gains. surprised by setting

Bwcad1 · Post by **Bwcad1** » Fri May 05, 2006 5:13 am

gonz can you get me that guys info im curious as to what he can do to my competiton amps.

sonso_chi · Post by **sonso_chi** » Fri May 05, 2006 9:02 am

Thanks for the replies. I am going to try to spend more time with it and figure it out.

In the meantime, to answer some of your questions...

2 dvc 2ohm subs wired for 2ohm load. amp puts out 1632w at 2ohms.

my amp doesn't have numebrs on it. The gain is turned clockwise about 95% of the way it can go.

The crossover (LPF) is at about 10 o'clock which I belive corresponds to about 80hz

The phase is 0 (my options are only 0 or 180).

And the subsonic filter which I am sure doesn't mean anything for my sealed enclosure is off. Those are all of the amp settings.

If the preamp output is only 2v, that sucks. I have a $700-800 deck ($400 on eBay). But still, I had the same deck on my old HiFonics amp pushing 2 subs in a vented enclosure and it got darn loud with gains on that amp set much lower.

Is clipping audible? The subs sound pretty good and they get loud, but again that is when I have the gain up so high.

I am a novice though so I could easily be missing something. But I'll look into it closer and see what I can figure out.

In terms of models: http://www.caraudiocentral.net/forums/s ... php?t=4306

and my deck is Premier DEH-P960MP

In the meantime I'll try to read more about clipping...

JeremyC · Post by **JeremyC** » Fri May 05, 2006 9:28 am

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.

_gonz_ · Post by **_gonz_** » Sat May 06, 2006 6:57 am

Bill, you've got a PM.

High Society · Post by **High Society** » Sat May 06, 2006 9:14 am

2 dvc 2ohm subs wired for 2ohm load. amp puts out 1632w at 2ohms

..

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

http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/rftech/w ... 2+ohms+x+2

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.

_gonz_ · Post by **_gonz_** » Sat May 06, 2006 10:28 am

High Society wrote:..
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.

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.

Post by **GlassWolf** » Sat May 06, 2006 12:47 pm

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.

Post by **GlassWolf** » Sat May 06, 2006 12:48 pm

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

sonso_chi · Post by **sonso_chi** » Sun May 07, 2006 10:09 am

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

remember I made the thread http://www.caraudiocentral.net/forums/s ... php?t=4307 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....

sonso_chi · Post by **sonso_chi** » Sun May 07, 2006 10:37 am

Airforceyooper wrote: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?

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..