Car audio doesn't sell based on EE principles. It's all about what the customer purchases. Customers don't usually research choices and marketing/snake oil take over. Let's break this down for a second...ROOT MEAN SQUARE. Aren't root and square polar opposites? Nowhere on Earth is RMS used to to specify power supply characteristics because it doesn't make sense let alone describe any real world performance. It doesn't exist anywhere except the consumer amplifier world.
The truth behind different ohm/resistance ratings is for the purpose of system design flexibility and it relates directly to speaker's purpose/application.
Who cares if an amplifier can withstand a bullet...you still wouldn't shoot it. 1ohm = sloppy cone. Sloppy cone = mediocre speaker performance. A amplifier power supply has MUCH MORE control over a voice coil and speaker cone at 4ohms vs 1ohm.
So here's an idea....
Anybody who's curious can go wire their sub system for 4ohm or to make it more drastic 8ohm. Do an A/B comparison with 1ohm. The audience will be friends and family. Ask them if they can perceive a difference. Don't tell them anything at all...just ask which one they prefer or which one is noticeably louder. If nobody can tell or even cares then just do whatever floats your boat. If you end up with a personal preference...then that's your ticket.
under powering subs?...that's a farse.Its about not underpowering his sub.
http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...ering-sub.html
http://community.crutchfield.com/forums/t/23638.aspx
http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/...TID~74226~PN~1
Let's put it another way too...if watts = heat and a coil is rated to handle 2384028 watts; then why would 50 watts overheat the coil and cause it to melt or deform?
Typically, people who "think" their sub is underpowered will push their gain far beyond the signal amplitude and cause clipping as well add lots of distortion. Everybody knows that distortion and clipping kills...what caused it?...gain knob stupidity.
EDIT: I'm sure nobody cares but I had ~15 watts hooked up to something I threw together at 8ohms and I repeatedly had people asking if I had 1000watts running to the sub. Nope. Sure didn't.
