amp questions and orion hcca

[jjj_88]

Even with the bigger box and right tuning clipping will kill the best sub in the world.

yeah i mean i shouldnt have cranked the amp all the way up but what does that do push out more watts or what what does clipping really mean

[hdorre]

yeah i mean i shouldnt have cranked the amp all the way up but what does that do push out more watts or what what does clipping really mean

increasing gain does give out more power, which is good until a certain level. Once you pass the threshold, clipping starts and increases

[SlowLoudNBangin]

definitely a bad case of clipping if the gain was maxed out. o well live and learn.

if i can remember correctly....and somebody please correct me if im wrong....

but the whole point of the gain knob(or input level knob on some amps, same thing) is for the amp to know what the voltage level is coming through the RCAs from your head unit/CDplayer to the amplifier, so it can work accordingly.

Different head units(HUs) put out different levels of voltage through the RCA outs.

then when the RCAs get into the amp, the amp is kind of stupid and you have to manually tell the amp what the voltage is.

the weaker signals must be amplified(or made bigger in laymens terms) more than the stronger signals, common sense...

BASICALLY

SETTING THE GAIN TOO LOW RESULTS IN:

you telling the amp that a small signal is a big signal, and the amp producing a clean, but small signal than what it could be.

this signal will be smaller than the optimal gain setting resulting in the amp not working as hard as it could be and your subs not being as loud as they could be, but at least you still have bass.

SETTING THE GAIN JUST RIGHT RESULTS IN:

you telling the amp exactly how big it is, and the amp produces the best signal it can possibly make with what it has to work with(HU voltage level).

this signal will be the largest it can be without distortion, your subs loving the nice large clean signal and all is good.

SETTING THE GAIN TOO HIGH RESULTS IN:

you telling the amp that a big signal is a small signal, the amp cannot effectively produce a clean signal because of its maximum capability, and then thats when you get your clipped signal.

and all you need to know is that clipped signals are bad mmmmmmmmkay? and eventually lead to burnt, smoking voice coils.

clipping is a form of distortion, the example i am about to give is more similar to signal noise than clipping but its distortion none the less.

Like you know how in the older TVs, with the rabbit ear antennas you would sometimes get static, well that happens because the antenna was not catching the signal as well as it could be and so the television receives this messed up signal and produces a distorted visualization on the screen.

same thing with the subs and the signal, they receive the distorted signal and then they are playing this clipped signal; but the only difference is that your subwoofer eventually blows up because of how it plays the clipped signal.

optimum signal on the left, clipped signal on the right;

that maximum voltage swing just refers to the maximum capability i was talking about earlier, the amp cannot amplify beyond that point and so then turns flat(clipped) and your subs blow up, usually, if you have a decent nose, you will be able to smell a distinctive coil burning smell and that is a warning signal to turn the volume down.

another tip; do not ever have your HU at max either, your amp will then see a clipped signal and then it amplifies a clipped signal.....you know what im done typing.

[Rob562]

buy a recone kit from sonix electronics and adjust the gain. i have two 15.2 with 2 sundowns 2000 and it knocks. never had any problems with them. i got a recone kit for my 15.2 two make it match the new black hcca for around a $150 shipped.