[jigga]

I know, I know, beating a dead horse here... actually, the horse might be alive still.

I've read almost every thread that has to do with SWS-8 installs.

I don't have a question relating to the actual install but rather which amp to use and which speakers.

My car is a 2008 E92 with Logic 7 and I-Drive.

I have 2 amplifiers in my possession that I used to run in my old car about 8 yrs ago!

• Alpine MRV-100M (mono amp)

• Zapco Reference 350BK (this baby was a tank!)

Just in case, here are the specs for the above amps:

• Alpine MRV-100M

  RMS Power: 100W x 1 @ 12V
  Bridged RMS Power: 150W x 1 @ 12V

• Zapco Reference 350BK

  Stereo, 4 ohms: 2x100 Watts
  Stereo, 2 ohms: 2x175 Watts
  Bridged, 4 ohms: 1x350 Watts

So which amp do you think will be better for me to use to drive these SWS-8 subs and also, should I get the 2 ohm or 4 ohm version of the subs?

One twist: I want to be able to add a 10" or 12" sub in my trunk at a later date so if one amp is more scalable than the other, I guess that should be kept in mind. OR... will I perhaps have to use both amps? If so, which amp for which speakers? (ie: keep the mono amp for the 10"er in the trunk and Zapco for the SWS or vice versa)


Technic and VP, I know you guys are "the man" when it comes to knowledge on this forum, so I'll thank you and all the others in advance!

[Technic]

Zapco with a pair of 2 ohms SWS-8 in stereo and the Alpine with 2 ohms sub in mono, IMO.

[kaigoss69]

Better off running in stereo, if you have the choice. Using such old amps, you have to consider their usability (size and function) and compare to what is available today.

[jigga]

Originally Posted by Technic

Zapco with a pair of 2 ohms SWS-8 in stereo and the Alpine with 2 ohms sub in mono, IMO.

Which of these 2 set ups would YOU do, if you were me?

[jigga]

Originally Posted by kaigoss69

Better off running in stereo, if you have the choice. Using such old amps, you have to consider their usability (size and function) and compare to what is available today.

K, so you think I should run the zapco amp.

If I get a sub in the trunk later, I can run the mono Alpine off that... which is what I used to do in my old car.

[wurz154]

I would go with the Alpine with 2 x SWS8-4 ohm in parallel (that'll make a 2ohm load, BTW your alpine is NOT 1 ohm stable)...
Then I would keep the zapco for later...
Cheers Max

[jigga]

Originally Posted by wurz154

I would go with the Alpine with 2 x SWS8-4 ohm in parallel (that'll make a 2ohm load, BTW your alpine is NOT 1 ohm stable)...
Then I would keep the zapco for later...
Cheers Max

In all honestly, I don't know that much about it but the page where I copied the specs from says "1.3 Ohm Load Stability" for the Alpine.

Thanks for your input!

[Technic]

Originally Posted by jigga

Which of these 2 set ups would YOU do, if you were me?

Originally Posted by Technic

Zapco with a pair of 2 ohms SWS-8 in stereo and the Alpine with 2 ohms sub in mono, IMO.

[wurz154]

To be even more precise, the load to be consider is the resistor value... normally for a 4 ohm sub the resistor value runs between 3 and 3.5 ohm... that'll make 1.5 to 1.8ohm if you run 2 of those in parallel...
If you do the same with the 2 ohm version; you'll have a resistor value of 1.5... that'll lead to an overall of less than 1 if you run 2 in parallel....
The only best performing amp company that features less than 1 ohm stable is from the old school Soundstream!!!!!! those were babies...
Cheers Max

[jigga]

Originally Posted by wurz154

To be even more precise, the load to be consider is the resistor value... normally for a 4 ohm sub the resistor value runs between 3 and 3.5 ohm... that'll make 1.5 to 1.8ohm if you run 2 of those in parallel...
If you do the same with the 2 ohm version; you'll have a resistor value of 1.5... that'll lead to an overall of less than 1 if you run 2 in parallel....
The only best performing amp company that features less than 1 ohm stable is from the old school Soundstream!!!!!! those were babies...
Cheers Max

Max,

I am appreciating your help here but you are losing me with all the technical jargon! I must plead ignorance and tell you that I have no clue what you're talking about.

Let's make it simple - do you agree with Technic? Zapco amp with the SWS-8s?

[jigga]

Originally Posted by Technic

Thank you!

Now to figure out how actually wire this Zapco amp up!

[wurz154]

Sorry about the numbers... I thought to help.
Zapco with 2 SWS-8 2 ohm version wired in stereo is the better option of the two.
Max

[jigga]

Originally Posted by wurz154

Sorry about the numbers... I thought to help.
Zapco with 2 SWS-8 2 ohm version wired in stereo is the better option of the two.
Max

Don't apologize... I should educate myself

Thanks!