What Watt is my subwoofer?

I have no idea what watt my subwoofers are. I am very new to the world of car audio and am looking to get an amp for my system. After doing some research I learned I would need an amp, but I don t want to get the wrong one and overheat/kill any components. After looking on the company website I found the same subs I have, just many different watt levels. My Subs: 12inch Hifonics, 2 subs in a dual enclosure. Any help of basic info on car audio would be appreciated, I plan on taking my equipment to somewhere like BestBuy and have them do the install. I've been looking at "Hifonics HFX12D", but I'm seeing 800w and 1600w. Thank you, -Nathan
Answers

MrWakeup

To x-Wulfgar-x, The link you provided states this: While the term "subwoofer" technically only refers to the speaker driver, in common parlance, the term often refers to a subwoofer driver mounted in a speaker enclosure (cabinet). Again: "subwoofer" technically only refers to the speaker driver... So not true to what you say it seems? Alternatively known as a sub or woofer, a subwoofer is a speaker that is designed to only reproduce low frequencies, also known as the bass. So Sure, there are speakers that require an enclosure, but that does not necessarily make them 'subwoofers'. Also you can acquire full range speakers and put it in an enclosure not all loud speakers are created to handle 'bass response' as those called subwoofers, subs or woofers. However that being said, sometimes subwoofers also has been used loosely to suggest a 'loudspeaker' system (which is also has been used loosely to suggest just a subwoofer or a speaker that can produce loud sounds.) Which can relate to an enclosure that holds a midrange, tweeter and subwoofer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudspeaker But again those terms are used interchangeably at times and are not exclusive. Also when you go to an Audio store or car audio store respectively, Subwoofers usually does not mean an enclosure and amp are included in a Subwoofer sale. A home audio or computer subwoofer may also refer to the enclosure and an amp. But again that term is used loosely. Ok so to answer the question of what the 12" Hifonics speakers/woofers/subs/subwoofers require? Depends on the model number. You might check to see if their are any model numbers on the woofers themselves? Otherwise we can only speculate. https://www.sonicelectronix.com/cat_m27_i41_hifonics-12-car-subwoofers.html As you can see there's a few of them. What you are really looking for is the RMS and not Peak Power. RMS is the most important. Most of the ones listed in the link from Sonic Electronics state 400-600 watts RMS for one subwoofer. So if this HFX12D is the exact woofer you have, then what you are looking at is 400 watts RMS for one sub. https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_37709_Hifonics-HFX12D4.html The next important step here is the voice coil configuration. You have two woofers, hopefully the same woofer and configuration. What are the voice coils for these subwoofers? You will need to purchase an amplifier that can handle (if hfx12d is what you have) 800 watts RMS at the specified load for the voice coils and how you plan to have the subwoofers wired.

Ninefinger's Van

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DR + Mrs Bears face

HI so the issue is simple the enclosure which the units sit inside are never ever going to be large enough to cope with the full bass sound produced. so limited to a power of 25 % of it's maximum rated output is the maximum you will ever achieve.

don r

Model numbers and a quick search on the manufacturers site could get you some useful info. Those are dual voice coil subswith 4 ohm impedance per coil. They could be wired a few different ways- parallell/parallel for 1 ohms total, series/ parallell, for 4 ohms total, and a cuple of other configurarions. See how much power your car has to power the speakers before you attempt to power them to the highest they can handle. Less than the most is OK. Go by the RMS watts and consider at what frequency they list their power. Lookit: https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_37709_Hifonics-HFX12D4.html

x-Wulfgar-x

The 2 Hifonics are speakers, not subs. A sub (subwoofer) is the complete loudspeaker (box, speakers, and crossover), plus amp. You should get an amp the is capable of powering your speakers. The speakers will be the limiting factor. Good reading here: crosshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subwoofer