alaskanzx5 Posted September 28, 2012 Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 no, sitty rca voltage means low gain. higher rca voltage means higher gain. a gain is suppose to be matched to the signal voltage(rca voltage) from the amp to ensure a proper signal. turning the gain up past the voltage of the signal results in clipping/distortion. now if you get the line driver you can keep the gain higher but only as high as the voltage coming from the line driver however the hu will still be producing a bad signal, the line driver is more ment for intergration into a stock hu or to add a slight increase to you rca voltage but to much increase to a crappy signal will most likely create more issues. search this forum for setting gains. t1500bdcp 2 t2d4 15" 1 t600.4 1 t400.2 1 set p1 tweets singer alt, tons of wiring, smd vm-1, 80prs, back seat delete, still in the works, aiming for a 145-147 with the ability to play 25hz up to 50hz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
severancej Posted September 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 I know how to set gain and what gain is for man I think you got it backwards because with low line voltage you turn gain up higher....high line voltage gain is not turned up as much. Correct? 98' dodge ram 140A alt Big 3 XS D2700 JVC kd-r310 Rockford T500-1BDCP 2 Sundown E12 Ported 4cubes 35hz Rockford P400-4 2 Infinity reference 3way 6x9 2 Polk DB 5 1/4 2x layer dynamat all doors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wicks Posted September 28, 2012 Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 no, sitty rca voltage means low gain. higher rca voltage means higher gain. a gain is suppose to be matched to the signal voltage(rca voltage) from the amp to ensure a proper signal. turning the gain up past the voltage of the signal results in clipping/distortion. now if you get the line driver you can keep the gain higher but only as high as the voltage coming from the line driver however the hu will still be producing a bad signal, the line driver is more ment for intergration into a stock hu or to add a slight increase to you rca voltage but to much increase to a crappy signal will most likely create more issues. search this forum for setting gains. ...FAIL The gain on an amp is to adjust the incoming signal so the amp can use it properly. If you have a HU with a low output voltage (0.5V) then you need to turn the gain up on the amp to compensate. If you're using a line driver or HU with high voltage outputs (5-6V) then you have to turn the gain down so the input to the amp isn't overdriven. Something that a lot of people screw up is the numbers listed on the gain pot. They typically go from 5V to 0.2V in a clockwise motion. 5V is actually a low gain setting. 0.2V is a high gain setting. This post sent with 100% recycled electrons. 2004 BMW M3Mechman 280A 2 - XS Power XP30001 - XS Power D375 500F of Maxwell SuperCaps (soon to be 1000F) iPadMini2Dash mounted O-scopeAudison bitOne (Remote DRC MP) Highs Amp - PPI Art A404 Hertz HSK130 (HSK165 waiting...) DC Audio DC9.0K 2- DC Audio XL12m2LEGAL - 147.3dB @ 41Hz OUTLAW - 150.2dB @ 45Hz OUTLAW - 145.7dB @ 30Hz JUNE 2014 SOTM WINNER 2014 COLORADO PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER SOTM BUILD:http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/141656-wicks-e46-m3-build-bass-turbo-button-and-a-big-new-addition/page-68#entry2802026 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaskanzx5 Posted September 28, 2012 Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 I call turning the gain clockwise as up and turning it counterbclockwise as down and when adjusting the gain you adjust depending on the hu. t1500bdcp 2 t2d4 15" 1 t600.4 1 t400.2 1 set p1 tweets singer alt, tons of wiring, smd vm-1, 80prs, back seat delete, still in the works, aiming for a 145-147 with the ability to play 25hz up to 50hz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
severancej Posted October 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 Ok here its the main question do I use unbalanced selection or balanced? Please I have been told two different things! God damn mis information! Lol thanks guys, I know someone here knows! 98' dodge ram 140A alt Big 3 XS D2700 JVC kd-r310 Rockford T500-1BDCP 2 Sundown E12 Ported 4cubes 35hz Rockford P400-4 2 Infinity reference 3way 6x9 2 Polk DB 5 1/4 2x layer dynamat all doors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
severancej Posted October 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 Btw I am leaning towards unbalanced but I need reassurance.... Also would it help if I ground the ends of the rcas on the outer metal (which is ground)? And ground the head unit chassis? 98' dodge ram 140A alt Big 3 XS D2700 JVC kd-r310 Rockford T500-1BDCP 2 Sundown E12 Ported 4cubes 35hz Rockford P400-4 2 Infinity reference 3way 6x9 2 Polk DB 5 1/4 2x layer dynamat all doors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wicks Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 Depends on what your amp's inputs can handle...? This post sent with 100% recycled electrons. 2004 BMW M3Mechman 280A 2 - XS Power XP30001 - XS Power D375 500F of Maxwell SuperCaps (soon to be 1000F) iPadMini2Dash mounted O-scopeAudison bitOne (Remote DRC MP) Highs Amp - PPI Art A404 Hertz HSK130 (HSK165 waiting...) DC Audio DC9.0K 2- DC Audio XL12m2LEGAL - 147.3dB @ 41Hz OUTLAW - 150.2dB @ 45Hz OUTLAW - 145.7dB @ 30Hz JUNE 2014 SOTM WINNER 2014 COLORADO PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER SOTM BUILD:http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/141656-wicks-e46-m3-build-bass-turbo-button-and-a-big-new-addition/page-68#entry2802026 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
severancej Posted October 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 Idk I was told it depends on what the head unit outputs like only recording studios used balanced deferential... The link to wiki tells me I should use unbalanced I'm pretty sure. 98' dodge ram 140A alt Big 3 XS D2700 JVC kd-r310 Rockford T500-1BDCP 2 Sundown E12 Ported 4cubes 35hz Rockford P400-4 2 Infinity reference 3way 6x9 2 Polk DB 5 1/4 2x layer dynamat all doors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wicks Posted October 4, 2012 Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 True, basically all aftermarket car HU's use unbalanced outputs. Some factory HU's do have balanced outputs though. My Bimmer's Harmon Kardon unit did. I'd have to look, but the RF BLD should be able to convert the unbalanced signal to a balanced signal for your amps. Then a twisted-pair cable would actually be effective. But it all comes down to what your amp can handle. Some can handle either, most only can take unbalanced. Check your manual or online and verify. If you're stuck with all unbalanced signals then the boosted voltage will help a little bit with noise although you may not be able to tell the difference. Just make sure to tune the system correctly as line drivers are easily capable of over-driving the signal into your amp and cause issues. This post sent with 100% recycled electrons. 2004 BMW M3Mechman 280A 2 - XS Power XP30001 - XS Power D375 500F of Maxwell SuperCaps (soon to be 1000F) iPadMini2Dash mounted O-scopeAudison bitOne (Remote DRC MP) Highs Amp - PPI Art A404 Hertz HSK130 (HSK165 waiting...) DC Audio DC9.0K 2- DC Audio XL12m2LEGAL - 147.3dB @ 41Hz OUTLAW - 150.2dB @ 45Hz OUTLAW - 145.7dB @ 30Hz JUNE 2014 SOTM WINNER 2014 COLORADO PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER SOTM BUILD:http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/141656-wicks-e46-m3-build-bass-turbo-button-and-a-big-new-addition/page-68#entry2802026 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
severancej Posted October 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2012 I called rockford they said to use unbalanced. The amps can accept balanced inputs but balanced signals are rare in car audio.. Thanks for the advice, I am trying to meet up with a dd1 and cc1 as soon as I get this stuff installed.. 98' dodge ram 140A alt Big 3 XS D2700 JVC kd-r310 Rockford T500-1BDCP 2 Sundown E12 Ported 4cubes 35hz Rockford P400-4 2 Infinity reference 3way 6x9 2 Polk DB 5 1/4 2x layer dynamat all doors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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