Ok lets say I have (2) 4 ohm subs....

What should I be looking for out of an amp if its mono? Like 1600W x 1 RMS @ 1 ohm?
What about a 2 channel?

 

with 2 4 ohm subs you are gona need an amp that puts out max power at 2 ohms. some two channel amps do put out max power at 2 ohms bridged.

 

I know this might sound dumb, but you also have to take into account the power of the subs you are trying to amplify. If you only have 2 500 watt RMS subs, don't try running 1000x2 amp through them. Overpowering can be just as bad as underpowering the subs.

Take care.

 

Well I obviously know not to overpower the subs, but underpower? I have never heard of that.

 

yes, you can hurt subs by underpowering them. if the signal is clipped, from cranking the gain on a smaller sub to compenstate, it will eventually fry the sub.

 

Maybe to help and clear that up without causing too much confusion. Underpowering a sub will NOT blow/wreck/destroy a sub. Like hillbilly said if the gain is cranked and the amp is sending a clipped signal to the speakers that can cause damage. The lack of power is not what is damaging, it is the clipped signal. Usually caused because they want it louder and crank all the bass boost/gains and settings on the head unit.

 

Ohh so seeting like "sub" on my head unit to 10 (max) would damage my subs? I dont really understand what gain, and clipped signal is.

 

Read this (gain is listed, just have to scroll down)
CLICK ME!!, entire site,and you will learn a huge amount. I still check in on the site every now and then just to refresh things, and help me explain them better to people who ask.