Is a Polk PA400.1 amp enough to drive a Polk MM1040 SVC sub?

Fhattcatt
Fhattcatt Posts: 5
edited July 2012 in Car Subwoofer Talk
The amp is 200w rms at 4ohm and the single 10" sub is 350w rms. I bought a package deal of used amps where there was a PA400.1, a PA600.1, a PA660, and a PA500.4 along with a pair of MM1040 SVC subs.

The plan was to have the 400.1 drive a sub in one car along with the PA660 (75w x 4) drive 2 sets of DXi570 (60w rms) speakers.

In my other car the 600.1 would drive the other sub with the 500.4 (125w x 4) driving 2 sets of components.

With the head units, subs, amps, wiring, and all the other supporting stuff, I have invested around $1750 into equipment that I will begin installing over the next couple weeks. I really am not trying to drop anymore money into equipment at this time if I don't have to.

Will the 400.1 at 200w be enough to drive the 350w sub? Most concerned about damaging something somehow through underpowering. Do I need to bite the bullet and find another 600.1 amp?

Thanks in advance for any offered insight.

Polk 004.jpg
Post edited by Fhattcatt on

Comments

  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,079
    edited July 2012
    We run the PA400.1 in my son's car with a 12" db1240. It sounds great, but we did blow the 1st sub and had to get a replacement db1240.
    No clue if it was blown from being under powered or if he just could not control the volume knob lol.

    I think you will be fine and maybe look to upgrade in the future if you are not satisfied.

    Nice system you have there by the way.
  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited July 2012
    You cant blow a sub from under powering. When using an amp thats is too small, youre more likely to turn the gain and/or the volume up too high and this will cause the amp to clip which will in turn throw out a signal limited only by input voltage and is usually double or more the normal rated power. This is likely what happened. So long as you keep the gain set properly and dont clip the amp, a 200 watt amp will never blow a 400 watt sub.

    So yes, that amp will work just fine. It wont have a ton of impact but itll add a nice extra bit of musical bass.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
  • Fhattcatt
    Fhattcatt Posts: 5
    edited July 2012
    I might get a used MOMO Carbon c500.1 which is 350w rms to power the sub. The same seller had it for a few dollars more than the PA400.1, but I elected to go with all the "PA" equipment liking the looks of them and that they all matched. Or, I might get another PA600.1 where at 300w rms at 4 ohm matching the 4 ohm single voice coil sub would offer a bit more umph. 300w versus 200w is a good 50% more thump.

    This sub will go in the Explorer and so the sub won't have anything around it to block or muffle the sound. As has been suggested, I may see if the 400.1 is enough for it and then decide later to change it.

    Thanks for the info. Am really looking forward to UPS, FedEx, etc... bringing me all the rest of the stuff I need to get it all put in.
  • Fhattcatt
    Fhattcatt Posts: 5
    edited July 2012
    Have decided to put the 600.1 in my Explorer and put a Polk 1200.1 amp in my Cobra. I will be selling the Polk pa 400.1 and will also have an MTX564 70w x 4 channel amp for sale also.
  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited July 2012
    Thats a better way to go and will power those subs a lot better.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
  • Fhattcatt
    Fhattcatt Posts: 5
    edited July 2012
    I picked up the Polk PA1200.1 amp today.

    I will have a Polk PA400.1 amp (it is 200w x 1 at 4ohm, 300w at 2ohm, and I think 400w at 1ohm and I have been told is rock solid at either 1 or 2 ohms) for sale along with an MTX564 (70w x 4 rms at 4 ohms, 140w x 4 at 2ohms, and is 280w x 2 bridged at 4ohms) for sale. I haven't tested either of these amps out yet. Someone with a pre-wired system could check them out if interested, or it may take me a couple weeks to get 1 of my 2 car's new systems installed which would allow me to verify they are functional.

    I had a lumbar fusion done on my spine on June 19th which I am still recovering from, so am having someone else do the installations for me. I have done all my own installs since I was old enough to hold a wrench... so it will be kind of scary to have someone else do them. I am anal about doing really clean installs without gouging up my interior while doing so. Of course I will caution the other guy to be careful, but other people's ideas of careful and mine might not be the same. But I am cautiously optimistic that he will do a great job.
  • Fhattcatt
    Fhattcatt Posts: 5
    edited July 2012
    This was a system I had in a BMW a few years back. The sub amp was under the plexi glass in the spare tire well-

    IMG_1793.jpg