Underpowing a sub

[TheNewbie]

Not at all! What do you think happens when you turn the volume down on your head unit?

The reason the "underpowering a sub blows it" myth exists is because when underpowering a sub a lot of people crank the gain all the way up or way past where it should be because they think their sub can handle moar powa!!!! But as we all know the gain knob isn't the volume knob. Set the gains right and there is no problem

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?

[TheNewbie]

Another thing I haven't seen mentioned yet, but commonly overlooked. If you're using an iPod/mp3 player.. They will clip as well..

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.

[kam311]

You don't need to see the voltage because it probably would mean anything to you, all you need to know is that your amp and HU are matched up. Even the tools to set gains don't show you the numbers, you basically set them by the shape of the soundwaves, an o-scope shows you those waves so you set them visually according. And the dd-1 does the same thing but instead of showing you the actual wave on a screen, a light just turns on at the clipping point so you know.

And yes iPods and mp3's can be clipping, anything can be! Even a song itself can have clipped bass. If you listen to an iPod all the time in your system set the gains according to your iPod, simple as that. As far as music goes try to always download the best quality of music possible. An if you are getting bass boosted stuff make sure it's from a known composer that doesn't have dirty clipped shit

[TheNewbie]

You don't need to see the voltage because it probably would mean anything to you, all you need to know is that your amp and HU are matched up. Even the tools to set gains don't show you the numbers, you basically set them by the shape of the soundwaves, an o-scope shows you those waves so you set them visually according. And the dd-1 does the same thing but instead of showing you the actual wave on a screen, a light just turns on at the clipping point so you know.

And yes iPods and mp3's can be clipping, anything can be! Even a song itself can have clipped bass. If you listen to an iPod all the time in your system set the gains according to your iPod, simple as that. As far as music goes try to always download the best quality of music possible. An if you are getting bass boosted stuff make sure it's from a known composer that doesn't have dirty clipped shit

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

[loudNlow87]

Accidental post.

Edited December 2, 2011 by loudNlow87

[carshateme]

Another thing I haven't seen mentioned yet, but commonly overlooked. If you're using an iPod/mp3 player.. They will clip as well..

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.

[TheNewbie]

Another thing I haven't seen mentioned yet, but commonly overlooked. If you're using an /mp3 player.. They will clip as well..

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?

[loudNlow87]

Anytime an amplifier is over-driven, it's gonna distort/clip. Just like your head unit, MP3 players have internal amplifiers. You may be able to get ~98% volume out of it before it happens, but a clip is still a clip. So even if your head unit/amp gains are set, the iPod is still the first source in line and will continue to send that distorted signal the rest of the way down the chain. Recording levels also change/get tweaked with various types of music/tones. Your sub would be the last to see the signal, so long as everything in front of it is clean, it has no reason to distort unless you drive the sub itself past it's mechanical/thermal limits. No, the DD-1 does not know where these limits are. The most accurate way to find out how much power your sub is actually seeing is to clamp the amp. Otherwise, you could use a DMM and an Ohm/Voltage chart to get you in the ball park.

[TheNewbie]

Anytime an amplifier is over-driven, it's gonna distort/clip. Just like your head unit, MP3 players have internal amplifiers. You may be able to get ~98% volume out of it before it happens, but a clip is still a clip. So even if your head unit/amp gains are set, the iPod is still the first source in line and will continue to send that distorted signal the rest of the way down the chain. Recording levels also change/get tweaked with various types of music/tones. Your sub would be the last to see the signal, so long as everything in front of it is clean, it has no reason to distort unless you drive the sub itself past it's mechanical/thermal limits. No, the DD-1 does not know where these limits are. The most accurate way to find out how much power your sub is actually seeing is to clamp the amp. Otherwise, you could use a DMM and an Ohm/Voltage chart to get you in the ball park.

Cool, thank you sir.