The Loud One

Aluminum is easier to machine. I've used both, no problems with either one.

We use them all the time. Great, reliable little units. Easy to travel with, I fly everywhere with one in my briefcase. Hard too beat for the price and portablity.

The same could said about every tool in your tool box. Your right you don't need one. Who would anyone want there system set-up correctly? Why would anyone want to maximize every component that they spent their hard earned money on? I guess because not many members have used one we shouldn't talk about them or even post links where to buy them at a reasonable price http://www.kiesub.com/prostores/servlet/Detail?no=385 Hey I'm just trying to help out, sorry you don't agree.

You need a scope to properly set up any audio system, you should check every compent in the signal chain, starting with the head unit.

All I can say right now is more power and a lot of cool features. Stay tuned CES is not far off.

You are right, nothing is fool proof. This is the method we use when setting up a car, -10dB on the bass and -5dB on the mids and highs. We have had good sucess with this. If you listen to lot's of bass heavy or compressed music use -5dB or 0dB. "this is one of the reasons an accurate clipping indicator would be very helpful on rf amps... cough cough... or any other for that matter" Be on the look out for some new products in 09.

decafcappucino, I'm not sure what you're driving at..... We have a tuning cd with different tracks recorded at 0dB, -5dB, -10dB, -15dB. Each of these are at 40 Hz, 1 Kz and 4Kz. This is used to set the gain structure of any audio system. We have been dicussing gain overlap. Gain overlap is a compensation mechanism to account for the fact that we don’t listen to test tones in mobile audio systems, rather we listen to music. Test tones are great for setting up the input levels on each component of the signal chain, but test tones are constant levels all of the time. Music has levels that simply are not constant all of the time. There are loud passages and soft passages in music, and these are constantly changing. Due to this fact, the maximum unclipped output levels determined by test tones will seem as if the system doesn’t play very loud. Certainly it’s free of clipping and audible distortion, but it’s not as loud as it seems like it could be overall. This process allows a measured amount of increase to be implemented without “guessing” by just turning up the gain controls on a random piece of equipment. Adding extra gain to the signal chain whether it’s at an upstream signal processor or at the amplifier at this point is a trade-off of benefits and drawbacks. Most people find that there is a good compromise of these trade-offs. • When you raise the gain above the levels achieved with a test tone, you will lower the signal to noise ratio of the system. In this scenario, the trade-off is higher output at maximum levels trading off for more hiss and system noise with the volume at lower levels. There is always an acceptable compromise. • Additionally, when you raise the gain above the levels achieved with a test tone, you will increase audible distortion of the system. In this scenario, the trade-off is higher output at maximum levels trading off for more frequent moments of “clipping” with both the volume and the music at their maximum levels. Check out the amount of time that there is added distortion in the signal based on the amount of gain overlap added. Once again, there is always an acceptable compromise. • Add in 5dB of gain overlap to achieve a higher volume with music (rather than test tones). It’s a safe compromise between slightly increased distortion (Less than 0.1%) and louder output (nearly 5dB). Less critical listeners could tolerate 10dB of gain overlap, but look what happens to the distortion increase. Some people will easily hear that with a great set of mid and high frequency speakers (certainly more evident on compressed audio tracks as well). Reserve 15dB of gain overlap for subs, if at all. If you are using this setting, chances are you can go to a bigger amp for better sounding results at the same volume levels with less distortion and more headroom. • Use the gain overlap tracks on the RTTI/3Sixty set up disc to achieve the gain overlap safely without causing damage to the speakers. Simply play the same frequency (HP/BP/LP) as before and increase the voltage levels to the same place the recorded measurements were at 0dB levels for 5dB of overlap. If you use the 0dB tracks to increase the output voltages to do this, you will almost certainly damage the speakers if not using load resistors. There is a complete tutorial at the top of this section that explains the procedure in more detail.

We recommend that the speakers be unhooked because it can damage them playing test tones, especially when the signal is clipped. Nice job on the videos. You are seeing a small amount of clipping with music as is to be expected, that is why the track is recorded at -10 dB. If you set your gains at 0 dB you would never clip and the system just wouldn’t play as loud. We have found -10 dB as a good trade off in the bottom end. How does your system sound overall? Did the dynamics improve?

A scope should be used with all audio systems. You can still do it by ear, just not as accurate.

Noobtastic 14, How did things work out. Did you have any questions.

Shyne 151, You are correct, the software for the Blackjack hasn't been released yet. I assumed it was. Thanks for correcting me, looks like I owe you a cold beer.

It works on Windows Mobile 5.0 or 6.0. Here is the link to the software available. http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/scripts/rig...9MQ**&p_li=

noobtastic14 I'll post a link to our 3-SIXTY set-up guide. It has all the info on setting gains with an O-Scope, starting with the head unit, signal processors and then the amps. It even has a section that talks about gain overlap. It is designed to be used with the 3-SIXTY set-up CD. If you need one just let me know. http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/rftech/libr..._SetUpNotes.pdf Greg Cobbs Director of RTTI Rockford Fosgate

There are no apps for the iphone. Get the blackjack and step up to the 3-SIXTY.2, you wont be sorry.

The show ROCKED! Garret wont stop talking about it. Thanks again Steve.