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RESOURCE LIBRARY

Product Spotlight: Sony XS-W124GS and XS-W104GS Car Audio Subwoofers

BestCarAudio.com - March 18, 2024

Sony XS-W124GS

Although talking about a trunk full of high-performance subwoofers powered by big amplifiers is fun, Sony knows that many people want a more cost-effective bass upgrade for their cars and trucks. On the heels of their entirely new Mobile ES amplifiers, source units, speakers and subwoofers, Sony has launched the latest iteration of the GS series speakers and subwoofers. This Product Spotlight will look at the 12-inch XS-W124GS and 10-inch XS-W104GS car audio subwoofers.

Features of the Sony XS-W124GS Subwoofer

The 12-inch (30-cm) XS-W124GS and 10-inch (25-cm) XS-W104GS subwoofers feature five-spoke, heavy-gauge stamped steel frames. Each spoke has an embossed element to add stiffness and rigidity. The frames also feature integrated vents below the spider mounting ledge. These vents allow heat to escape from the voice coil and motor assembly and prevent pressure from building up in the spider at high excursion levels. This design feature offers direct benefits regarding increased power handling, reduced power compression and improved linearity.

The motor assembly at the base of the chassis features a pair of ferrite magnets for good efficiency. The T-yoke has a cooling vent in the center, serving the same purposes as the vents in the frame. Heat can escape from the motor, and pressure won’t build up under the dust cap. The result is an additional reduction in thermal compression and reduced distortion at high volume levels.

Sony XS-W124GS
A five-spoke, reinforced steel chassis is a rigid platform for the Sony XS-W124GS 12-inch and XS-W105GS 10-inch subwoofers.

Each subwoofer features a pair of progressive-rate spiders attached to the cone assembly to the basket. These spiders are a feature that Sony has brought from the Mobile ES drivers. The spiders provide the necessary cone control and compliance while keeping everything centered. Sony chose moderately stiff spiders to give the drivers a higher Qts value, which translates to improved output efficiency. Tinsel leads are sewn to the spider so they won’t hit the cone and cause unwanted noises at high output levels.

Sony XS-W124GS
The new GS-Series subwoofers feature technologies previously developed for the premium Mobile ES drivers that improve performance and reliability.

Sony GS Series Subwoofer Moving Components

Both GS series subwoofers feature a rigid paper cone bonded to the voice coil former. You can see in the cutaway image that the upper spider has a reinforcing collar at the base of the cone that strengthens the joint to the voice coil former and spider to improve reliability. A full-size parabolic dust cap made from injection-molded polypropylene attaches to the surround to form the cone assembly’s face. A rubber surround serves as the upper compliance for the woofer cone. Rubber lasts much longer than foam so these woofers will sound great in your car or truck for many years. A custom-tooled trim ring adorns the outer edge of the subwoofer to give it a tidy appearance.

Sony XS-W124GS
The polypropylene dust cap and custom trim ring give the XS-W124GS a classy, clean appearance.

XS-W124GS Physical Dimensions and Driver Specifications

The XS-W124GS subwoofer has an outside diameter of 13 1/8” (332 cm) and requires a mounting hole with a diameter of 11 1/8” (280 cm). The mounting depth is 5 3/4” (143.4 cm), but your installer will want to leave some room for the vent in the T-yoke. Sony rates the XS-W124GS as capable of handling 300 watts of power using the IEC 60286-5 standard and 420 watts using the ANSI/CTA-2031 standard. Peak power handling is 1,800 watts.

Regarding Thiele/Small parameters, the driver has a resonant frequency of 31.9 ohms, an equivalent compliance value (Vas) of 49.194 liters and a Total Q (Qts) of 0.724. As mentioned, the moderately high Q-value will help increase efficiency and output. Suggested enclosures are 0.91 cubic foot for a sealed design and 1.16 cubic feet tuned to 37 hertz for bass reflex applications. The graph below shows the predicted free-field response of the two enclosures, with the driver receiving 420 watts of power.

Sony XS-W124GS
Predicted free-field output at 420 watts: yellow, 0.91 ft3 sealed; red, 1.16 ft3 @ 37 hertz.

XS-W104GS Physical Dimensions and Driver Specifications

The 10-inch XS-W104GS has an outer diameter of 11 inches (279 mm), requires a mounting hole with a diameter of 9 1/4 inches (234 mm) and requires 5 1/8 inches (129.8 mm) of depth. Rated power handling is 300 watts continuous and 350 watts using the ANSI/CTA-2031 standard. Peak power handling is 1,500 watts.

The 10-inch subwoofer has an Fs of 30.9 hertz, an equivalence compliance of 36.47 liters and a Total Q of 0.505. By way of enclosures, Sony suggests an acoustic suspension design with a volume of 0.88 cubic foot or a bass reflex enclosure with a volume of 0.91 cubic foot tuned to 38 hertz. Given the similarity in suggested enclosure volumes, we’d go with the bass reflex design and enjoy the increased efficiency.

Sony XS-W124GS

Sony backs the new 10- and 12-inch GS series subwoofers with a three-year warranty against manufacturing defects and workmanship issues. This generous warranty doesn’t mean you can hook one to a 1,000-watt amp or clip the daylights out of a 400-watt amp and melt the voice coil, then expect to get a new subwoofer.

Upgrade Your Car Audio System with Sony GS series Subwoofers

If you’re looking for an affordable, high-quality subwoofer from a company that stands behind its products, drop into a local authorized Sony car audio retailer today. Ask about the new GS series subwoofers like the XS-W124GS we looked at here. They can match the driver to an enclosure and suggest an amplifier that will perform great. Adding bass to your car stereo is one of the best upgrades you can make. With the Sony GS subwoofers, great sound doesn’t have to cost a small fortune. You can find an authorized Sony Car Audio retailer near you using their dealer locator tool. Also, follow Sony on Facebook to stay up-to-date with their latest product releases.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Sony

Product Spotlight: KICKER PTRTP Powered Subwoofer System

BestCarAudio.com - March 14, 2024

KICKER PTRTP

If you wanted one word to describe the best upgrade you can make to almost any factory-installed car stereo, that word would be subwoofer. For 50 years, the folks at KICKER in Stillwater, Oklahoma, have known that a subwoofer system is the first, best upgrade. When it’s a priority to maximize audio system performance while balancing cargo space, KICKER’s PTRTP powered down-firing loaded subwoofer enclosures are a great choice. Let’s check them out!

KICKER PTRTP10 10-inch Subwoofer System

KICKER created two solutions in the PTRTP line. The PTRTP10 features a 10-inch subwoofer, a 400-watt amplifier and a 10-inch passive radiator. The enclosure is 13.25 inches deep, 25.625 inches wide, and only 6 inches tall. Whether it’s sitting at the back of your trunk or under the seat of a pickup truck, you’ll still have room to carry all your sports equipment, tools, luggage or weekly groceries.

KICKER PTRTP

KICKER PTRTP12 12-inch Subwoofer System

If you want a little more kick (pun intended), the PTRTP12 is a perfect solution. This larger enclosure features a 12-inch subwoofer with a matching 12-inch passive radiator and a 500-watt amplifier. Enclosure dimensions are 14.625 inches deep, 27.5 inches wide and 6.5 inches tall. That’s still small enough that you can easily leave it in place on a road trip or vacation.

KICKER PTRTP

Standard Features of KICKER’s Down-Firing Amplified Subwoofer Systems

The KICKER PTRTP enclosures feature CompRT-Series subwoofers. This series of subwoofers delivers full-size subwoofer performance from incredibly compact dimensions. The drivers feature an injection-molded polypropylene cone with eight reinforcing spokes. The cones are attached to ribbed Santoprene rubber surrounds. The ribs help improve linearity and prevent buckling and distortion at high output levels. Power handling is improved, and thermal compression is reduced, by a series of forced-air cooling holes in the bottom plate. These holes let hot air around the bottom of the voice coil and motor escape. Vents in the basket under the spider mounting plateau provide additional cooling and reduce compression issues at high excursion levels. The custom-tooled bumped top plate in the CompRT drivers allows for a stunning 13.35-mm Xmax specification.

KICKER PTRTP
The KICKER PTRTP enclosures use the impressive CompRT Series shallow-mount subwoofers for amazing performance.

The amplifiers built into each enclosure are identical in features and only differ in power production. Both include adjustable RCA preamp and speaker-level inputs via a four-pin Molex-style connector. The preamp input can accept up to 5 volts, and the speaker-level input mode will handle an impressive 40 volts. The amplifier can be activated using the standard 12-volt remote input connection or DC-offset detection. The DC-offset circuitry monitors the speaker-level inputs for the DC voltage common to factory-installed and even aftermarket radios. The bottom line is that KICKER has made this easy to integrate with your factory-installed stereo system. If you ever want to temporarily remove the enclosure, the signal and power connections are on quick-release plugs.

KICKER PTRTP
The PTRTP12 subwoofer system features a 500-watt amplifier with all the integration features your installer needs.

The built-in amplifiers include an adjustable -12 dB/octave low-pass crossover that your installer can set between 50 and 120 Hz. A bass boost control can bump 40 Hz by up to 6 dB. Finally, a polarity control switch will invert the output to improve integration with the rest of the speakers in the vehicle. KICKER has included a full-time infrasonic filter set to 25 Hz with a -12 dB/octave slope. Both solutions include a wired remote bass control to let you fine-tune the system from the driver’s seat.

KICKER PTRTP Passive Radiator Subwoofer Systems

Many older car audio enthusiasts will recognize the passive radiator design used in the KICKER PTRTP enclosures from the first KICKER Box subwoofer enclosure systems created in the ’80s. Passive radiator designs offer similar performance benefits to a vented enclosure. So why use them? Passive radiator enclosures can be much smaller than vented enclosures and deliver equally impressive amounts of deep bass.

KICKER PTRTP
The passive radiator design delivers the benefits of a vented design from a compact enclosure.

So why a down-firing enclosure? The primary benefit is driver protection. You can throw your hockey gear or golf clubs in the cargo area without fear of damaging the speaker cone or surrounds. KICKER has added significant reinforcement to the construction of the enclosure to ensure that you aren’t going to crush it. Cosmetically, the enclosures are classy and subtle, with a durable black carpet finish and rounded corners. You can have the embroidered KICKER logo facing rearward for all to see, or your installer can turn it around for a less conspicuous upgrade.

KICKER PTRTP
The down-firing design of the KICKER PTRTP subwoofer system protects the drivers from damage.

Upgrade Your Car Audio System with KICKER Today!

If you want a compact, high-performance subwoofer upgrade for your car, truck or SUV, drop by a local authorized KICKER retailer and ask about their 10- and 12-inch PTRTP powered down-firing subwoofer systems. You can find a KICKER retailer using the dealer locator on their website. To learn more about KICKER’s amazing car audio products, check out their YouTube channel, Facebook page or Instagram feed.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: KICKER

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate Jeep Audio Kits

BestCarAudio.com - March 7, 2024

 Jeep Audio

Rockford Fosgate has entered the Jeep audio system upgrade market with solutions like no other. If you have a 2018 through 2023 Wrangler four-door or a 2020 or newer Gladiator, the new Stage 5, 1,800-watt all-in-one audio kits are the only premium solutions on the market. Let’s look at what makes these sound system upgrades unique.

Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator Stereo Upgrades

Let’s start with the components common to the 18WRNGLER-STG5 and 20GLADR-STG5 kits. Both kits include a pair of Element Ready Rockford Fosgate M5-series amplifiers. A four-channel M5-800X4 amplifier provides up to 100 watts of power to each front and rear speaker, and an M5-1000X1 can crank up 1,000 watts of power to the system’s subwoofers. The kit includes a mounting plate that securely locates the amplifiers under the driver’s seat.

The Wrangler and Gladiator kits include two sets of TMS65 6.5-inch Element Ready speakers in Jeep-specific enclosures. The front speaker pods are a drop-in fit for the lower part of the dash, while the rear speakers are in a new soundbar overhead enclosure. The kits also include a set of M2-TS 1-inch tweeters on mounting plates for the dash.

 Jeep Audio
Jeep-specific speaker pods loaded with TMS65 coaxial speakers deliver clear and detailed sound.
 Jeep Audio
A set of M2-TS 1-inch tweeters on top of the dash ensures that every note is reproduced with exceptional clarity.

Both systems include a digital signal processor with a pre-loaded tune. The processor can detect the type of vehicle it’s installed into (Wrangler or Gladiator) and load a calibration optimized for that particular Jeep. The DSP integrates seamlessly with the factory-installed source unit and detects which radio is connected through its CAN bus communication. When combined with the Jeep-specific settings on the amplifiers, your installer doesn’t have to spend any time configuring the system, worrying about load resistors or measuring voltage or frequency response. The Rockford Fosgate R&D team has done all that work for you!

 Jeep Audio
An included digital signal processor handles all system integration and calibration to deliver stunning sound quality.

All of the upgraded components mount to the factory fastener locations. The R&D team at Rockford Fosgate 3D-scanned every part of the vehicle and created the pods, brackets, wiring and enclosures to fit perfectly with no modifications. Integration wiring features factory-style connectors and T-harnesses, so no cutting or splicing is required. Each kit has a fuse holder on a custom bracket and all the power wires for the amplifiers. Finally, a remote subwoofer level control mounts in the dash and looks like the controls on the radio. How’s that for classy?!

 Jeep Audio
The TMS65 speakers in the overhead speaker enclosure sound great, and Rockford Fosgate nailed the styling.
 Jeep Audio
A custom subwoofer level control matches the cosmetics of the climate and audio system controls.

2018-2023 Jeep Wrangler Subwoofer System

Now, let’s talk about what’s unique to the 18WRNGLER-STG5 kit. This system includes a pair of subwoofer enclosures that fit by the rear windows in the cargo area of the Wrangler. Each enclosure features a T1S2-12 12-inch subwoofer. These aren’t dainty little shallow-mount subwoofers. The T1-series slimline subwoofers are top-of-the-line drivers that feature technologies like the IDHS copper cap heat-sinking shorting ring and VAST surround design. The cones are a matrix of carbon fiber, PMI and glass fiber, so you know they will sound great, even with the volume cranked!

The design of the subwoofer enclosures and the overhead soundbar match the cosmetics in the vehicle while looking cool. All enclosures feature Element Ready materials and designs, so they won’t fade from UV exposure, melt in the hot sun or crack in cold winter climates. Anyone who sees your Wrangler will know you’re serious about sound and quality at first glance.

 Jeep Audio
Element Ready subwoofer enclosures feature T1S2-12 Power Series 12-inch drivers.
 Jeep Audio
The Rockford Fosgate subwoofers look right at home in the back of your Jeep and deliver tight, deep bass.

If you have a Wrangler Unlimited with the premium audio system, Rockford Fosgate created the WRNGLR-TRIM to return the cargo area to its original condition so the new subwoofers fit perfectly.

 Jeep Audio
If your Jeep has the premium audio system, the WRNGLR-TRIM kit will restore it to stock to work with the upgraded subwoofers.

Jeep Gladiator Subwoofer System

The Rockford Fosgate subwoofer system for the Gladiator fits under the rear seat and features a pair of 10-inch T1S2-10 Power Series subwoofers. The enclosure is made from an Element Ready material that will face all the challenges you or Mother Nature can throw its way. In the enclosure, you’ll see metal inserts for mounting hardware and a spot for the OEM bolt holder. There are no worries about keeping the hardware for the doors safe. The 20GLADR-STG5 includes a jack relocation bracket behind the rear driver’s side passenger seat. The Rockford Fosgate team has indeed thought of everything!

 Jeep Audio
The 20GLADR-STG5 kit includes an under-seat subwoofer enclosure loaded with Power Series T1S2-10 shallow-mount subwoofers.

World-Class Jeep Audio System Upgrades

Whether your Wrangler or Gladiator came with the base-level sound system or the premium option, the Rockford Fosgate Jeep audio upgrade kits are perfect for people who are serious about their music. From flawless radio integration, seamless mounting and premium audio components to perfect fit and finish and professionally tuned sound, there is nothing like the 18WRNGLER-STG5 and 20GLADR-STG5 on the market. You even get your own Rockford Fosgate Jeep rubber duck with the system. We doubt you’ll give this one to a fellow Jeeper, though!

 Jeep Audio
Each Jeep audio kit includes a Rockford Fosgate Jeep rubber duck, paying tribute to the act of Jeep ducking. #duckduckjeep

If you’re ready for serious sound in your 2018 to 2023 Wrangler four-door or 2020 or newer Gladiator, drop by a local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer and ask about the Stage 5 Jeep audio upgrade kits. You can find an authorized retailer near you using the Dealer Locator on the website.

For more information about Rockford Fosgate audio products for your car, truck, motorcycle, side-by-side or boat, follow them on Facebook and Instagram and check out their amazing videos on YouTube.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Rockford Fosgate

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate T1D212 and T1D412

BestCarAudio.com - March 5, 2024

Rockford Fosgate T1D212

Without investing in an understanding of the technologies that improve speaker performance by reducing distortion, choosing one driver over another based on features and specifications alone can be challenging. The 12-inch Rockford Fosgate T1D212 and T1D412 are good examples of premium subwoofers laden with modern tech that outshine competing products. Let’s take a deep dive into the 12-inch T1 Power Series subwoofers from Rockford Fosgate.

Rockford Fosgate T1D212 and T1D412 Features and Specifications

The T1D212 and T1D412 are identical subwoofers, aside from their voice coil impedance and some minor variances because of differences in moving mass. The T1D212 has a pair of 2-ohm voice coils, while the T1D412 has dual 4-ohm coil windings. Both drivers are rated to handle 800 watts continuously, with peak power ratings of 1,600 watts.

Rockford Fosgate built both solutions around unique die-cast aluminum baskets featuring Flex-Fit. The Flex-Fit feature means the mounting locations for the hold-down screws are slotted to allow the driver to be aligned perfectly with the rest of the installation. Each driver includes an aluminum trim ring with a mesh grille to conceal the mounting hardware for a clean and classy appearance.

Rockford Fosgate T1D212
The Rockford Fosgate T1D212 and T1D412 subwoofers include a cast aluminum trim ring and mesh grille.

The cast aluminum basket incorporates cooling vents under the spider mounting lip. These vents help hot air escape from the top of the motor. They also prevent pressure build-up under the cone and spider at higher excursion levels to improve linearity. The T-yoke includes a vent to improve power handling and release pressure under the dust cap.

Rockford Fosgate T1D212
Cooling vents in the basket and the T-yoke improve linearity and power handling.

These T1-Series subwoofers feature Rockford Fosgate’s Inductive Damping Heat Sink. While this feature looks at first glance like a way to help improve motor cooling, it has a second equally important benefit. When current from the amplifier passes through the voice coil winding, it produces a magnetic field. This field interacts with the stationary magnets in the speaker to push the cone outward or pull it rearward. However, as the voice coil moves through the magnetic gap, that motion creates a secondary magnetic field in the voice coil that can oppose the field created by the amplifier. The result is reduced efficiency and some midbass output attenuation. The IDHS system helps to short out this unwanted current flow. As a result, subwoofers with this technology play louder with the same power as drivers without it. Including IDHS also improves midbass performance, making subwoofers like the T1D212 and T1D412 seem to “hit harder” than those without it. Win, win and win.

Rockford Fosgate T1D212
The IDHS feature improves power handling and sound quality.

These Power Series subwoofers feature 3-inch diameter anodized aluminum voice coil formers wound with copper-clad aluminum wire. While using CCAW seems counterintuitive based on everything we know about connecting amplifiers to batteries, it reduces the weight of the moving assembly in these subwoofers while providing a specific impedance. As such, this conductor choice allows the design engineers to specify a specific impedance and moving mass. The latter improves midbass performance. Good midbass is crucial to getting the subwoofers’ output to blend seamlessly with the midbass drivers in the front of the vehicle.

A Kevlar fiber-reinforced paper cone is bonded to the voice coil assembly. Reinforced paper is ideal for woofer cones as it offers an excellent stiffness-to-mass ratio. A tall rubber surround that uses Rockford Fosgate’s Vertical Attach Surround Technique geometry provides the upper compliance. The VAST design allows for increased cone surface area by moving the outer attachment point closer to the perimeter of the basket. The 12-inch T1 subwoofers have an effective piston area (Sd) specification of 548 square centimeters. Popular comparable subwoofers from other brands have 486 to 510 square centimeter piston area specifications. With VAST, you get a lot more subwoofer for your money.

Each subwoofer uses a pair of progressive-roll poly cotton spiders. A spun-laced, Nomex-reinforced collar strengthens the connection between the spiders, the voice coil and the cone. The tinsel leads from the voice coils are sewn to the spiders to ensure silent operation at extreme power levels. Rockford Fosgate provides spring-loaded push terminals capable of accepting 8 AWG wiring for speaker wire connections. A jumper block integrated into the speaker connection block simplifies selecting between voice coil series and parallel wiring. Rockford Fosgate calls this their SWIFT terminal design.

Rockford Fosgate T1D212
The SWIFT feature simplifies the choice of series or parallel wiring and keeps everything tidy.

T1-Level Power Series Subwoofer Applications

Using the Box Advisor on the Rockford Fosgate website, we see a recommended sealed enclosure volume of 1.25 cubic feet for the T1D212 and the T1D412. This enclosure results in an F3 frequency of 43.03 hertz and a Qtc of .745 for the T2D212. The slightly lower moving mass (Mms) and higher resonant frequency (Fs) of the T2D412 results in a Qtc of 0.862 and an F3 of 40.43 hertz. Both would sound magnificent.

Rockford Fosgate T1D212
The 1.25-cubic-foot sealed enclosure response: T1D212 in red, T1D412 in yellow.

The Box Advisor suggests 1.75 cubic feet tuned to 40 hertz with a 4-inch diameter round vent for vented enclosures. This design produces a nice bump at 53 hertz, adding more than 6 dB of efficiency over the sealed enclosures. The F3 frequency for these designs is right around 32.5 hertz. Based on the excursion graphs, an infrasonic filter set to 25 hertz would keep cone excursion under control in the bottom octave. If you want to trade that bump for increased low-frequency output, lowering the enclosure tuning to 33 Hz is an option. However, the difference isn’t significant, and the infrasonic filter remains required either way.

Rockford Fosgate T1D212
The 1.75-cubic-foot, 40-hertz-tuned vented enclosure response: T1D212 in red, T1D412 in yellow.

Premium Power Series Subwoofers from Rockford Fosgate

In the land of “bigger is better,” Rockford Fosgate’s T1 subwoofers include features you won’t find on most products with similar ratings. No, these aren’t inexpensive options, but the added features outlined above more than justify their price by measurably improving performance. If you’re serious about bass that sounds great, hits hard and performs reliably, drop by a local authorized retailer and ask about the Rockford Fosgate T1D212 and T1D412 Power Series subwoofers. You can find a Rockford Fosgate dealer near you using the locator on their website. Follow Rockford Fosgate on Facebook and Instagram, and check out the fantastic videos on their YouTube channel.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, PRODUCTS, RESOURCE LIBRARY Tagged With: Rockford Fosgate

RCA Y-Cables, Friend or Foe?

BestCarAudio.com - March 3, 2024

RCA Y-CablesIf you spend any time reading car audio discussions on Facebook or in forums, then you will have undoubtedly come across comments involving the supposed drawbacks of using RCA Y-cables. There seems to be a lot of misconception or misunderstanding about how preamp signals works, and this misinformation leads to comments that aren’t always accurate. Let’s take (more than) a few minutes to clear things up.

Understanding Preamp Level Audio Signals

RCA Y-CablesThe audio signal that connects your source unit to your amplifier is both very weak and quite small. The voltage of the preamp signal is rarely above 10% of the maximum voltage capability of your source unit for several reasons. Firstly, the signal level is directly proportional to the output of the system. When the volume is low, the signal is low in amplitude.

The second factor that contributes to the microscopic amplitude of the preamp signal is known as the Crest Factor. By way of a formal definition, the Crest Factor is the ratio between the peak signal amplitude and the RMS value of a waveform. For a pure sine wave, this value would be 1.414. For music, the Crest Factor value is much larger.

We analyzed a few different songs to come up with some relatable numbers. The new song Run by the Foo Fighters has a maximum amplitude of +0.15 dB and an RMS amplitude of -12.7 dB over the entire track. To keep the math simple, let’s call it 13 dB, which is a ratio just shy of 20:1. We also analyzed Heathens by Twenty One Pilots and found that it has a Crest Factor of 10.5 dB, or just about 11.25:1.

If we think about the highest voltage possible on our preamp signal as being 4 volts, then the average voltage for the above track would be 200 millivolts and 355 millivolts respectively. The peak of 4 V only happens when the volume is at maximum. Don’t forget that.

Scotty, We Have No Power!

Another characteristic of our preamp signal is that it contains almost no current flow. As with any electrical circuit, the amount of current flowing through the circuit is determined by the voltage in the circuit and how much resistance there is. The output impedance of most head units is between 300 and 500 ohms. The input impedance on most amplifiers is about 10,000 ohms.

Using our maximum voltage of 4 volts, and a resistance of 10,500 ohms, the maximum current in our circuit will be 0.381 milliamps. If we consider that the average signal amplitude is about 275 millivolts, then we have an average current flow of 0.0275 milliamps. That is nothing.

What does an RCA Y-cable Do?

RCA Y-CablesAn RCA Y-cable allows you to connect a single RCA output to two RCA inputs. Typical applications for Y-cables are a single subwoofer output RCA on a source unit or processor and the need to feed a pair of inputs on a subwoofer amp. Another common application is a source unit with only a single left and right RCA output; you want to use a four-channel amp that doesn’t include a two-input/four-input switch.

Please Don’t Believe the Hype

The biggest myth about the use of Y-cables is that they dramatically reduce the signal going to each input. To prove why this is not true, we need to understand how a voltage divider circuit works. Yes, it is time for a little physics and math.

In an ideal situation, when we have a signal source and a single load, all the voltage developed by the source appears across the load.

RCA Y-Cables

If we have multiple loads, the voltage produced by the source is divided among the loads when they are wired in series. In the image below, we have two loads in series with our single signal source.

RCA Y-Cables

If the resistance value of the two loads is the same, then the voltage produced by the source is divided equally across the loads. Half the voltage can be measured across each load. Using our 4 V preamp example, we would see 2 V across each load. However, what happens when the load resistance is not the same? We have to do some math to determine how much voltage is across each.

Let’s label the loads. The load on the left will be called Rs. This is the resistance of our source. For this example, we will use a value of 500 ohms. The load on the right will be our amplifier input resistance of 10,000 ohms, and we will call it Ra1.

RCA Y-Cables

We have 4 volts being produced by the source and a total circuit resistance of 10,500 ohms. We can calculate that the current flowing in the circuit is 0.0381 milliamps using Ohm’s law. Knowing the current in the circuit allows us to determine how much voltage is dropped across each resistance. For our source load, we have a resistance of 500 ohms with a current of 0.381 milliamps to produce 190.476 millivolts. The rest of the 4 V source signal or 3.809525 volts appears across the load.

Let’s wire another amplifier in parallel with our first amplifier. This is the same effect as using a Y-cable. Our second amplifier will be called Ra2.

RCA Y-Cables

Now it is math time again. This time, our circuit has a total resistance of 5500 ohms, and as such, has a current of 0.7272 milliamps flowing in it. The voltage dropped across the source has increased to 0.363636 volts, and each amp is seeing 3.636 volts. That seems like a noticeable difference, doesn’t it?

The Decibel Scale Changes Everything

Between the two examples above, we have seen a decrease in voltage at the amplifiers by 4.772%. Does that mean our music is almost 5% quieter? No. When we talk about the ratio of voltage to volume, we need to take into account the decibel scale. Our decrease of 4.772% percent in voltage works out to -0.405 dB less output.

Before you get your knickers in a knot, you can fix that by turning the gain on your amplifier up by that amount.

A Worst-case Mathematical Example

RCA Y-CablesThis example was a worst-case scenario. What if you have a source unit with a lower output impedance? Some head units have an output impedance of 300 ohms. For that head unit, with the same 10,000 ohm input impedance on the amplifiers, the change in output by using a Y-cable would be -0.2493 dB. If you have a premium line driver in your system, the output impedance may be as low as 50 ohms. In this scenario, the loss is a paltry -0.0431 dB.

What did we learn from this? If you need to connect many amplifiers to a single source, then choose a source with a low output impedance.

RCA Y-cables as a Solution are Not Evil

If your system requires that you use a set of Y-cables to distribute the audio signal to multiple amplifiers, then go right ahead. Once your installer sets the sensitivity controls on your amps, you will never, ever know they are there.

If you have any questions about the design of your audio system or what to know about how your installer will be wiring it, talk to the salesperson and your local mobile electronics specialist retailer – they would be happy to explain things to you.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Car Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY

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