We Answer Your Questions
Here are a few questions we have received in the last year or so, and the answers we've given.

Subject: Capacitor Hook Up/Amp-Speaker Compatibility
I was wondering if you could help me out in hooking up my capacitor. I received the capacitor from a friend and he did not give me any instructions on how to install it. What I have is a lightning audio 1.0 farad cap that is to push my 1000watt amp that is pushing 2 Rockford Fosegate 12" DVC HE2's in a box. Can you please help...

Thank You,
Jeremy

Dear Jeremy,

A capacitor is simply a device that parallels the power supply. Simply connect the + and - on the capacitor to the same poles on the amplifier power input, along with the battery cables.

The capacitor's action is wholly internal: by accumulating a massive charge during quiet periods, and releasing it in moments when transient peaks being passed by the amplifier, require it, you can avoid some early clipping distortion. However avoiding much more destructive clipping depends on two things: a clean signal that does not have amplitude of a magnitude sufficient to drive the amplifier beyond it's clean signal capacity, and an amplifier capable of yielding a clean signal at levels that permit ample headroom for the woofers you have and meet your subjective loudness needs.

If your amplifier is rated at 1000 watts into 2 channels max power, it may be insufficient to meet the objective above with the woofers you have. If the rating is in RMS watts, then you are in good shape.

Max power works like this:

Both chan.=1000 watts Max
Each chan.= 500 watts Max
Each chan.= 250 watts RMS
Speaker RMS 400 watts
Power Deficit = 150 watts RMS per chan.

This ratio is perfectly satisfactory if you play the system at only moderate levels, and NEVER permit very loud heavy bass to be played. Otherwise, you should consider an amplifier with an output capacity between 440 and 500 watts RMS. This will provide sufficient headroom to avoid some or most destructive clipping as larger amplitude signals are introduced. It is simply not possible to totally eliminate clipping, unless the maximum amplitude (loudness) of the incoming signal is also limited.

Good luck!

Subject: Amplifier/Speaker Compatibility
I would like to thank you guys for an informative site. I am 16 years old and just bought my 1995 ACURA INTEGRA. The car came with 4 stock speakers (2 in the front and 2 more on the back side panel). I bought an Alpine CD player. My girlfriend bought me 2 6x9s Pioneer 4-way speakers which were added to the back of the car. At the same time I added 4 BOSE tweeters 2 in the front and 2 in the back. My question is what kind of AMP and WOOFER/s do you recommend and will one amp be able to pick up all speakers? I'm not really looking for anything too loud. Just enough to hear the BASS. Thank you for your time. c/s "P"

Dear "P,"
First, your existing system seems perfectly capable of supplying the needed inputs to your speakers. I am assuming here, that the output of your Acura receiver drives the speakers reasonably well, and that you have replaced two of the stock units with the Pioneer 6X9's. You should have a total of no more than 4 speakers on the system, excluding tweeters which are isolated by the crossover device that comes with each tweeter.

Thus, your principal interest appears to be in acquiring an amp and woofer box to provide a more compelling bass response. The choice of how to proceed will be determined by the level of acoustical ambition you wish to indulge. The range is: from providing a satisfying hi-fi experience within the car, to rattling the neighbor's windows three block down (and possibly incurring the wrath of legal authority.) Any of these variations can be accommodated with equipment we have available.

Since you are not looking for anything "too Loud," I'd say the former level might be satisfactory. It's also less expensive. Something like the Hammer Model HK2802X, which is a 2-Channel Bridgeable 70-Watt/chan Amplifier should do the trick quite nicely.

Since your directional information is supplied by the other speakers, you need only have extra power for the production of bass. It is available for $119.00.

As for speakers, You need only a woofer about 8" to 10" in size, in a complimentary single bandpass enclosure. The Pyramid Model #BPASS5 Three-Chamber model has a Tuned Port and One 10" Poly Laminate Woofer rated at 150 Watts RMS power handling.

Since bass is non-directional, you just need one bandpass subwoofer to do a reasonably good job. The amplifier is bridgeable, and can provide the full output of right and left inputs to the one mono channel.

Our educational section may provide more insight of a technical nature. If you have additional questions, let me know.

Good luck!

Subject: Amplifiers
I was just wondering if you hook up a bigger amp in the place of a small amp, with the same connections. Why does it not work.
Thank you, Extrem

Dear Extrem,
Theoretically, there is no reason why, if two speakers are correctly connected, along with a power supply and input cables, any amplifier should not produce sound, when exchanged for another.

I'd suggest you check for a problem somewhere in the installation, if the amplifier is known to be working.

Disconnect the input cables at their source and momentarily touch the tips. If no hum or buzz is heard then the problem is likely not at the source.

Check the amp for a power light. Make sure the switch is on, and that the operational set-up switches are configured correctly.

Check the speaker connections. It's not likely that both speakers are incorrectly connected, but anything's possible.

Check the power supply fuse and connection. If you have a meter, confirm the presence of the correct voltage at the amp's terminal.

**Make certain you have connected the power turn on cable from the receiver (head-end) unit.

If all this checks out, you may have a defective amp. If you wish further advice, on this, please supply more details.

Good Luck


See More Questions

If you have a question that requires a specific answer tailored precisely to your particular needs, then will will be happy to help you out with one-on-one personal service. Our technical staff is headed up by Jim Peterson, who has a quarter century of hands-on experience in audio sales, and repair, and who has been rated the Number One Expert In Consumer Electronics at askme.com, the premier Q&A site on the Web.

To ask Jim, or one of our other technicians a question, please return to the Ask Experts Page and carefully follow the directions.