DireRaptor22

Sweet! Now to wait for that tax money to reach my account... Are you guys running 4kW without a lot of problems? For example, do your lights dim when you have it full tilt? I'm doing a rough n00b calculation here, 240 x 14.4 = 3456W so just curious. For now, I'll stick with my BRX1100.1D until I save up for a bigger amp. I'm sure I'll hear a big difference either way after that alt + wiring upgrade though! Unleash all 1100W at least!

I plan to order myself a 240 amp Mechman S series alternator when my tax money comes in, along with a big 3 kit from them. This is all going into a 2002 Toyota Sienna van. I am so excited!! I am also going to get one of those 1/0 wiring kits for my amp, probably this one here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Execution-Audio-Blue-1-0-AWG-0-ga-Gauge-Complete-Amp-Amplifier-Wire-Wiring-Kit-/111138341159?pt=US_Car_Audio_Video_Amplifier_Kits&hash=item19e05c8127 Soooooooooo EXCITED!!!!!! So let's say I get this alternator installed and working, along with the big 3 kit and the 1/0 amp wiring kit. What amp would you guys recommend? I run two SA-12s in a big ported box, about 5.2 cu ft and tuning at 30Hz. I am torn between a few amps like the AT1400.1D, SAZ-1200D, kinda in that range. I know with that alternator I could probably run up to 3000W, but problem is by the time I order everything I'd have no more $$ left for the amp (or I'd have to save up for a bit which kills me). Oh help me, kind experts

Sounds like these Kenwoods aren't that great huh? At 24-25 volume my stock speakers are just starting to get loud. May have to get a new head unit someday. Pioneers are apparently good right? Steve Meade himself mentioned they don't distort till 59 or 60/62.

Thanks, so I was doing it right on the part where I turn the subwoofer level all the way up from the head unit. I had it maxed out at +15. Since I wasn't able to get a signal directly off the head unit RCA, I tuned my headunit through my amp. Gain all the way down, crossover all the way up, subsonic filter all the way down. I distorted at 32/35 with Track 1, 40Hz -0dB. Now I shall crank my gain at volume 31 at head unit until the distortion lights up as well right? Thanks for all the info btw!

OK, makes sense, the 1KHz shouldn't be detected through the amp. I was able to get a 40Hz through my amp after sticking my ground probe in with the ground 4 awg wire and the + speaker terminals. My head unit is kinda weird. It has a built in "subwoofer level" control and when I have that set as flat "0" it won't pick up a signal until it's cranked almost all the way up and even all the way up 35/35 it won't be anywhere close to distortion. I also have a bass knob for my amp. Hifonics BRX1100.1D amp Kenwood KDC-355U deck Direct RCA connection to deck still doesn't detect signal... connecting to amp however, does. I did the "measure headunit through amp" procedure and with my "subwoofer level" all the way up at +15 I distorted at 32/35... is this realistic?

Yea found my 40Hz signal, but 1KHz signal still remains a mystery lol

Not running a ground loop isolator. Just a cheap RCA cable. I finally got a signal after tinkering it around for a bit. But I had to turn my HU waaaaaaaay up to get it, like volume 20 out of 35 to see the 40Hz detect light up. With my HU set to everything flat, I maxed out my amp gain and volume at the same time and got no distortion (weak signal?) My 1KHz detect, however... never came up. Refused to detect that part regardless. Could it be a bad RCA?

Hifonics BRX1100.1D. It does have the weird angled ports for the power, ground, etc.

Well since I can't even get a signal to begin with, I'm suspecting a bad ground. How would you properly ground a probe to your amp? n00b question but hey this is my first time doing something like this.

I'm trying to measure my HU max volume without distortion first, and never got a signal. So it could be either a bad ground, loose/bad RCA, or speakers not being disconnected first from the HU?

So I gotta rip my HU out and disconnect the speakers first?

Track 1 and Track 2, neither worked... I'm suspecting it could be a bad ground. How exactly do I ground a probe? lol

I also want to add that I'm a total n00b at this lol. Popped the CD in, turned volume up 80% of the way and still no signal. My door speakers were about to pop from the 40Hz tone lol, those little 6.5" can't take the low notes very well.

I tested it earlier with my headunit only. Ran RCA directly to DD-1. No signal. Set all my EQ to flat etc etc and my crossovers to default, but I can't do anything to get a signal out of my HU. It's a Kenwood KDC-355U.

I just don't get how I can ground it to my amp with a probe lol