Alpine Amp Input Voltage Switch

[k00ranger 10+ year member]

Why is it when I turn my input voltage on the amp to .1-1.0 it is louder than when I set it to 1.0-8.0? Is it safe to run it on the louder voltage setting? The model amp is a MRD-301 Alpine Digital Amp.

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[KyleBechtold 5,000+ posts]

think about it.. .1-1.0 is telling your amp its rca inputs are only .1-1.0 volts from the h.u.. If they are in that range.. (guarantee they aren't...) then you switch to that.. most likely you are 2-4v though...

please... please... please.. Don't **** with the settings on the amp if you don't know what they do.. its SOOO easy to blow things when you don't know what you are doing..

 

[k00ranger 10+ year member]

I know the voltage on the head unit is 2.5. It sounds a lot better on the lower setting but I have a feeling I am over-driving the amp this way. What's your thought on this.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

how to properly set your amplifier gain:

http://forum.sounddomain.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=65167&page=1#Post65167

follow those instructions, it will explain what you need to know. the gain is input sensitivity. you're matching the amp to the headunit output voltage - not the rated output voltage, but the actual voltage based on your listening habits.

the lower setting will almost guarantee that you'll clip the amp if you turn up the HU volume too high - which will blow your connected speakers/subs.

 

[k00ranger 10+ year member]

Thank you for that piece of information keep hope alive. I thought I heard the amp clipping a little bit. I guess if I want the sub louder then I should buy a higher wattage amp. This one only puts out 350 at 14 volts. What ***** about the amp is there is no gain switch. It's either 0, plus 6 or 9. It's a stupid design if you ask me.

 

[KyleBechtold 5,000+ posts]

huh? take a pic of the amps setting switches

 

[k00ranger 10+ year member]

I'm serious no gain switch on the amp, it's the dumbest design ever. I bought the amp off a friend for 50 bucks. Look up the manual for the amp. The pictures will indicate no analog switch. It's just 0, plus 6 or 9.