Would an XPA-1 handle a 3ohm load?

[blindsay]

I know someone who is selling a JL 12W7 in the JL box really cheap locally but I am not really into car audio anymore these days so I was thinking of maybe putting it to home theater duty but it is a 3ohm sub. I was curious what your guys thoughts are on if the XPA-1 would tolerate a 3ohm load? (I know officially it supports down to 4ohm but I was curious if anyone has tried)

[selkec]

I hear that it handles down to 2 ohm. But I could be wrong.
Besides that get a pro audio amp for the sub. Xpa1 would really be a waste of extra money for a sub

[blindsay]

Mar 3, 2013 13:44:53 GMT -5 selkec said:

I hear that it handles down to 2 ohm. But I could be wrong.
Besides that get a pro audio amp for the sub. Xpa1 would really be a waste of extra money for a sub

Why is it a waste for a sub?

[stiehl11]

Mar 3, 2013 13:35:10 GMT -5 blindsay said:

I know someone who is selling a JL 12W7 in the JL box really cheap locally but I am not really into car audio anymore these days so I was thinking of maybe putting it to home theater duty but it is a 3ohm sub. I was curious what your guys thoughts are on if the XPA-1 would tolerate a 3ohm load? (I know officially it supports down to 4ohm but I was curious if anyone has tried)

3 ohm nominal or 3 ohm minimum? And, I agree with Selkec... the XPA-1 is built for handling of frequencies that need detail through the audible (and unaudible) range. A sub amp/pro-audio amp would do much better with the limited frequency range of a sub and cost several hundred less.

[davidas6350]

This may not be true today anymore but back then a class D amp is use for subwoofer due to high efficiency and cheaper than a class A/B with similar power rating. They can get away of not being "accurate" so to speak because they only drive Low Frequency.

[blindsay]

well the idea was nice while it lasted haha.

Thanks all

[selkec]

Mar 3, 2013 15:55:37 GMT -5 blindsay said:

well the idea was nice while it lasted haha.

Thanks all

Well, you can still do it..... I once ran a chase home theater CS18 off just one channel of an xpa3 because the Dayton amp blew in less thna 5 minutes and it was suprisingly great sounding.

[ted]

Mar 3, 2013 13:35:10 GMT -5 blindsay said:

I know someone who is selling a JL 12W7 in the JL box really cheap locally but I am not really into car audio anymore these days so I was thinking of maybe putting it to home theater duty but it is a 3ohm sub. I was curious what your guys thoughts are on if the XPA-1 would tolerate a 3ohm load? (I know officially it supports down to 4ohm but I was curious if anyone has tried)

yes it can

[blindsay]

Hey all, so I at the time ended up waiting on the sub but I stopped by today and made an offer of $500 and they accepted considering with the box its $1100 or $900 for the driver alone Id say not a bad deal. It is this driver

www.jlaudio.com/12w7ae-3-car-audio-w7ae-subwoofer-drivers-92115

That said now I really need to get an amp for it. Any suggestions? The XPA-100 at $299 is in the right ballpark price wise but I know it doesn't list that it would handle a 3 ohm load and that you guys said it would be a waste.

What amps would you suggest if that's a bad choice for around 300?

[Boomzilla]

The XPA-1 FARTS on 3-ohm loads!

[blindsay]

and I completely forgot the XPA doesn't have a volume control haha.


Yeah so scratch that. Any suggestions? I hear Behringer thrown around a lot.

[dally]

The crown xls 1000 is a great sub amp. 299 on amazon. Also the behringer EP 2000 would work really well, also 299 on amazon.

[blindsay]

Yeah I have been looking at the EP2000/4000 and thanks for the crown suggestion but my concern with them is they only do 4 ohms when in bridged mode, that sub is 3ohm

[dally]

I don't think you would have a problem running either amp bridged at 3 ohm,( I wouldn't go below that) as long as you're not driving the snot out of them. The fans my tend to kick on a little more, but both these amps have pretty good built in protection circuitry,and as long as you're not driving them into clipping constantly, I believe they could take it. You could also just use one channel on an ep 4000 and get as much power as the crown or ep 2000. If you could get an impedance graph of your driver and see what frequencies it is at,or below 3 ohms,this will give you a better idea of what amp to pair with this driver. I would imagine JL would send this to you if you sent them an e-mail.

[blindsay]

What are your thoughts on the Behringer EPX2800 - I like that I don't have to deal with the dip switches and the fan is supposed to be a lot more quiet

[PGT]

I love my JL Fathom but I wouldn't run one of their car subs and an outboard amp for home audio. For the same money, you can get a 15" or 18" driver from P-E and a knock-down enclosure for it. JL's have a "thick" sound to them mainly because they use heavier cones for good FS in small enclosures. What you lose in an audio or HT environment is quickness/slam. That's one area that my F110 lacks compared to a Hsu VTH-15 I've tried.

[blindsay]

Well I already have it, I got it for only $500 brand new so it was too good of a deal to pass up.

[PGT]

I stopped by the store and nearly bought cat food because it was on sale and a really good deal. Then I realized I own a dog, not a cat...so I didn't buy it. :-P

[blindsay]

bag analogy is bad

[bluemeanies]

JL Audio Fathoms...two thumbs up!!