm planning on using a Focal 1.800 on. http://www.woofersetc.com/p4481/FP18...-Amplifier.htm

Would there be a significant benefit of ditching the subs I have and getting the 2-ohm versions and getting the 2 channel Focal amp instead?

[quality_sound]

There shouldn't be any noticeable difference either way. I'd probably do the stereo amp so that if you decide to do a real sub later you can use the stereo amp on the front speakers and a new amp for the sub.

[kaigoss69]

Originally Posted by dvn

Would there be an audible difference in SQ when using a mono amp instead of a stereo amp?

The reason I ask is b/c I have two SWS 8s (4-ohm) that I'm planning on using a Focal 1.800 on. http://www.woofersetc.com/p4481/FP18...-Amplifier.htm

Would there be a significant benefit of ditching the subs I have and getting the 2-ohm versions and getting the 2 channel Focal amp instead?

You do realize that the SWS-8 are made by Earthquake, right? They, nor the OEM enclosure design, are nowhere near worthy of that amplifier. You're putting a V10 on a lawn mower!

[dvn]

Originally Posted by kaigoss69

You do realize that the SWS-8 are made by Earthquake, right? They, nor the OEM enclosure design, are nowhere near worthy of that amplifier. You're putting a V10 on a lawn mower!

I'm in the process of swapping my amps out and I'd like them all to match. I suppose I could get an FP 5.500 but I'd still be in the same boat with having one channel for the two 8s.

I'm just getting mixed reviews on whether midbass drivers should be in stereo or if the frequencies they'll cover are low enough to be in mono.

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by kaigoss69

You do realize that the SWS-8 are made by Earthquake, right? They, nor the OEM enclosure design, are nowhere near worthy of that amplifier. You're putting a V10 on a lawn mower!

So far I haven't noticed anything that would lead me to believe that the Earthquakes are utter crap compared to anything else that would fit the application there. The Focal amp is not exactly what I would call the Bugatti of amps either. 600W @ 2ohms would be fine on the SWS as long as you're not trying to make the sub do something it can't do like reproduce down to 20Hz. I've got 500W going to mine with no problems.

BTW, Earthquake was a pretty big name back in the day and are still pretty big among OEM and home audio. They kind of died off in car audio in the late 90s though. Still, I wouldn't consider them complete crap especially after actually hearing them.

[badfish]

The Earthquake subs are very accurately rated on power. 300 watts max means 150 watts RMS. Do not exceed the rated power because the sub was simply not designed to handle all that extra power. Nousaine reviewed the sub and noted that the smell of glue when he exceeded the power spec. It's an efficient sub, more power won't help you get much more output.

[quality_sound]

Originally Posted by kaigoss69

You do realize that the SWS-8 are made by Earthquake, right? They, nor the OEM enclosure design, are nowhere near worthy of that amplifier. You're putting a V10 on a lawn mower!

Like Rockford has made anything worth a crap in the last decade? Puhlease. Earthquake and RF are both mid-fi at best.