How to set different ohms with dd-1

[sayhuh?]

I've wondered this as well because if you use the calculation for voltage, you will differ in settings depending what your impedance is. for instance..a 1600 watt amp @ 1ohm, your voltage is 40 ( 1600 x 1= 1600 then sq root of 1600 is 40), but if your running that amp at 2 ohms, your voltage will be different.(1600x2=3200 and sq root of 3200 is 56.56), right? So this is a difference in settings.

Here's the chart!

http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/14666-calculating-gain-voltage/page__view__findpost__p__224232

[meade916]

the only thing that will change when you do that is the gain "overlap".

if you change the impedance to 1 ohm from 2 ohm, it should get louder (if the amp is designed to go that low). If it gets too loud to quick after making the changes, use a different track on the setup disc. For example, at 2ohms, your bass might not have been as loud as you liked so you used a -15db track to set the gains. You drop to 1ohm, now your amp is putting out more power. You might want to think about setting it with a -10db track if thats the case.

[MrSkippyJ]

The DD-1 has nothing to do with setting A specific output voltage. The DD-1 finds the maximum unclipped/distorted output of your amp. The output voltage and impedance do not effect the amps output as far as clipping goes (assuming your electrical can keep up with the amps demands).

If you are worried about the output of your amp being too high, set it with the DD-1 to find your maximum unclipped output, the use a DMM to adjust your gain DOWN to whatever voltage you need.

Edited September 8, 2011 by MrSkippyJ

[sayhuh?]

the only thing that will change when you do that is the gain "overlap".

if you change the impedance to 1 ohm from 2 ohm, it should get louder (if the amp is designed to go that low). If it gets too loud to quick after making the changes, use a different track on the setup disc. For example, at 2ohms, your bass might not have been as loud as you liked so you used a -15db track to set the gains. You drop to 1ohm, now your amp is putting out more power. You might want to think about setting it with a -10db track if thats the case.

and to MrSkippy...

Ok, now this makes more sense. I was more curious as to how yo can have different voltages, yet DD-1 sets it at one particular point. I can't adjust mine yet...sadface.

[Ray]

and if your amp is only 50rms over the speakers rated, you dont need to worry about that..

if we were talking a 100rms speaker and a 500rms amp, then sure..

[toadking90]

So I guess I wasn't the only one thinking about this then. Cause there is no way the gain is set at the same spot with different ohm loads on some amps

[n8ball2013]

why wouldnt it be?

[toadking90]

If you used the same subs and amp ran them say 8 ohms the gain would more likely be set higher verses running them at 2 or 1. Or do I have just the wrong idea completely?

[n8ball2013]

you're off. regardless of load the gain should be set the same.

[MrSkippyJ]

If you used the same subs and amp ran them say 8 ohms the gain would more likely be set higher verses running them at 2 or 1. Or do I have just the wrong idea completely?

that is tricky there. you aren't really asking the right question.

You don't adjust your gain to match impedance. You adjust your gain to match the INPUT voltage. the lower your INPUT voltage, the higher you set your gain and of course visa versa.

The ohm load your amp sees changes the output of the amp. For example, 8 ohms is 100 watts and 4 ohms is 200, 2 ohms is 400 and 1 ohm is 800.

With a DMM you set the output voltage so that it equals the wattage you want. (V/I²=W). Doing it this way has nothing to do with clipping. Setting your amp this way just sets the gain to what the output of the amp is supposed to be. You have a 1500 watt amp at 1ohm? Set the (gain) output voltage to 38.7 volts. If you hook up an 8 ohm speaker to that amp, the output of the amp goes down but the output voltage stays the same.

If you wanted less output from your amp, you would set the gain accordingly. (for example, you have an amp that is way too powerful for your speakers).

The DD-1 doesn't set output voltage. The assumption using the DD-1 is you want the maximum unclipped/undistorted signal coming out of your amp. It shows that point with the light. Even if you don't want maximum output from your amp, you can still set the gain to that and go down from there. Either way you would know you have a clean signal coming out of your amp.