Clipping Need Advice

[some dude]

The circuits on amps that say "clipping" don't actually sniff out a clipped waveform, they're just turning on at some voltage selected by the manufacturer as their maximum.

That said if you are hearing audible distortion you're definitely over driving that amp and either you don't have adequate battery/alternator to feed it or you have poor/weak power or ground connections into it. Simplest fix would be to just turn the knob down a bit before turning that "clip" light solid.

Based on the Amp dyno video by BigD I thought my JP23 had an extremely accurate clip light. You can slow motion the video and see the bass knob light comes on a hair sooner than the Amp dyno's light.

 

[Bobbytwonames 5,000+ posts]

Installed the new amp and I am getting minor clipping.
800amp cca battery
Big 3 complete
4awg wiring
60 amp inline (amp suggested)
Sub AB 10xd dvc 2ohm
Amp SFB 600 wired 1 ohm
Went through and dialed in gain with my fluke multi. When it hits hard I'm getting some slight clipping. My thoughts are I need a better incoming power source for the amp as I know I'm not calling for more than it can produce as the sub is rated for 450w rms and I'm right there at it. This amp produces a solid 750w rms certified. Suggestions? Thanks like always.

Can't you just turn the bass knob down a little until it's not clipping? I always give demos at slight clipping. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Is your headunit at least 4v or 5v preouts? Send it.

 

[Grimmjoww]

Can't you just turn the bass knob down a little until it's not clipping? I always give demos at slight clipping. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Is your headunit at least 4v or 5v preouts? Send it.

Head unit is just 2v, I thought it was 4 but its not. I have a line driver that will be here tomorrow. I am confident that is the major problem as I am having to turn the volume up a lot to get the sub where I want it.

 

[Bobbytwonames 5,000+ posts]

Head unit is just 2v, I thought it was 4 but its not. I have a line driver that will be here tomorrow. I am confident that is the major problem as I am having to turn the volume up a lot to get the sub where I want it.

The better signal will help. A soft clip isn't anything to be overly concerned with. I see guys giving demos while full clipping all the time. An occasional blink isn't that big of a deal.

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

The clip light blinks a little, never solid.

That is probably nothing to worry about.

the distortion I am hearing is more than likely coming from my rca cables

Unlikely but if it were your cables it would be present at all volume levels. About the only problem you can get from cheap cables (apart from premature failure) is inducting noise and that can usually be remedied by routing them someplace different. That can be diagnosed by unplugging the RCAs behind the deck and at the amp to see how much noise the RCAs themselves are absorbing.

 

[Grimmjoww]

That is probably nothing to worry about.

Unlikely but if it were your cables it would be present at all volume levels. About the only problem you can get from cheap cables (apart from premature failure) is inducting noise and that can usually be remedied by routing them someplace different. That can be diagnosed by unplugging the RCAs behind the deck and at the amp to see how much noise the RCAs themselves are absorbing.

I got the clipping sorted. I tuned the amp for 2 ohms not 1 before, now tuned to 1 ohm 21v. Clipping is gone.