TheNewbie

RCAs are brand new. I mean it's a possibility. I would try them on another system but being in a small town.. i don't know many that have a system in there car.

Yes sir, it has power. I've checked the fuses. There all fine. I have seen the light go from dim to bright. Like it doesn't have the same amount of constant power going to it.

So i hooked up the amp, a MRP-1000 Alpine. Powering a level 3 DC audio sub. I hooked it up and the amp turns on, but won't power the sub, nor a small speaker i put to it. I have checked the settings on the deck, it's not that. I took all the wires up and then put them over the carpet to make sure nothing was grounding out. Still no output. Any ideas? It's small 16 gauge wire. Any Ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks If i need to answer any other questions just lemme know.

Would help alot of people answer your question if you told them what your running, such as this amp to these sub(s). And this amp to those speakers ect.. If you post that it'd help clarify alot of things for people

Cool, thank you sir.

Can you explain this more...because I have my headunit set at 0 dB, my amp set at 2v gain (For that's what the voltage output is) and the dB on the amp is going to be set at 0....or can it be raised... Thanks. Bump for this man's question. ALSO i finally understand the gains the only problem i have is once the gains are all set since my amp's gain will most likely be more than the rms on the sub, how's this figured into it all? In otherwords, im sure the amp can push out more wattage that's not clipped or distorted than what the sub can take. Or does the DD-1 take into account the sub and tell if it's clipping and distorting as well?

Yeup yeup i got you, trying to find a place with pretty good quality music. and not itunes.. lol

Yeah that im aware of, and it can be in the song, so i don't usually play thing through my ipod jut as safe measures.

Lol, alright man thanks much appreciated. I was guilty of that ^ haha not setting the gains correctly. Gotta get me a DD-1 here veryyyy soon. So people put the gain up alot more, so they can get more bass at a lower volume, but being that the gain is cranked most likely more than 3/4ths it causes clipping at a lower volume correct? The gain knob's purpose is to match the voltage output of your head unit. Every head unit is different and every amp as well. So we can't really say if 3/4 is too much or not enough. And yeah lol the dd-1 will make your life much easier I'd have to have a DMM in order to see the voltage output of my HU right? This just confused me a little more haha. No, you really don't need to see that number. There is a way to set gains with a dmm but it's not the best way to set them. The best way is to set them with an o-scope or with the dd-1. Lol sorry for confusing you Haha, np man thanks for the input i appreciate it. Why would i not need to see the voltage, isn't it important so the amp can push what it needs to?

No, no. I needed it dumbed down just like this. Hard for me to comprehend some of the other things. So you see how far on the gain you can go on the amp before clipping anything under isn't clipping. Then the HU is the same thing, you put the dd-1 on it turn it up till it says it's clipping or distorting then back it off till it's not. Then you are able to go to that volume on the H/U. So would you do the HU first or the Sub? I'd think the HU right?

Lol, alright man thanks much appreciated. I was guilty of that ^ haha not setting the gains correctly. Gotta get me a DD-1 here veryyyy soon. So people put the gain up alot more, so they can get more bass at a lower volume, but being that the gain is cranked most likely more than 3/4ths it causes clipping at a lower volume correct? The gain knob's purpose is to match the voltage output of your head unit. Every head unit is different and every amp as well. So we can't really say if 3/4 is too much or not enough. And yeah lol the dd-1 will make your life much easier I'd have to have a DMM in order to see the voltage output of my HU right? This just confused me a little more haha.

Lol, Read this comment saying damn.. what else did i do wrong? Even looked up P-rez on google to see the terms of what it ment. Haha glad im not to blame

Ohh, okay. Pretty sure i understand now, so it's also concerning voltage. Amp req a certain voltage to put out a certain amount of watts. So you have to have the electrical for it haha. So you can clip your sub because of things such as Amp trying to push more than what it's capable of, trying to push to much without having enough power for it. I know there are other ways, but im just concerning amp's right now.

Saw this on the forums Clipping A signal that results from an amplifier that is either overloaded or underpowered relative to the signal Amplitude it being asked to generate. This confuses me a little, disregaurd the message i posted above as it will mostly be repeated just going to try to sum it up, so basicly if the amp gain is set to low it can cause clipping as well if it's to high. It has to be juuuust right. If that's correct then i also have another question. Sorry for the 20 question game, was just really curious on this subject, trying to read up on it so there isn't to many thanks

Lol, alright man thanks much appreciated. I was guilty of that ^ haha not setting the gains correctly. Gotta get me a DD-1 here veryyyy soon. So people put the gain up alot more, so they can get more bass at a lower volume, but being that the gain is cranked most likely more than 3/4ths it causes clipping at a lower volume correct?

Right, thanks guys. Just to clarify if I have an amp that will cleanly push 1000w, it wouldn't do harm to the subwoofer to push 200w out of that amp to the sub. Correct?

Q: is it okay to underpower a subwoofer? For example. A 2000w sub, with a 1000w amp. Thanks for any input. I keep hearing mixed information.

yeah thanks man

I've been into car audio since I was about 14 and I'm 34 now and I have learned more in the last couple of years from this site than I could even imagined. Well you sir, got a head start on me. I was into it when i was.. 16 now 17 trying to progress.

No such thing as a dumb question (usually ). All joking aside, your best bet is to search the forum for setting amplifier gains. Steve has some great videos on how to do this on you tube. Really it's going to save you a TON of money to buy a DD-1 and follow the directions. Good luck! Will be buying one very soon. Also will be reading aaaaaaaaaalot. Then possibly buy something that will safely handle the power i want. Gunna be learning alot tired of being the in the forum.

Yeah, so have I haha. I would just rather read than ask dumb questions. That are obvious to most people but not me lol such as the one above.

I'd rather not clutter the site with more dumb questions than i have in the past.

Okay, thanks.. sorry for being such a is there a site about everyyyything so i can non-stop read, so i can actually know what the eff im doing? 12volt.com?