I have just brought myself a new Vibe BlackAir B8-V6 compact subwoofer which I am trying to use with a FLI Loaded 450S amp. The amp has a bridged output of 225watt RMS @ 4ohms and the subwoofer is DVC, 400watt RMS @ 4ohms. The amp will overheat after around 30 mins which is making me think that I need a more powerful amp closer to 400watt RMS? I was powering a Kenwood KFC-W3012 1200watt subwoofer off the same amp which wasn’t anywhere near as bad with overheating.
You are very confused.
An amplifier gives no more power to a 100watt speaker than it gives to a 400watt speaker at the same power setting on the amplifier in both cases.
It is probably an issue with your new speaker that is overloading the amplifier not the maximum power that can be put through the new speakers unless you are turning up the volume with the new speakers. It could be a lower impedance at specific frequencies with the new speakers that are causing issues with the power amplifier.
The power transistors or whatever the manufacturer calls them need a heat sink to get rid of excess heat even at low volumes.
Have you contacted the amplifier manufacturer to find out what temperature the heatsinks can safely handle without causing problems?
Have you measured the temperature of the power amp heatsinks when you notice they are hotter than you consider reasonable?
Certain speakers just do not work with certain amplifiers.
Managed to get the issue sorted. I has misunderstood how to wire up the subwoofer. As there are four terminals on the subwoofer I needed to wire it up in series.
Ah that would explain it, before the amp would be feeding a 2ohm load and as a result the speakers would be pulling too much current hence running very hot, now the amp is matched and driving an 8ohm loads.