Car Stereos: subs and amps, bandpass enclosures, watt amp

Question
QUESTION: hi there, i just bought a new car and it came with a Kenwood 200 watt amp but no subs so the question is what kind of subwoofer should i get that would be safe(no fires) and hit nice and clear?

Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Josh,

Can you follow up with the model number of your amplifier?  It will probably start with the letters KAC.

Thanks

Brian

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: alrighty, the model number for the sub is KAC-4285

thanks!

Answer
Josh,

I think you have a KAC-428S, not a KAC-4825.  If so, the rated power of the amplifier in bridged mode is 100 watts at 4 ohms.  Your best bet would be a single, 4-ohm subwoofer.  My pick would be Kicker's 07VC124 sub and enclosure package.  It's a ported design that will give you decent output on limited power.

You can use just about any single-voice-coil 4-ohm subwoofer, in any matched enclosure, but a ported enclosure should give you a bit more low-end output than a sealed box, without the boominess or tubby sound of some bandpass enclosures.  A 4-ohm sub that comes with an enclosure designed by the manufacturer (like the Kicker system) takes the guesswork out of choosing the right box for the sub.

Here's a link to the Kicker package:
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_11662_Kicker+07VC124.html

Hope this helps!

Brian