SMD DD-1 and CC-1 testing

[audiofanaticz]

So I was fortunate enough to get a call from Steve a little over a week ago and asked me how Id like to try out one of the prototype CC-1 units, so of coarse I said sure!! Thanks to Ray, he was able to speed up the shipping process.

After using the DD-1 for a while now, I have came to notice that every headunit does not clip at the same volume numbers. I know Ray said the CDA-105 is clip free at max volumes, My cda-105 clips at volume 28, while my buddies clips at volume 32. I also found out 2 identical JVC units with different volume levels. But the 2 alpine cda-117s where both clip free at max volumes.

Moral is always checking the headunit, even if you think you know its max volume from a previous test.

So far for the CC-1 I have only used it on maybe 3 4channel amps and about 5 monoblocks It seems to work very well and its honestly easier to use than I thought it would be. All you really do is pick a freq to set your crossovers/ssf at, find the track on the cd, and push the read button than turn the crossovers dial until the blue light is lit. It cant get much simpler imo and is even faster and easier to use than the DD-1!

The nicest feature on the device I think would have to be the ability to gain match amps with it, 4 channel, 6channel, multiple monoblocks, this feature is nice!! Especially if your bridging a 4 channel amp down to 2 channels, you can ensure that both channels 1&2 and 3&4 are putting out the same power

Anyways here is a video I did setting up a sundown 100.4 active and running the neopro10s in bandpass mode so they wont play below 71hz and above 5000hz, while the tweeters where crossed over at 5000hz and up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Z57r1NsEI

And of coarse had to do a little distance test right away too and blared some alvin and the chipmunks macarena thru my hood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCwiuBZlLBU

[Hunters21w]

Nice vid, the CC-1 looks very simple to use just like the DD-1. Any chance you could show a vid of the gain match function?

[IH8PunkRok]

"touchy little knoby thingys *points* stay, sit boo-boo sit"

lol

[Ray]

Good vid brian.

Glad to have helped.

[Torres]

good vid. but one thing i have a question about is when doing more than one amp/channel to match up with, wouldn't you want to use a DMM in conjunction in order to make sure they're fully matched? sure, they're not distorting, but the physical position of the gain may be slightly off causing different readings on a DMM. it may not even be much to matter, but something i've been curious about. i brought it up in another thread a while ago, but never saw a reply about it. and sure, it's just a demonstration of the products themselves, but just asking regardless since i don't have any equipment to try it on myself lol

[audiofanaticz]

good vid. but one thing i have a question about is when doing more than one amp/channel to match up with, wouldn't you want to use a DMM in conjunction in order to make sure they're fully matched? sure, they're not distorting, but the physical position of the gain may be slightly off causing different readings on a DMM. it may not even be much to matter, but something i've been curious about. i brought it up in another thread a while ago, but never saw a reply about it. and sure, it's just a demonstration of the products themselves, but just asking regardless since i don't have any equipment to try it on myself lol

how to start this.

The physical position of a gain knob does not mean anything. They could both be all the way up, or all the way down or dead center on half, either way just because they are the same position does not automatically mean the amp is making the same power per amp or channel. There are tolerances in amplifiers, and the parts used inside the amplifiers. It kinda comes down to Crescendo BC 5500, DC Audio 5k, and the Sundown 4500. Sure they are all the same boards and often the same parts, maybe smaller torrids here and there and some may have slightly larger capacitors. But at the end of the day they are tolerances that do not make them all equal. Hell One company claims 5500 rms, while one company claims 4500rms. Id tend to trust the lower amps rating, and know that my amplifiers is not rated at 2 or 5 percent THD unlike the 4500watt amp being power rated at 1%thd. But in the end I guess claiming larger numbers at a distorted volume is their way to sell a product and not be honest to a customer.

Another good example of this would be the Rockford fostgate amps, look at the old RF 40001bd amps, some birth sheets where extremely high while others where just a tad above their rated power. Tolerances on parts come into play on everything.

My understanding is when you gain match amps 4 channels, multiple monoblocks etc, the CC-1 is looking for the same level voltage (the same as a DMM would) only instead of looking for a number on the multimeter your looking for a light to light up when in use. I should of showed how to do it in the video, but for some reason my videos tend to get stupid long no matter how much I try to crop out the video. Im very shitty at video editing. LOL

So since another was curious how it was done, I will do the same thing

Nice vid, the CC-1 looks very simple to use just like the DD-1. Any chance you could show a vid of the gain match function?

Sure can when I get some spare time!

Good vid brian.

Glad to have helped.

Glad you have too ray, thanks!

[Siete_Cinqo]

Entertaining vid!

Reveiw or thoughts on Sundown mids?

[neuspeedescort]

with what has been said above i have one question. how do you know when gain matching amps that the amp you are matchings signal is not clipping on second or third amp?

i can't view youtube from work....sssshhhhh don't tell im slacking.

NEUMAN

Edited February 16, 2012 by neuspeedescort

[KHRISS]

nice how to vids thanks

[audiofanaticz]

with what has been said above i have one question. how do you know when gain matching amps that the amp you are matchings signal is not clipping on second or third amp?

i can't view youtube from work....sssshhhhh don't tell im slacking.

NEUMAN

First of all I used the dd-1 to set the gains so they are not clipped.

The voltage differences in the gain is not going to be much once you set them with the dd1, and then run thru them with the gain matching tool on the cc-1.

You would usually want to gain match with the amp that is putting out less power, which in theory could be hard to tell without a ac voltage display, since judging by an amps gain knob position is no where near full proof.