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Landon King

CarAudio.com Newbie
I have a 2008 trailblazer with a 1500 watt amp and 2 12inch subs. Works great when stopped but does not work when moving until I hit 45 mph+ I have it wired into stock radio and a loc in one of the door speakers just rewired it with ds18 wiring kit please help.
 
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I have a 2008 trailblazer with a 1500 watt amp and 2 12inch subs. Works great when stopped but does not work when moving until I hit 45 mph+ I have it wired into stock radio and a loc in one of the door speakers just rewired it with ds18 wiring kit please help.
It sounds like you're experiencing a common issue that can occur with aftermarket audio systems, especially when using a Line Output Converter (LOC) and stock radio. Here are some steps to troubleshoot and possibly resolve the issue:

1. **Check Ground Connection**: Ensure that the ground connection for your amplifier is solid. A poor ground can cause performance issues, especially when the vehicle is in motion. The ground should be attached to bare metal, free from paint or rust, and as short as possible.

2. **Inspect Wiring**: Since you mentioned that you rewired it with a DS18 wiring kit, double-check all connections for any loose or improperly connected wires. Pay special attention to the remote turn-on wire, which should be connected properly to ensure that the amp turns on when the vehicle is powered.

3. **LOC Connection**: Ensure that the LOC is properly connected to the vehicle's audio system. Sometimes, a poor connection can lead to signal loss when the vehicle is in motion. If possible, test the LOC output with a multimeter to confirm it's providing a signal.

4. **Noise Filters**: If you're experiencing noise or interference that only occurs when the vehicle is in motion, consider installing a noise filter. This can help eliminate any electrical interference that might be causing the amp to cut out or perform poorly.

5. **Check the Vehicle's Electrical System**: Sometimes the vehicle's electrical system can affect the performance of audio equipment. Check the battery voltage and ensure it's not dropping too low while driving. If your vehicle has a weak battery or alternator, it might not supply enough power to the amp.

6. **Signal Loss at Speed**: If the system works fine when stopped but cuts out at higher speeds, it could be due to vibrations or movement affecting the wiring or the LOC. Make sure all wiring is secured and not prone to movement or disconnection.

7. **Test with a Different Source**: If possible, try connecting the amp to a different audio source or use a different LOC to see if the issue persists.

8. **Consult Amp Manual**: Check the manual for your amplifier for any specific settings or requirements that might apply when using it with a stock radio and LOC.

If after checking all these points you’re still experiencing issues, it might be helpful to consult with a professional installer who can diagnose the problem on-site.

Please let us know if anyone else has experienced similar issues or has additional suggestions!
 
Does your stock stereo get louder when you get on hwy or drive at higher speeds
And does it lower itself when you reach lower speeds?
If so, see if your headunit has a feature or button that says "auto volume"
 
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1774803347212.jpeg



Is that your headunit?
Bottom right corner turn auto vol off see if it makes any difference
If you have screen type you may need to dig through settings or read manual
 
Does your stock stereo get louder when you get on hwy or drive at higher speeds
And does it lower itself when you reach lower speeds?
If so, see if your headunit has a feature or button that says "auto volume"
No nothing fancy just stock 2008 trailblazer radio I have the switch wire tapped into a wire behind it that gives power when key is turned
 
So the specs on the amp are:
  • 1125 W X 1 RMS @ 2 ohm
  • 563 W X 1 RMS @ 4 ohm
That 4-gauge wire kit should be fine for this setup. It's a 2-ohm stable amp, not 1 (which is fine, but it matters in how you wire up the sub).

I assume that you have the following prefab subwoofer setup:


Its wired load is 2 ohms, which is what you want.

What @supernov4 was alluding to is that OEM head units often employ circuits that monitor the low-end frequencies as the volume increases and decreases.

Kind of like the "loudness" button you used to find on your car and home stereo receivers.

Bass is power needy, requires a lot more energy to move enough air, and at low volumes, the loudness is kicked in, increasing the output at the lowest frequencies.

That's because at low levels, the mids or tweeters may only need as little as 5- 15 watts to play relatively loud, and if the woofers are only getting that level of wattage, they are hardly moving.

That's why, at low volume listening levels, you would then push the loudness button, redirecting the system to add emphasis at the lowest frequencies.

As you turn it, and the woofers start to get too loud relative to the rest, you turn the loudest off, and it evens out a bit, giving you loud playback that is balanced and not overdriven on the low end.

Car manufacturers, to give you more volume, do something like this, too, but for different reasons.

OEM car manufacturers (most) employ something a little broader: one for volume, one for frequency, and one for power distribution.

When you turn your system on and set the volume at low listening levels, it sends out a full signal with a little emphasis on the low frequencies.

As you turn it up, two things happen (again, most OEMs have some sort of this happening): the BASS boost is reduced, and as you get even louder, the boost is eliminated, and the frequency response is tapered off higher, actually reducing the low frequencies quite a bit, sometimes altogether above 60 Hz.

That allows them to use cheaper high-efficiency drivers, which give you a lot of volume, but that compromise also means the bass suffers quite a bit relative to the overall mix you hear.

Now that you have an understanding of what the OEM attention is that might be built into your head unit, what you're experiencing does not seem to follow this BUT, it may be one other thing that they do on the OEM head units.

As you drive, the car environment gets louder, and they have another feature, much like that which is mentioned above, that manipulates the volume to keep it relatively level as the volume of the car increases and decreases.

The good news is, you may be able to defeat the setting if it is a setting afforded to you in the system settings for the HU.

The bad news is, you may not have a setting in the HU that allows you to defeat these OEM features, and as such, unless you replace the head unit, you're SOL.

IF you can defeat these settings and get a full, unadulterated signal to your amp, then you need to consider the OEM speakers in the mix, as you will have now negated the features in the OEM HU that protected these rather inexpensive OEM speakers from low-frequency overload, a bit of a catch-22.

You indicated that you are using an LOC, didn't see it listed.
 
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So the specs on the amp are:
  • 1125 W X 1 RMS @ 2 ohm
  • 563 W X 1 RMS @ 4 ohm
That 4-gauge wire kit should be fine for this setup. It's a 2-ohm stable amp, not 1 (which is fine, but it matters in how you wire up the sub).

I assume that you have the following prefab subwoofer setup:


Its wired load is 2 ohms, which is what you want.

What @supernov4 was alluding to is that OEM head units often employ circuits that monitor the low-end frequencies as the volume increases and decreases.

Kind of like the "loudness" button you used to find on your car and home stereo receivers.

Bass is power needy, requires a lot more energy to move enough air, and at low volumes, the loudness is kicked in, increasing the output at the lowest frequencies.

That's because at low levels, the mids or tweeters may only need as little as 5- 15 watts to play relatively loud, and if the woofers are only getting that level of wattage, they are hardly moving.

That's why, at low volume listening levels, you would then push the loudness button, redirecting the system to add emphasis at the lowest frequencies.

As you turn it, and the woofers start to get too loud relative to the rest, you turn the loudest off, and it evens out a bit, giving you loud playback that is balanced and not overdriven on the low end.

Car manufacturers, to give you more volume, do something like this, too, but for different reasons.

OEM car manufacturers (most) employ something a little broader: one for volume, one for frequency, and one for power distribution.

When you turn your system on and set the volume at low listening levels, it sends out a full signal with a little emphasis on the low frequencies.

As you turn it up, two things happen (again, most OEMs have some sort of this happening): the BASS boost is reduced, and as you get even louder, the boost is eliminated, and the frequency response is tapered off higher, actually reducing the low frequencies quite a bit, sometimes altogether above 60 Hz.

That allows them to use cheaper high-efficiency drivers, which give you a lot of volume, but that compromise also means the bass suffers quite a bit relative to the overall mix you hear.

Now that you have an understanding of what the OEM attention is that might be built into your head unit, what you're experiencing does not seem to follow this BUT, it may be one other thing that they do on the OEM head units.

As you drive, the car environment gets louder, and they have another feature, much like that which is mentioned above, that manipulates the volume to keep it relatively level as the volume of the car increases and decreases.

The good news is, you may be able to defeat the setting if it is a setting afforded to you in the system settings for the HU.

The bad news is, you may not have a setting in the HU that allows you to defeat these OEM features, and as such, unless you replace the head unit, you're SOL.

IF you can defeat these settings and get a full, unadulterated signal to your amp, then you need to consider the OEM speakers in the mix, as you will have now negated the features in the OEM HU that protected these rather inexpensive OEM speakers from low-frequency overload, a bit of a catch-22.

You indicated that you are using an LOC, didn't see it listed.

His issue seems to be speed dependent
The auto volume on the trailblazer hu
Increases overall volume when driving on hwy to overcome road noise

Which to my understanding is defeatable
May not fix his issue but if it causes a change it may point to something
 
His issue seems to be speed dependent
The auto volume on the trailblazer hu
Increases overall volume when driving on hwy to overcome road noise

Which to my understanding is defeatable
May not fix his issue but if it causes a change it may point to something
Agreed, as mentioned in my post.

"Now that you have an understanding of what the OEM attention is that might be built into your head unit, what you're experiencing does not seem to follow this BUT, it may be one other thing that they do on the OEM head units.

As you drive, the car environment gets louder, and they have another feature, much like that which is mentioned above, that manipulates the volume to keep it relatively level as the volume of the car increases and decreases."


The other issue will be once the features are defeated (well, IF they can be defeated), you try to get the volume of the OEM drivers to match the subs, very likely those get blown along the way.

The best solution:

New HU, four 6.5" speakers, and a decent 4-channel amp.
 
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