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It is because of my head unit. Since I posted this thread I bought a different amp (Orion 1700w @ 2ohms at 13.8 volts) and the same thing...initially

I now have a dmm. My subs are wired at 2 ohms.

In regards to setting my gains, with my math, my target voltage was in the neighborhood of 58.3 volts. Using the JL Audio demo with my dmm....if 5:25 (clockface) was the maximun, the gain was almost at 5:20.

I just turned the level of the unit up (above the default setting) and turned the bass boost up slightly to get to the same voltage with the gain knob turned back a little. I'm betting it doesn't matter but at least if anyonw looks at my gain it won't be set to darn near maximum....

Thanks :thumbsup

[quote="High Society"]..
Make sure you are 100% sure you have them wired like that.
[url]http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/rftech/wiringwizard.asp?WoofQty=2+woofers&WoofImp=Dual+Voice+Coil+-+2+ohms+x+2[/url]
And with that much power I highly suggest to do something about the electrical system. I remember you saying you still have everything stock. IF you can't afford a new alt. The Big 3, and a new battery will help.[/quote]

I put an extra ground on the battery. I am going to look at the voltage before and after I actually ground the extraground.

I will update

[quote="Airforceyooper"]Yeah, if your deck puts out 6 vrms and you have your gains turned up 95%, I'm quite sure you're clipping the hell out of that amp. Are you sure you have your subs wired right?
Your amp puts out 1632 wrms at what impedence? How many subs are you running? Single or dual voice coils? How do you have them wired?[/quote]

subs are definitely wired correctly. 2 2ohm subs...I used the RF diagram, DA has one on their site as well. I am going to buy a dmm today..

[quote="GlassWolf"]hadn't we suggested the electrical upgrades when he picked out that 1500 watt amp?[/quote]

remember I made the thread [url]http://www.caraudiocentral.net/forums/showthread.php?t=4307[/url] about whether or not Rockford Fosgate knew what they were talking about. Per them regarding their own amp I was okay. I thought we concluded it depends on how I play my system. In the instruction maual to my amp it says I only need a 140A alt. It DID NOT say an additional 140A to my stock, it says all I need is 140A alt. Also, I was inquiring because I am sure they have smart guys over there at RF.

On another note, I just thought about something that I had posted before that may be relevant. The acceptable signal voltage range on my amp is 150mV to 5V. My sub preamp output is supposed to be 6V (unless it is true that this is divided by three as there are three preamp outputs=2V). My amp has no numbers on the knobs, but from this info can't I conclude that the lowest gain setting would be 5V and the highest gain setting would be 150mV. Given this, I would have to set my gain all the way down, for which I have virtually no output from my subs as opposed to having it almost all the way up...OOOPS, I just noticed you already recognized this point. Sorry. Thanks.

I am still reading though and trying to figure this out, I think I am going to buy a volt meter today (well actually I am).

I will update you....

hadn't we suggested the electrical upgrades when he picked out that 1500 watt amp?

a few things:
power ratings on speakers are generally anechoic, and the type of enclosure you use will affect the power handling of the speakers.
with a 6V pre-out and n amp that takes up to a 5V input, your gain would be set in the lower quarter of the amp's range. closer to "min" for input sensitivity. Also see waht the sub output level is set for on the head unit. It may be reduced, which would lower your signal out voltage.
Keep in mind too that 6V on a pioneer deck is with the bass control on the head turned to max, and at full volume.
Thus with bass set flat, and at normal listening volumes with a good, well mastered CD, your output voltage is actually around an average of 2 volts, not 6.
As such, if you don't plan to run at high volume levels on the head unit's Vol knob, you can increase the amp gain to compensate for a lower pre-out voltage.
The only drawback to this is if you do crank the volume at some point, you'll saturate the input of the amp and cause it to clip.

[quote="High Society"]..
And with that much power I highly suggest to do something about the electrical system. I remember you saying you still have everything stock. IF you can't afford a new alt. The Big 3, and a new battery will help.[/quote]

Thats a good point right there.
Your amp isn't going to perform very well, if it's taxing the hell out of your electrical system, and not getting the current that it needs. This could eventually lead to either, an alternator failure, or the amplifier's power supply failing.

[quote]2 dvc 2ohm subs wired for 2ohm load. amp puts out 1632w at 2ohms[/quote]..


Make sure you are 100% sure you have them wired like that.

[url]http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/rftech/wiringwizard.asp?WoofQty=2+woofers&WoofImp=Dual+Voice+Coil+-+2+ohms+x+2[/url]

And with that much power I highly suggest to do something about the electrical system. I remember you saying you still have everything stock. IF you can't afford a new alt. The Big 3, and a new battery will help.

Bill, you've got a PM.

Just an idea, but have you checked the rca wires. Try disconecting one and listening, and then the reconect it and disconect the other. If you only getting a siginal from one rca it might be cutting your output.

If you have an extra amp laying around, hook it up in place of the current amp. The problem could be internal to the amp, and the best way to check is slave in a second amp. With every thing wired as it is.