pioneerforlife Posted March 26, 2014 Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 Ok so the other day I put my subs in along with my amp to see how they sound and they get loud. I plan on running my amp at .5 ohms in the future but right now I am on stock electrical so I wired it to 2. so here's the thing. I set my gains by ear/smell lol. if I hear distortion I back it off. If I smell the subs a bit I back it off. I always have done it that way and never had a problem. well, right now I literally have my gain all the way up, deck is at 61/62 (clips at 62), bass knob (lc1) all the way up, and I don't have any distortion. subs and amp never get warm. this is kind of odd to me because with my old system I had my gain set at about 3/4 of the way and any more I went into clipping. my head unit has 2V pre-outs too and with my old system I had them split for two amps. I am still working on my door pods so I have just stock speakers ran off the HU for the time being. so you would think since there is only one amp there would be more power to it. I do have the splitters inline however so I am not sure if they still split the signal even with one amp. my question is why is this. My amp is rated for .5-10V input so 2V shouldn't be all the way up. the only thing I can think of is the LC1 is absorbing some of that power. I didn't have it in the old system. any ideas? 2007 Ford Focus SES Hatchback Pioneer HU 4 Digital Designs 9515i's in a B pillar. 2 Soundstream XXX 15K's (running at 16 volts) Soundstream Mids/Highs in custom door panels (getting rebuilt soon) Soundstream TA2.160 and TA2.400 Sky High and KNU wiring 3 Banks of Maxwell caps Winston Lithium (not a fan) Bump4Life 250 Amp Alt. aka USAlternators Soundstream Focus and Avenger Build Log Instagram @p4linnovation YouTube: Team Blowin Loud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbg Posted March 26, 2014 Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 If you don't have a dd1 or oscope you don't know if your clipping. If you have your setup like you say, YOU are clipping. Even if your ears don't think so because its not distorted. 01 focus se 110 amp alt Big 3 sky high and stinger hpm ofc 1/0 Super start platinum AGM (starting) 2 runs of 1/0 Execution audio front to back Kenwood double DIN DDx271 A pillars- orion 4" super tweeter and 2-1" alpines. Orion xtx 64 in the front doors 2:1 4th order bandpass Sealed off trunk Digital designs deadener on roof/ rear deck Orion hcca 12s (black coils) Orion xtr3700.1 Orion xtr250.2 mid/highs All sky high 1/0 in trunk dual runs(power/ground) Sky high dual 1/0 inputs 2 xs power D3100 in back Sky high batt blocks Rose audio batt blocks Stinger volt meter All sky high 1\0 fuse and holders Db link remote/ rca Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRON Posted March 26, 2014 Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 Do your self a favor and get a tool that can actually set gain. Remember, distortion and clipping are not the same. Avalanche Alpine Type S comps Alpine Type S 10'' Alpine MPR-F300 Alpine MRX-M50 Mechamn 270 XS Power d3400s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pioneerforlife Posted March 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 If you don't have a dd1 or oscope you don't know if your clipping. If you have your setup like you say, YOU are clipping. Even if your ears don't think so. what is not distortion to you may be crazy distortion. Do your self a favor and get a tool that can actually set gain. Remember, distortion and clipping are not the same. I can go full tilt for hours on end. nothing even gets remotely warm. idk Its possible. 2007 Ford Focus SES Hatchback Pioneer HU 4 Digital Designs 9515i's in a B pillar. 2 Soundstream XXX 15K's (running at 16 volts) Soundstream Mids/Highs in custom door panels (getting rebuilt soon) Soundstream TA2.160 and TA2.400 Sky High and KNU wiring 3 Banks of Maxwell caps Winston Lithium (not a fan) Bump4Life 250 Amp Alt. aka USAlternators Soundstream Focus and Avenger Build Log Instagram @p4linnovation YouTube: Team Blowin Loud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazestorm23 Posted March 26, 2014 Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 Gain at about 1/3 should be safe until you can get something to set it right. I suggest not going over half way. 100% of the amps I have set up with the dd-1 with -5db don't make it past half way before hitting distortion. If its not as loud as you think it should be then its probably time to upgrade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kranny Posted March 26, 2014 Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 probably need sub level turned up. idk how pioneers work with that though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amart88 Posted March 26, 2014 Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 You must use the proper tool to properly set your gain. Period. End of discussion on that. Also, how far the gain knob will turn before distortion is largely based on the RCA voltage. A higher voltage means it will do it's clean power at a lower gain setting. Gain is not a volume knob. It is a level knob that is meant to match the RCA voltage. My 2005 s10 blazer build. 4 zcon 18's walled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockFord_Expedition Posted March 26, 2014 Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 How were you able to measure when your hu clips? Old School/New School RF Build March 2015 SOTM Winner How to crimp large wire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amart88 Posted March 26, 2014 Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 How were you able to measure when your hu clips? I'm guessing the ear-o-meter. My 2005 s10 blazer build. 4 zcon 18's walled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pioneerforlife Posted March 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2014 You must use the proper tool to properly set your gain. Period. End of discussion on that. Also, how far the gain knob will turn before distortion is largely based on the RCA voltage. A higher voltage means it will do it's clean power at a lower gain setting. Gain is not a volume knob. It is a level knob that is meant to match the RCA voltage. yes I am well aware of this and that is why I am puzzled. and I will swear by my ear. I double checked my old system with a DD1 and it was right on it just takes a while to set by ear. 2007 Ford Focus SES Hatchback Pioneer HU 4 Digital Designs 9515i's in a B pillar. 2 Soundstream XXX 15K's (running at 16 volts) Soundstream Mids/Highs in custom door panels (getting rebuilt soon) Soundstream TA2.160 and TA2.400 Sky High and KNU wiring 3 Banks of Maxwell caps Winston Lithium (not a fan) Bump4Life 250 Amp Alt. aka USAlternators Soundstream Focus and Avenger Build Log Instagram @p4linnovation YouTube: Team Blowin Loud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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