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I recently got a JBL 1200.1 amp to power my 2 audiobahn *AW1200Q's* (correction). I tried running them parallel/parallel at 1 ohm. The amp would start to struggle when I turned it up enough. I would think I'm pushing the amp about 1/2 of what it can produce. I could go up to volume 14 out of 30 on my HU, then if it hit hard enough it would go in and out of protect. I'm by no means pushing this amp to the limit. I tried running it 2 ohm stereo and it didn't help much. Pretty sure the wiring is correct. I'm running a brand new 80 amp fuse temporarily. It has yet to blow. What could be the problem? I heard that these amps can run at 1 ohm all day long. My worst fear is that it's the car, which then I can't help. Does anyone else have this problem with their car?

 
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You are obviously confused about things. A 2 ohm stereo load isn't even possible on that amp. Its a mono amp.

With two dual 4 ohm speakers you can only end up with 3 total combinations.

1 ohms - all in parallel
4 ohms - individual speakers in parallel, then wired together in series
4 ohms - individual speakers in series, then wired together in parallel

If there are two speaker connections on the amp ..... when you connect them its just like you are wiring them in parallel. Its just for ease of use.

Also where is the gain set. Set that properly and you shouldn't have a problem. My guess is you have it all the way up. Turn it all the way down, turn the HU up to 25, then start cranking the gain till it starts to sound distorted.

 
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I have a better use for your money! Invest in hearing aids! Our generation will eventually need them. :P

 
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Ya, thanks for the help .... please only offer constructive help or be gone troll.

 
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I posted this question on another forum too, and they said they thought my gain was too high as well. I'm pretty sure that it's not too high. It is currently about 1/2 of the way from the end.

 
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It's not your gain, those subs actual resistance isn't 4ohms it's more like 3.5ohms your trying to run .8 or .9ish mono. It's too much for the amp.. Also I'm almost 100% certain this isn't the problem, specially if no fuses have been blown.

Your amps going into protection because you don't have enough supply voltage. Measure your voltage across your battery terminals, then turn your amp on and play at a very low volume and check the voltage across the amps power and ground terminals. I'm pretty sure it's gonna be 1.5 or so volts less...

I'm guessing you grounded your ground to the seat or seat belt bolt right?.

For an amp with this much potential draw you have to drill into the floor pan and ground there.


If I'm wrong it happens.. but am I??

 
Rep Power: 316

Thanks Mohawk. My battery is quite weak, especially since I've drained the battery a lot by leaving my lights on a couple of times, and using my playstation and DVD often ( but the car is always on when I use them). I thought that the car's voltage went up to like 14 volts when the car was running though? I read that somewhere on carsound.com. I'm not exactly sure how to say where I grounded it (actually Circuit City did it). WHen you pull down the back seat there is a little cloth mat where there are a bunch of holes. The amp is grounded with a gold thing into one of those holes. Understand what Im talking about? It's gotten a little better lately though. Not to my full satisfaction though.

 
Rep Power: 345

Dude, it is not that amp...I have four Shiva running on that amp and I have turned it all the way up...and it doesn't even break a sweat!!!

My MTX will be super hot, and the JBL will be like touching the side of a microwave that has been on for a minute.

I blow 80 amp fuses all the time that are dedicated to the JBL's power wire...infact, I need to upgrade to a bigger fuse. I have run the amp at 2 and 1 ohm, and no problems so far

 
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Okay what's happening is that your battery is becoming just like a resistor, it can't hold a full charge and is drawing power from your alternator constantly and not allowing proper voltage to be maintained.. get a new deep cycle battery..I use an SVR battery..it's a drop in fit.. works great..did me well starting my car all winter . you can squeeze an optima red top in there too but it takes a little work..

Get a new battery and make yourself a new solid ground..make sure all the paints stripped off where you ground as well and you'll be fine..

the amps going into low voltage protection..if voltage dips below 10.5 or 10 volts..the amps cuts out.

 
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I agree on the battery but also bring it back to the Circuit City and have them change your ground to a more solid location. You already paid them to do it so go back and let them know your not happy. I had my PPI PCX1500 grounded to the rear seatbelt bolt and had no problems what so ever and that draws a bit more then the JBL.