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Can I run an Alpine mrx-m 55 at 70-75% gain?


lane0914

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Hello I just recently upgraded my sub setup from (2) Memphis SVC SR12s to (1) Sundown Audio SA-12 4ohm DVC sub. I was running the Alpine mrx-m55 to the memphis subs and burnt up the voice coils pretty good because they are only 250w rms subs. I am wondering if it's safe to run the alpine amp at 70-75% gain at 2ohms to the sundown to get close to the rms rating of 600 watts? Stock electrical setup at the moment with 8 gauge going to amp. (I know I know that is way to small wire but it's fused at 50 amps.) I am planning on buying a crescendo symphony 1500.1 and running the correct wire and possibly a battry in the trunk but in the meantime would I be fine running the amp at that level?

Also can maybe someone help me out with rms ratings on amps. Do they make there advertised rms ratings at half gain (nominal), 70% or full gain? Thanks!

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That's not how gain works. Its not a volume or power knob. Its for matching the input signal voltage coming into your amp with how much power it can cleanly put out.

You could clip your amp and fry your subs with the gain turned all the way down if your input signal was strong enough, conversely you could hardly get any power out of your amp with the gain turned all the way up if your input signal was really low.

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It would be best to use a proper tool to measure for clipping when setting the gain for your amp. This would either be a dd1 or an ohmeter. However some people use the multimeter/math equation way if its all they got.

My headunit had 5v preouts and in order to reach maximum gain before clipping, I literally just barely turned the gain setting. My amp performed at the rated rms or close to it before impedance rise of course. It would help if you tell us what headunit you are using and its preout voltage and what tools you have if any to help you set the gain. It is frowned upon to use your ear to set the gain, just fair warning there.

The amps rating is set so that it puts out that rating based on the impedance it is presented with, regardless of the gain setting.

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http://www.glasswolf.net/papers/dmmgain.html

That's all I gotta say.

I get it, everyone loves the DD1 here (seeing as it's a good simple product, and you're on his site)

But I can tell you that someone who's thinking of cranking his gains to match his sub, isn't gonna want to dump that much dough on it (for his minimal use, probably lower budget, etc)

Get a multimeter and get calculating!

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http://www.glasswolf.net/papers/dmmgain.html

That's all I gotta say.

I get it, everyone loves the DD1 here (seeing as it's a good simple product, and you're on his site)

But I can tell you that someone who's thinking of cranking his gains to match his sub, isn't gonna want to dump that much dough on it (for his minimal use, probably lower budget, etc)

Get a multimeter and get calculating!

cheaper than an o-scope.

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