Do I need a line driver?

[ALPINE408]

A line driver can't hurt though can it? I obviously need more signal.

you obviously did not read my reply cause you obviously don't need more signal

I have seen line drivers mess up a system more times then it has helped and have yanked out more then I can remember

but its your money if it will make you happy go for it

4volt preouts from the DECK is the best

taking a 1volt signal and amping it up to 4volts does not clean up the signal

so the only thing you will accomplish is having to set the gain on your amp lower

if you want to spend money to have your gain lower again GO FOR IT

[forrest_siems]

How come it's not getting loud then? Some songs literally have hardly any bass with things turned up

[forrest_siems]

A line driver can't hurt though can it? I obviously need more signal.

you obviously did not read my reply cause you obviously don't need more signal

I have seen line drivers mess up a system more times then it has helped and have yanked out more then I can remember

but its your money if it will make you happy go for it

4volt preouts from the DECK is the best

taking a 1volt signal and amping it up to 4volts does not clean up the signal

so the only thing you will accomplish is having to set the gain on your amp lower

if you want to spend money to have your gain lower again GO FOR IT

sorry brother I only saw the first few lines in that post for some reason til now. Thanks for your help man.

[ALPINE408]

if your system is not getting loud you have other issues

if I could do a system that played over 150dbs daily on 1 volt preouts

I am pretty sure it has to do with something else

[forrest_siems]

if your system is not getting loud you have other issues

if I could do a system that played over 150dbs daily on 1 volt preouts

I am pretty sure it has to do with something else

Okay. I'm thinking I may have damaged the rcas. My old audiopipe amp started clipping at only 1/4 gain with this same head unit. Pinched or maybe shorted when I ran wire. I'll just use process of elimination for my whole system. Thanks man.

[forrest_siems]

if your system is not getting loud you have other issues

if I could do a system that played over 150dbs daily on 1 volt preouts

I am pretty sure it has to do with something else

Okay. I'm thinking I may have damaged the rcas. My old audiopipe amp started clipping at only 1/4 gain with this same head unit. Pinched or maybe shorted when I ran wire. I'll just use process of elimination for my whole system. Thanks man.

[Wicks]

I take it you have a multi-meter?

Do a short test on the meter to check the leads. You then subtract that from the rest of the measurements.

Measure some of the following:

Headunit chassis to RCA outer conductor (should be close to zero).

Continuity through the RCAs.

Ground connection on the amp, and HU.

Double check that the subs are in phase.

What music source are you using? Are you sure its clean and at a reasonable level?

Try checking the voltage outputs with 0dB tones.

[forrest_siems]

I take it you have a multi-meter?

Do a short test on the meter to check the leads. You then subtract that from the rest of the measurements.

Measure some of the following:

Headunit chassis to RCA outer conductor (should be close to zero).

Continuity through the RCAs.

Ground connection on the amp, and HU.

Double check that the subs are in phase.

What music source are you using? Are you sure its clean and at a reasonable level?

Try checking the voltage outputs with 0dB tones.

Should I use a higher volume level to set gains? Volume is on 26/35. It's a kenwood excelon head unit.

[Wicks]

I take it you have a multi-meter?

Do a short test on the meter to check the leads. You then subtract that from the rest of the measurements.

Measure some of the following:

Headunit chassis to RCA outer conductor (should be close to zero).

Continuity through the RCAs.

Ground connection on the amp, and HU.

Double check that the subs are in phase.

What music source are you using? Are you sure its clean and at a reasonable level?

Try checking the voltage outputs with 0dB tones.

Should I use a higher volume level to set gains? Volume is on 26/35. It's a kenwood excelon head unit.

Excelons are usually clean all the way up, mine was anyway.

But yeah, use the highest clean signal that you can attain with a clean source signal (tone) of your desired output level overlap. (0, -5dB, -10dB).

[scooter99]

Jamie, how is he going to find a clean signal with only a DMM? He needs something like an RTA or DD-1, or that little trickster thing you have in your dash doesn't he?

Also, OP, if you're going to find the cleanest signal in your Head Unit, however it is you're going to do it, don't go through the RCA cables. Especially since your's sound like they're a little suspect. Go down the line, doing the checks that Wicks just told you about. Process of elimination.

I don't know that anyone answered your earlier question. If they did my fault for not noticing it. But your amps and subs probably got hot, because they're most likely clipping due to not being set right. Anyone can correct me if I'm wrong, but that's my understanding.