Gain Setting confusion with DD-1??

[Swordlordboy1234]

The dd1 detects about 1% distortion. Also detects clipping. A normal human can hear between 6 and 10% distortion depending on frequency. A trained audiophile SQ judge can hear about 2-4% distortion depending on hearing ability (how damaged it's been during their life) also depending on frequency.

What you are most likely hearing is the headunit clipping the door speakers. Just because 40hz doesn't distort at volume xx.... Say its volume 35. But your headunit might distort your mids and highs at volume 32, but not 40hz (bass)...

Best solution. Either get a 4 channel and the dd1 will tell you exactly where both 1k and 40hz distort on your headunit (problem solved)

Option two... Might be controversial on the forum but I've used it to good effect on the "cheaper customers" ....

Turn off the subwoofer. Then turn up your headunit (playing a song with heavy bass, maybe rap?) close your eyes and carefully listen to even the slightest bit of distortion you hear. Mark the number. Go one click under that. And then use the dd1 disk at -5 or -10 db to set your amp gain at that volume. You can also mess with your EQ after this to tun down the bass going to your door speakers.

The bass going to your door speakers (from playing too low or too much excursion to control while remaining linear) is what your most likely hearing. And most stock systems the bass will distort before the mid or the high frequencies. So just tune the mids/highs the best you can by ear (remember mess with your EQ to get the highest volume you can) but keep it under the -0db 40hz number you found earlier with the dd1. Use the lower of the two... And then tune your amp with that number on the headunit.

Hope this helps.

[a21cuda]

The dd1 detects about 1% distortion. Also detects clipping. A normal human can hear between 6 and 10% distortion depending on frequency. A trained audiophile SQ judge can hear about 2-4% distortion depending on hearing ability (how damaged it's been during their life) also depending on frequency.

What you are most likely hearing is the headunit clipping the door speakers. Just because 40hz doesn't distort at volume xx.... Say its volume 35. But your headunit might distort your mids and highs at volume 32, but not 40hz (bass)...

Best solution. Either get a 4 channel and the dd1 will tell you exactly where both 1k and 40hz distort on your headunit (problem solved)

Option two... Might be controversial on the forum but I've used it to good effect on the "cheaper customers" ....

Turn off the subwoofer. Then turn up your headunit (playing a song with heavy bass, maybe rap?) close your eyes and carefully listen to even the slightest bit of distortion you hear. Mark the number. Go one click under that. And then use the dd1 disk at -5 or -10 db to set your amp gain at that volume. You can also mess with your EQ after this to tun down the bass going to your door speakers.

The bass going to your door speakers (from playing too low or too much excursion to control while remaining linear) is what your most likely hearing. And most stock systems the bass will distort before the mid or the high frequencies. So just tune the mids/highs the best you can by ear (remember mess with your EQ to get the highest volume you can) but keep it under the -0db 40hz number you found earlier with the dd1. Use the lower of the two... And then tune your amp with that number on the headunit.

Hope this helps.

That helps a lot. Thanks. Maybe I don't really know what to listen for when listening for distortion. The only reason I say that I thought the sub is distorting is because when you put your head down there by the sub, it sounds like it has that popping sound when it hits where it sounds like its hitting something, but when you just sit in the truck normal it sounds really good. Maybe I'm just a dumbass and don't know what I'm listening for haha. I might just be paranoid but I have my volume on the deck at like 50% of its full volume the last time that I set the gains.

[matt14]

Restart from the very beginning. Reqd the manual all the way through.