Amish Marauder

I bought a couple Hifonics amps. I remember back when I was really into building systems that Hifonics made some quality stuff. I read some reviews (user) and these amps scored pretty well but once I received them I have to admit I expected a more quality appearence and they aren't that heavy compared to my Orion 8004 and Directed 1500D. But they seem to work well and everything is rocking. It's nice that they are smaller too. I just have to build a new rack. I grabbed a Hifonics HFI1000.1D & HFI100.4 We'll see how long they hold up. Part of me thinks I should have spent more money and grabbed some Hifonics Brutus amps or stuck with Orion. I also bought a pre-made sealed 3/4" MDF sub enclosure to get me by for awhile. It's too small for my 15 as the minimum I wanted was 2.5 cu ft and this one does 2.01 internal cu. ft. It still sounds a lot better than my old sealed box. But I'd like to pay somone to build me a custom box.

The sub is rated for 500-600 watts. This is per Mike Grynik. My RLp 15 might be slightly different compared to the one they sell today. Looking at the specs the power ratings are different it seems as well as the rec. sealed and vented enclosures. Mike clearly told me (Emails from him that I still have) that the sub really works well with less power. It's not designed to be ran with 1500 watts or even 1200 watts rma. He is quick to point out that it can be done but one must set the amp conservatively. That said I'm not asking about how many watts my sub can handle. I know this but I was askign if running the sub at 4 ohms would be okay or if running at 1 ohms is better. I really don't know the technical aspect of how drivers perform at any given ohms rating. For all I know it makes no difference at all. I ordered a new box, and two new amps. (I don't need a new 4 way amp to power my comps but my system must match so I bought a matching amp to go with the mono amp.) Anyways forget I asked. I will experiment with both 4 ohms and 1. Here is a snip of a conversation I had with Mike about this sub: I do have customers using up to 1200 watts on their RL-p's without any problems. I will note that above 800 watts, you won't see much gain in output or performance from the speaker, and will be adding additional risk to the equation. However, if you set your gain appropriately and build a solid enclosure to spec, you shouldn't have any problems with up to 1200 watts (just make sure you keep that gain set a tad conservatively!). If you're not looking to compete in any SPL competitions, I think a sealed 15" D2 off of the 1200 watts @ 1ohm would offer PLENTY of high quality output. Of course, if you really want to be as loud as possible, it seems you certainly have the space and vented will surely do it. If you go sealed, I would suggest 2.1 cu ft net volume (2.31 cu ft gross internal). Vented, aim for about 3 cu ft tuned to 28 Hz.

Yeah I've been very happy over these past years. The SQ from this sub is fantastic. The reason I want another amp is I'm having issues with mine. It recently started blowing fuses. I know my wireing is good as I've tested everything. Something is wrong with the amp. I removed it from my system and I'm powering the sub off of a four channel Orion. That Orion is what powers my comps though so I'm having to share it. Anyone have an answer for my 1 ohms Vs 4 ohms question?

So I've been running my RLp 15 for 7 years now with no problems. Thing still rocks. But I've grown tired of my current box and amp and would like to change things up a bit. Currently I'm running a sealed enclosure with the sub inverted along with a Directed 1500D. I'm looking at a new amp and another sealed enclosure but this time I'm going with a standard box with the sub installed with the basket inside. My question is this: Should I continue to run the sub at 1 ohms or should I wire it to run at 4 ohms? The reason I ask is back when I bought my sub I was chatting with Mike about my box design and amp and he told me I should really pair the sub up with a good 500-600 watt rms amp. I decided to go with the 1500d and just dial it in conservatively. Looking at amps now I have found a few that I like that push anywhere from 1000 to 1200 watts rms @ 1 ohms but these same amps can be ran at 4 ohms and push around 475-500 watts. I figure at 4 ohms there will be less stress on the amp but other than that is there any drawbacks to running the sub at 4 ohms? Considering its a DVC 2 sub? I like the idea of just running 450-500 watts to the sub anyway but I also like the idea of having the option to switch it up and run a lot more watts at 1 ohm. Anyways...any info would be awesome. P.S. does anyone know of a good place to buy pre-built sealed and vented enclosures? I built my last one but I just don't have the time to build another with my busy work schedule and family. A picture of my current sealed box with RL-p 15 D2

I don't post often but damn thats a neat box. My only real concern is you choice of 6x9 speakers. I had 'em and they aren't that great. Are you placing them back there so you have 'some' sound from the rear instead of all bass? That is one hellova sweet box dude...I can't wait to see it done.

2.5 is too small. 3.5 is the size to build. 2.25 to 2.5 would be great for a sealed enclosure.

I have to agree with you. I bought my Directed 1500D because I was going to pair it with a SI 15" MAG D2 and then at the last minute bought a SS RL-p 15 instead. Like I posted above, I think 600 to 800 watts rms would be perfect.

just be easy on your gain and you will be fine. as for your choice of enclosure... why only 2cu ft? I would go no smaller than 2.5 net on the box. If it were me I would be going 3 cu ft @ 28-32Hz I guess it depends on what you want out of it. SQ or SPL or maybe a combination of both. SQ: go with a sealed enclosure aiming for 2.1 to 2.25 cu ft SPL: go for a vented enclosure aiming for 2.5 to 3.5 cu ft @ 32-34 Hz SQ/SPL: vented enclosure aiming for 2.5 to 3.5 cu ft @ 24-28 Hz

Well I have a Directed 1500D (1100wrms @ 1ohm.) hooked up to a RL-p 15 and I can only put the gain up to 1/4. Anything over that and the sub distorts bad. Also I have the frequency set around 20-25 Hz ( hard to tell because the dial is not marked) I get really low end bass and not too much above 32Hz. This is in a 2.25 cu. ft net sealed enclosure. SQ is pretty amazing but output is low compared to a box thats ported and tuned higher. The bass I get from my setup is very low freq. and the kind you really FEEL. I love it when my hair starts floating...good stuff! IMO you could run 600 to 800 watts into it and it would be perfect. anything over 1000 wrms is not needed. The nice thing about a large amp is later you can throw another 15" on it and the amp will power both fine. Also running a big amp means the gain has to be low and IMO the amp runs cooler because it's not being pushed as hard as say a 600 wrms amp would be. just my two cents. I also would go ported and tuned to 28-32 Hz. I plan to build another box ported and tuned to 28 Hz just to hear the difference.

yeah I would go with the 15's as well if you want more output but put them in a ported enclosure. In a sealed enclosure they don't get as loud as you would want I'm betting. I'm pusing 1100 watts into one 15" RL-p sealed and I'm told thats right on the edge. 600 to 800 watts would be perfect for each 15". My 15" doesn't have nearly the output as my room mates 2 12" Orion subs in a ported enclosure, but my single 15 sealed hit low notes like no other, is very detailed, and realistic with the kind of bass that blends in instead of over powering and moves your insides instead of allowing people 2 blocks down the road to hear me coming. you should with out a doubt go ported for the output.

point taken. I plan to set the gain up conservatively. My system is being built for SQ so I don't need 'em blasten anyway. I just need them to be blended, realistic, and highly accurate. I'm selling my Dynaudio System 260's or I should say they are sold.

really?? wow I didn't think it would be a good idea. I'm glad I asked though. I really didn't want to buy a 400watt amp to replace my big orion. Thanks guys.

Hey I have a 400wrms x2 amp and I'm picking up a set of Diamond Audio D971 comps. This is a dumb question most likely but the constant rating is 200wrms and the max is 400wrms for the comps. If I throw them on my orion amp pushing 400 wrms into each channel with the gains set low do you guys think they could deal with it? I'd hate to buy another amp. I can run them off of 100wrms each but then I'm not feeding them enough power....its a catch 22. what would you do?

OMG that rocks! Very sexy install!!

I have a Directed 1500d running 1 ohm @ 1100 watts on my single rlp 15" sealed. The amp is kinda ugly and I have an Orion 8004 running my front stage. I would like to buy another Orion to run my sub. I can grab a Orion 1200d what do you guys think?