I've been looking at a decent 1/2 channel amp for my 2 MTX 10s... I was wondering whats the difference between a standard amp and a mono amp...

thanks

i think the only difference is that a mono amp is internally bridged but im not sure

A mono amp is just built for bass most of the time. They generally use a Class D or type of Class D amplifying circuit, and are great for bass, but they don't have enough sound quality for highs.

Side note: Bass can sound just as clear as treble, but have 10x the distortion.

can you only run one sub off of a mono amp? that makes sense to me.

no it will have 2 speaker inputs, they will just be running off of the same channel

Yea... I got all the info from the guy at circuit city, and that is correct... I ended up getting an MTX mono amp @ 420watts... Got it running my 2 subs and they sound awsome!

a class d sub amp is just that a sub amp. they will not produce the full audio spectrum. a class d amplifier creates more power because it dose not have to reproduce the majority of the audio spectrum. so if you have a regular class a/b amp running you subs you are wasting power. the sub only sees signal from apx 20 hz to 120 hz depending on where you cross it over. in a regular amp 121 hz - 20,000hz is wasted. the class d one the other hand will only play maybe up to 200 hz even without a cross over. my class d amp also increases output as the ohm impedence drops as is the case with most amplifiers. this is not the case with the new jl audio amplifiers though. they are rated at all impedences and input voltage levels to produce there rated power. so my planet audio mono block sub amp puts out 600 watts at 2ohm but 1200 at 1ohm. the new jl audio puts out 1000 watts at any setting btween 1 and 8 ohms.

You have some myths in your posts.... Different class amplifiers are different then that. Classes are determined by how the amplifier is built, and it'* method of making a stronger signal. Class D will do any hz, but they have higher distortion rates.

all amplifiers increase watts as resistance drops. This is how sound signals work. When the resistance is lowered by half, you dobule the watts. So a 200w 8ohm load = 400w 4 ohm load. JL can't get around this, and they wouldn't want to. 1000w @ 8ohm is nearly impossible. The hard part about watts/resistance is making amplifiers stable at lower resistances. Many lesser amps will run too hot, or shut down for small periods of time if pushed beyond ratings.

It also takes considerably much more power to drive the 20-100hz range then it does to drive 100hz-20khz. This is just how audio works, because speakers can produce higher notes louder @ the same input wattage as a lower note.

Sorry BonneMN, the man knows his JL specs. You are corrent about this" a 200w 8ohm load = 400w 4 ohm load. JL can't get around this" but you are wrong about here "Class D will do any hz, but they have higher distortion rates. " Class D amps are not full range amps, only will produce up to a certain Hz. 500hz for JL monoblocks.

JL amps sub amps like mine 1000/1 Class D monoblock amp is designed to play 1000 watts rms at any ohm under 4. at 4 ohms 1000, at 2 ohms 1000. 1.5 ohm 1000. "You can't bridge a monoblock, you get what you buy, 1000watts. Also they are design to give you that full 1000watts at less than 14.7 volts down as low as 11volts still get 1000 watts.

This is just one reason why JL amps kick the competitions arsssss. we wont talk about the power of the W7 in this topic.

beleive it or not, http://www.jlaudio.com/amps/rips.html

Ok i'm being a little misread. I assumed that meant 1000w @ 8ohm like he said, which is kinda crazy. But i see the point in 1000w @ all ohms below 4. On any speaker, different tones will have their own seperate resistance, some notes go way down, sometimes half of the rated resistance. I guess JL limits the output @ a lower resistance to equal the same watts.

Side note!
I setup a friend with a killer setup. Two fosgate Punch HX2'* BEEFY dual voice coil woofers. Two 10" in a sealed box. They still pound your head like you wouldn't believe.... Running in parallel, and parallel into a sony ES amp (much better then normal sony) 1000w @ 1 ohm. 21 months later it'* never faltered or overheated or gotten unstable EVER.

EDIT: oh yeah, power of w7, my dream woofer..... My 2 10" JL'* in a sealed JL box are doing me good now though, but if I ever upgraded it'd be to 1 13w7 or 2 10w7. Sealed box.