Audio Question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 27
From: Eastern North Carolina
Audio Question
I'm running a 600watt amp to two Subs and I have a question. Is it normal for the amp to get very warm almost hot to the touch? The sound is very good and there doesn't seem to be any problems with the amp at all, but it does get very warm.
Thanks Tim
Thanks Tim
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 17,102
Likes: 7
From: Fair Oaks, OK
Perfectly normal. If your amp has the "fin" looking things on it, they are called heatsinks, which are there to direct heat away from the amp's internals. They can get quite warm to the touch.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 62
From: West Kingston RI
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 11
From: No Prov RI
Yes ......... your amp will get warm and then hot depending on how loud you play it. heat is the result of the amps inefficientcy to make QUALITY power to drive the subs. and when driving any subs you should be using a class D amp which are designed to drive only subs. even with a class D amp........ poorly designed amps will get HOT when pushed to the max and then they should trip the thermal breaker in the amp and shut it down till its cool enough to repower.
"Memphis" brand amps are high quality and the only amp I will use to drive my subs . and I play my music LOUD...........and my subs bang hard and my amp will hardly get above warm and I mean bang hard for 2or 3 hours straight. I have a Memphis 1100 W class D pushing 3 jl audio 10's.
Hammadown
"Memphis" brand amps are high quality and the only amp I will use to drive my subs . and I play my music LOUD...........and my subs bang hard and my amp will hardly get above warm and I mean bang hard for 2or 3 hours straight. I have a Memphis 1100 W class D pushing 3 jl audio 10's.
Hammadown
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
Yes, I need to upgrade my alternator for example. When I run the stereo loud and the headlights, etc I can see that I am overtaxing the unit- although flickering headlights may look kind of cool at times, pretty sure it's not a good thing!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,186
Likes: 45
From: detroit area
hookup a 4" computer fan to the blue wire(remote on) and use that to help cool the amp... the fans don't pull much amps (you could also relay it with the ingition wire or hott radio wire)
i run chrome ppi amps in my 77 6600 and 2600 2jl10w62 and 6/4/tweet component set
i run chrome ppi amps in my 77 6600 and 2600 2jl10w62 and 6/4/tweet component set
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
In my youth, I played bass guitar in a rock band. My amp would put out 100 watts RMS and would fill large ballrooms and outside arenas. I can't imagine why anyone would need {not want, mind you} 600 watts for an audio system inside a Corvette cockpit.... 
{My original Delco head has 16 watts, and I never turn it all the way up.}
{My original Delco head has 16 watts, and I never turn it all the way up.}
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
In my youth, I played bass guitar in a rock band. My amp would put out 100 watts RMS and would fill large ballrooms and outside arenas. I can't imagine why anyone would need {not want, mind you} 600 watts for an audio system inside a Corvette cockpit.... {My original Delco head has 16 watts, and I never turn it all the way up.}
{My original Delco head has 16 watts, and I never turn it all the way up.}
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 27
From: Eastern North Carolina
The 600 watts is shared by my front speakers and two small subs, thats really not that much power for the number of loads (speakers) I'm using. I do not need the power for playing it loud, although the amp allows me to do that. The main reason for the amp is that the sound quality is much better, even at low volumes,then if I was just running from my head unit. There is a lot of good info here, thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge.....Tim