My review of the SMD DD-1

[ProMaxx316]

So let me start off with this. My name is Raul. Big fan of damn near anything that has to do with wheels and a engine and audio. My car audio experience is pretty much crappy. But i got a good general idea on how to power one up without setting a car on fire. My spelling might be shit and my speech might be worse. But that's me and i make it work. On to the review. Pics are minimal because i was happy to get this tool.

First thing the other guys at my job kept asking me if that was my new cell phone. I found it funny.

So this is when the fed ex guy drops it off to me. I think my buddy Jose was more hyped up to see this arrive then me. The package was a strong box with a reasonable amount of packing peanuts to hold everything steady in shipping. Although i wish the SMD DD-1 had maybe a little bubble wrap for a "just in case" you got a angry delivery worker. That's pretty much the only pic i have as the rest is in video.

Before i link the video let me make a few things clear. I ramble a lot when I made this video. I was speaking everything off the top of my head and i feel it makes the video a little more "real world" because i uploaded the videos straight to Youtube from my phone. So no editing took place. Also the booze got started.

So here is part one.

If you watched the video to the end you might say "damn this dude is a fuck tart." well then so be it. But i really could not say anything other than it really is simple. Just read the book, do what it says, and your done. I had 2 amps go on me because me and a few other people thought it was "set up" with no distortion. To tell you the truth maybe i got volume hungry and drove them to distortion/clip but so be it. Now i can crank my system up, and not worry.

Now for Part 2, My buddy Mr. Bluewave1212 AKA Jose

So it looks like the SMD DD-1 might have a problem. Jose was able to bang DJSNT "Behind Blue Eyes" no problem. Now after tuning with the DD-1 the amp cut out mid way through. I though this was going to be the flaw. Something happen and we recheck.

Time For Part 3.

So we found out that we (i relised a the next day with mine) that we forgot to set the sub-sonic. After he set the sub sonic Jose banged of every song he knew he had trouble playing before. No problems on any track he played.

In conclusion and a few things to clear up,

1. When i say im not a "Steve Meade fan boy" I dont mean it in a beef way. Im just saying it in the video to say im not biased and say that the DD-1 is awesome although is failed.

2. Remember this is like my first review and flowed off the top of my head. That's why you hear lots of filler busters.

3. Me saying "street review" was a meaning of someone that's testing it from a noob (me) perspective, and having someone above me but still learns more.

4. The Booze and shots were kicking in at the last video. Sorry about that.

As i stated in the video the SMD DD-1 is a awesome tool to have. It's very easy to use. Follow the directions and you're done It can get any easier.

I know Steve had to put a little hustle into getting them out but here's what i think can make them better for the future.

Maybe a little carry case for the whole tool or a little pouch for the wire it self with some Velcro to hold pouch to the tool itself. Pet peeve of mine having to coil the wire around something. and that's really about it.

Let me know what you guys think about my review. Bad, Good, whatever. I know it needs work but what you think for my first time.

[AI James]

should be tuning every single thing with the settings flat, sounded like yall did his with stuff changed.

[zx10intn]

real world review, good stuff man. hope to order mine soon and got on the list

[Purplehaze]

Just ordered mine today, can't wait!

[meade916]

love the review, thanks man!!!! I am extremely excited to see all the great reviews!

james, your DD-1 is on the way, next batch sir!

[ineeDBass419]

Great tool to have.it made everything louder in my car and a couple friends cars.I have people wantin to use it when they get new subs kuz they keep blowing stuff setting by ear lol

[knowledge]

thats some real world review for sure. except that you have to tune it with settings being flat. ive seen jose's truck acouple times before but never heard it.

[ProMaxx316]

thats some real world review for sure. except that you have to tune it with settings being flat. ive seen jose's truck acouple times before but never heard it.

Yeah we did it with all setting flat. If i remember correctly it says to have sub-sonic off or on it lowest setting. We just forgot to bring them back up. So when he was playing "behind blue eyes" the sub-sonic was just was to low. I ran into the same with my RE 10 when i was playing same song.

Once we turned out sub-sonic up it played multiple songs no problem.

[AI James]

love the review, thanks man!!!! I am extremely excited to see all the great reviews!

james, your DD-1 is on the way, next batch sir!

no problem, i whore out rays til i get mine, thanks again

[meade916]

thats some real world review for sure. except that you have to tune it with settings being flat. ive seen jose's truck acouple times before but never heard it.

there really shouldnt be TOO much more distortion or clipping just because you have bass or treble up a little. The "loud" button is the biggest culprit and will for sure introduce distortion earlier then normal.

you will find that once you set it up correctly with the DD-1, you shouldnt have to boost your mids/highs/bass up as high to give you that sound you are looking for. Technically, you shouldnt be cutting/boosting any frequencies very much in either direction when EQ'ing your system anyway.

The reason everyone is having such good luck with this is not just because the gain is set correctly on the amp.... but because the amp is reaching its full power potential at the same time the deck is putting out full, undistorted power. Not one before the other. In most cases the gains are so mismatched from the deck that when they are finally where they should be, it sounds like a whole new system. Thats what is so funny about these people that claim the DMM works for setting gains.....it doesnt. You can set the gain all you want with whatever tool you have, even your ear..... but if you dont know where the source (and any eq's/processors) are hitting their maximum clean output, its all out the window. None of it matters. You might as well just guess.