RF Line Driver info

[tburt915]

I was planning on buying the Rockford Fosgate RF-BLD line driver. It says its minimum output is 11v however the maximum input on my Sundown SAZ1500D is only 6v? Will i get clipping from the amp if i use this line driver? is it just a waste and wont help sq?

[TylerParrish]

It's an amazing device. There's a gain knob on it for setting the voltage, just play a 40 Hz test tone through your stereo and turn your radio up to your max listening volume and turn it up. The lights on the unit will show you approximately how many volts it's putting out. That's how I did it anyways, I'm sure a DD-1 would be better if you had one though.

[TheMonolith2001]

Theoretically you would set the line driver to 6v, and the gain to zero on the amp, and you are running most efficiently that way. You need an oscope/dd1 to verify though.

If you go over 6v, You will probably be clipping or damage the input on the amp.

[Pro7]

Setting the line driver so you use no gain on the amp isn't always the best way. Different amps like different input voltages, I forgot who it was but someone clamped a few amps with different input voltages and each one had a little bump in power in different input v ranges. All gains set with o scope of course

[Jessica]

If you use a 0db test tone to set it to 6v as long as you don't go past the volume you set it with I don't think it will exceed 6v even if you clip. It will just be 6v.

But a dd-1 is a great idea so you know you are getting a clean signal.

[tburt915]

does anyone know what voltage sundowns like to get?

[TheMonolith2001]

Setting the line driver so you use no gain on the amp isn't always the best way. Different amps like different input voltages, I forgot who it was but someone clamped a few amps with different input voltages and each one had a little bump in power in different input v ranges. All gains set with o scope of course

Well I did say theoretically Was it really much of a difference though or are we talking a dozen or so watts? It may be within the margin of error of the clamp meter.

Here is what you should do to account for all variables though - Get the line driver with the broadest range, then you can find out for yourself what works best. I think the better your head unit is the smaller difference a line driver is going to make though because really what your going for is consistency + a decent voltage and your adjusting your gain to match what you are putting in. If your head unit has decent volts on the preouts already I wouldn't bother. My amp has a switch for different ranges of inputs, I think it can go up to something stupid like 14 volts at the highest setting. That doesn't mean im going to bother trying to give it that much input. The gain is already at a pretty low value and im pretty sure when you hit that switch all it really does is activate a resistor on the inputs basically lowering what you put in AKA undoing what I just did with a line driver.