Ninja_v1.0 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 good job Cody. We found last year that my maxxlink was distorted all the way through even when it was turned down as low as it could go Quote When your at the top everyone is coming for you, friends, family, haters and even those who don't know you.. my advice.. KILL EM ALL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ18 Posted October 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 This is a piece that is overlooked by so many when tuning a system. If something isn't set right, the blame always goes to the sub and amp when in reality the line driver is probably the cause. That was the reason I made these videos. I had a shop installer tell a customer that his 1.2k and level 2 were bad because, 1- he didn't know how to properly tune the system or 2- he is a shady mother fucker and just wanted to sell the jl product he carried instead of correctly setting up the equipment supplied by the customer. The piece in question was an audio control lc2i. The installer told me that the amp would distort at ANY gain level. WTF! Had no clue what I was talking about when I asked him what the input voltage was from the line driver to the amp. (MAJOR RED FLAG) My customer believed him since he is the shop installer and is supposed to know what he is talking about. He sent his 1.2k and sub back in to be tested just to find out that nothing is wrong with either. These basics were one of the first things that I learned when I got serious about car audio, thanks to this site. I find it fucking pathetic that an experienced installer can't get something like this right and cost his customer money by having him send the equipment back to be tested. An installer should know the basics and be able to at least get the settings close. But as an installer you are only as good as the tools you use. Steve and Tony are providing the industry with the proper tools to make installing/tuning aftermarket car audio very simple and easy to understand. Every shop should have these tools in their tool box! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meade916 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 dude, Bro, MY MAN.......those were GREAT video's. Thanks so much for taking the time to make them and post them up. Everything you said makes sense. In the end, if you have a line driver, chances are, your amps gains will be all the way down or barely up. That is because the gain is then properly matched to whatever is in front of it. In this case, the amp being fed PLENTY of input voltage. No need for extra gain and the dd-1 proved that. And like i been stressing, that is the gains one and only purpose. To be matched to its source's output. I don't know why people, especially people that should know better, are so hard headed and try to argue with me . But for the Ear-o-tuners, i will say this. Once you find your maximum non distorted output, and all gains are matched, it never hurts to turn them DOWN a little.......while tuning by ear, if you need to. Heck, thats why there is overlap tracks included . There's obviously more to tuning then just the DD-1. The ears will come into play for SURE. But, i will argue til i am blue in the face......a DD-1 OR an O-scope should always be your first step. Ear-o-tune away once you know you are safe! 1 Quote All SMD products + MORE available at my store here! https://wccaraudio.com/ Subscribe to My Youtube Channel! Over 1,000,000 subscribers strong! Turn on your notifications! http://www.youtube.com/meade916 Follow My Instagram! Daily live feeds from the shop, exclusive content way before it hits my Youtube channel...and little squares with photo's in them http://www.instagram.com/meade916 The Official SMD Facebook fan Page https://www.facebook.com/SteveMeadeDesigns/ Follow my Tweet (Twitter) http://www.Twitter.com/meade916 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meade916 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 good job Cody. We found last year that my maxxlink was distorted all the way through even when it was turned down as low as it could go i did Rusty's Max-Link and although i didn't understand the double-gain thing (why they did that), his wasn't too dirty. I was able to set the gains and get clean signal out of it. Quote All SMD products + MORE available at my store here! https://wccaraudio.com/ Subscribe to My Youtube Channel! Over 1,000,000 subscribers strong! Turn on your notifications! http://www.youtube.com/meade916 Follow My Instagram! Daily live feeds from the shop, exclusive content way before it hits my Youtube channel...and little squares with photo's in them http://www.instagram.com/meade916 The Official SMD Facebook fan Page https://www.facebook.com/SteveMeadeDesigns/ Follow my Tweet (Twitter) http://www.Twitter.com/meade916 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fosgatefan821 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Phenominal... I just printed out the steps you wrote so I can properly set everything when I swap headunits. Thanks for great videos. Quote 2007 Ford Ranger (ALL YET TO BE INSTALLED - DUE TO WORK SCHEDULES) K&N Performance Air Intake Massive Audio D2400 Mono Amplifier 2 Custom Built 8" Subwoofers in Ported Enclosure Pioneer AVH-P4400BH In Dash Double Din DVD Player (Video Bypassed) 4 - Pioneer TS-A6886R 6" X 8" 2 - SMD Heavy Duty Single ANL Fuse Blocks 2- Stinger SPP1200 Dry Cell Batteries JL AUDIO Interconnects 2/0 Gauge Big 3 ILL Customz 8 Spot Flat Lug Style Bolt Down Terminals ILL Customz 1/0 to 4 Gauge Power / Ground Reducers Factory Alternator __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2002 Cheverlot Monte Carlo SS - (Deceased) 2 - Rockford Fosgate Power 1501BD 1 - Rockford Fosgate Power 851x Rockford Fosgate Power 6 1/2 Components Rockford Fosgate Power 3 way 6x9 2 - JL Audio W7 13.5" Subwoofers (Sealed) Pioneer AVH-P4400BH In - Dash DVD Player Pioneer AVIC - U250 - Add-on GPS Navigation System Audio Control 6XS 4 Way Crossover / Line Driver Ohio Generator 200 Amp Alternator 3 - Stinger SPP1200 Batteries 1 - Optima D34/78 Battery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballhard365 Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 Thanks for the videos, just learned something new! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wicks Posted October 2, 2012 Report Share Posted October 2, 2012 NICE video! Lots of advice out there to use line drivers with HU's that have "low" output voltages. This is a great example of how LD's can actually cause more harm then good. Quote 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...
CJ18 Posted October 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 There is a place to use a line driver. Most cases are with stock headunits that have weak preout voltages. If you have a good aftermarket headunit with a 2v+ preout voltage, then there is no need for a line driver. I just had to use my bench to show the test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mario928 Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 There is a place to use a line driver. Most cases are with stock headunits that have weak preout voltages. If you have a good aftermarket headunit with a 2v+ preout voltage, then there is no need for a line driver. I just had to use my bench to show the test. Is there any advantage using a line driver with a aftermarket Head unit 2v preout voltage? Quote Build Under Construction Head Unit = Kenwood DDX514 Amps = Kicker 750.1, Going to install Sundown 1500D v3 and Sundown 125.4 Battery = XS D3400 Wires = Kicker RCA's, 0 Gauge street wire and Stinger Mids and Highs = Stock Sub= Kicker L7 12" Alternator = 220 Mechman Sound Deadner= Fatmat and Stinger Road Kill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mario928 Posted October 3, 2012 Report Share Posted October 3, 2012 Great video Quote Build Under Construction Head Unit = Kenwood DDX514 Amps = Kicker 750.1, Going to install Sundown 1500D v3 and Sundown 125.4 Battery = XS D3400 Wires = Kicker RCA's, 0 Gauge street wire and Stinger Mids and Highs = Stock Sub= Kicker L7 12" Alternator = 220 Mechman Sound Deadner= Fatmat and Stinger Road Kill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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