why is my amp clipping?

[largeanincharge]

Hey guys

I've been lurking and reading about systems for a while. bit the bullet the other day and bought a hdc315 and a aq2200d to go with it.. kinetik 1800 installed in trunk.. 0 gauge wire ran.. the voltage to the amp never dips below 12.8v while bumping

ok, now heres my question.. i've been using the remote bass knob and clipping light that comes with the 2200d the past couple days and i'm stumped as to why the amp clips already at around 1000rms.

I set the HU(clarion 785) to 21-22 volume out of 33.

bass boost at 0

lpf around 100

ssf around 35

I then play a test tone of 40-45hz at around 900-1000 watts before the clipping light blinks.. even for some songs.

Why would this amp clip @ 1000rms? am i doing something wrong? i eventually want to feed this sub around 1500rms..

[speedball1978]

can you set the lpg to 50 or 60 hz??

[Rebel4055]

LPF is usually set to 8O or below and what is your gain set at?

[largeanincharge]

setting my LPF lower to around 60 instead of 100 can reduce the clipping? it still clips on the 45hz tone so i don't see how that could matter..

gain is at about 75% turned up on the amp (so around 1600watts) and half way turned up on the bass knob so it's probably putting out around 800-900ish watts?

[speedball1978]

set the lpf to 50 or 60 hz set the gain somewhere on half and set the bass boost to like 1/4 and then see what it does

[speedball1978]

when you set the gain too high and use too much bass boost you're gonna be clipping really hard... its kinda like over abusing the sub to a point where the sub doesn't like it no more..

[largeanincharge]

thanks speedball but im not using any bass boost. i shouldn't have said bass knob. it's actually a gain knob. so i'm still stuck with getting clipping @ around 1000watts and i dont know why. i will try setting my LPF lower though.

open to anyones suggestions lol

[speedball1978]

well still set the gain on the amp (not the knob) down to half, just give it a shot...

it also depends on what the box is tuned to as well

[JEMT8]

I could be wrong, But I was told that the gain is not a wattage control knob. It's just there to match your headunit voltage. did you set it with a DMM?

[R_Mac_1]

LPF around 70-8O should be fine. Won't affect clipping. How do you know you are around 1k watts? Using DMM? That's not really a good way to tell the actual output of the amp. If you live in an area with some good shops maybe you can find a place that has an o-scope to set your gains. That's the best way. Also make sure your EQ is flat and not on super bass or something.

Those clipping lights on the knob aren't very accurate from what I've read.

Also, don't listen to Speedball. He doesn't know what he's talking about.