Current set up is a Planet Audio RXD650 single channel class D pushing two 4ohm SVC Alpine Type R's, the old ones, in a large slot vented box. Planet Audio rates the amp at 250w rms @4 ohms, 450w rms @ 2 ohms, 650w rms @ 1 ohm and 950 peak. I want to upgrade to some DVC subs so I can use my amp at 1 ohm. I really think this amp is underrated, it sounds way louder than 450 watts. Looking for some opinions and recommendations on what sounds good in a Ranger. Yes I want to keep my big box. I am not a Kicker or Fosgate fan. Sound quality does matter but I want something with alot of excursion. I want to move as much air as possible. I would like to keep price as close to or under $150 a piece. The rest of the speakers in the truck are stock for now but I am open to suggestions for that as well. I would like to keep those to under $100 a pair. I have a 400x4 amp for those if needed.

 

pioneer speakers, and some 12" clarion subs.

 

Well if you change your subs, you need to change your box. assuming the box was built for those subs as it should have been. subs only sound as good as the box they are in.

If you were to replace the SVC alpines with the DVC versions and wired to 1ohm you would only gain around 2-3db. its hard for humans to even perceive the difference of only 2-3 db's (not worth $300 imo).
If i were you I would spend that $300 on a more powerful amp. This way you can get your db gain and better sound from the subs you have due to increased dynamics... I would try to find something that does 600w or more at 2 ohm

examples http://www.woofersetc.com/p-8611-gta...amplifier.aspx

http://www.woofersetc.com/p-9255-saz...amplifier.aspx

http://www.woofersetc.com/p-8489-kac...amplifier.aspx

 

No the box was not built for my subs, it's a generic box from a shop. Dude let me test the box in my truck with my subs in it before I bought it. It was pretty loud in my Bronco, not as loud in my Supercab F-150 and even less loud in the Ranger. Normally I would agree with you but my current subs don't have much life left. This next statement is only from my experience, I don't know if this happens to you guys or not but have you ever stuck your head inside your speaker box and noted the smell? In my experience you only get that smell on the outside of the box when your subs get hot and usually for me, destruction isn't far away. These subs are old and I already had to re-solder one of the leads from the terminal on the basket to the cone. I burnt about 1/2" off that tinsel. Those 2 things coupled with my subs seeming like they aren't hitting as hard as they used to lead me to believe that they don't have much left in them. So my plan at the moment is to buy new subs that are within my budget that leave me a little room to grow. Amp's seem pretty cheap these days and I can upgrade that later since my current one is working just fine. I don't understand how you say I won't notice a difference by adding 200w, I noticed a significant difference when I went from a 300w amp to my current amp. I'm not talking trash, I just don't get it.

 

what he is saying i agree with... the best sub in the world in the best box if not properly powered will no perform as well as a mid end sub in a good box with the best power. clean power is what makes them sound good.
however if your sub is that toast... yes you should replace but i personally would get a mid end sub that will be properly powered by your current amps watt and ohm ratings... unless you want alot louder then you will need to upgrade all box, sub, amp
jmo not trying to hate

 

I totally get what both of you are saying. Other than where he is talking about 200w not making a difference. I mean I can see it not making a difference if you go from 3k to 3200w but from 450 to 650 I do think there would be a difference. I mean I do know that there is a point at which every db is double the sound of the previous db but I don't know where that threshold is and I don't know how many db I'm putting out so I don't know if I need to take that into consideration. RangOH recommended amps that were putting out 600w @ 2ohms, is there a difference between 600w @ 2ohms and 600w @1ohm?

 

Are the subs you are wanting going to be in the power range you want to be at later?
you have to know what you are looking for in a sub. say you want to run your amp at 2 or 1 ohm, are those new subs going to be rated for more power than you have now or do you want them to be rated for more?

Any amp running at lower ohms wastes a lot of current, and the amps do not perform as efficient as they normally would. it draws more current than it outputs. 200 watts wouldn't matter because your subs would not receive a full 100w x2, your amp may draw 200w more. but your speaker would receive much less.
If you bought new dvc subs with a higher power rating they would really see no benefit from less than 100w extra each.

Sub choice is on your electrical system headroom, available amp power or soon to be, box size and type, price, sound quality and level.

so do you plan on upgrading your amp or keeping it?

Will running new subs at a low ohm pull too much power?

Can you make/buy make a solid custom box?

do you want low reverberating bass, or do you want solid hard bass?

how loud do you want it, artificially louder than your door speakers. or, a healthy amount of bass that blends well with your door speakers?