Amp Clipping hmm

[ShazMeBot 10+ year member]

Okay, I am having a problem with my Amp clipping (and the sub isnt even playing that loud when when it begins to clip.).

I have an Alpine CDA-9805, Soundstream Rub-500, and D-Audio CM3 Sub.

When I put the amp&sub into my roommates car attached to his HU, then it gets silly loud, and no clipping. Mind you, we are using different ground, power, etc wires when in his car. He has an old Blau HU (cant remember the model).

Do you think the reason for the clipping is my HU sux? Or is it b/c I am running too small of wires to the amp (he had 4 gauge in his car, while I have 8). Or could I just be wiring it up to a bad ground? Any help would be appreciated, thx a bunch.

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[awalbert88 10+ year member]

Okay, I am having a problem with my Amp clipping (and the sub isnt even playing that loud when when it begins to clip.).
I have an Alpine CDA-9805, Soundstream Rub-500, and D-Audio CM3 Sub.

When I put the amp&sub into my roommates car attached to his HU, then it gets silly loud, and no clipping. Mind you, we are using different ground, power, etc wires when in his car. He has an old Blau HU (cant remember the model).

Do you think the reason for the clipping is my HU sux? Or is it b/c I am running too small of wires to the amp (he had 4 gauge in his car, while I have 8). Or could I just be wiring it up to a bad ground? Any help would be appreciated, thx a bunch.

Well, a bad ground wouldn't introduce clipping - just noise. Are your gains set correctly? It's possible that the HU is sending a clipped signal, but Alpine makes some pretty good decks, so that seems unlikely. Is it only the sub that clips, or do your other speakers do this as well? Are your other speakers amped seperately or via the HU?

Try switching your sub amp to a different set of RCA outs from the HU and see if that makes a difference. Also make sure all equalization/bass boost settings on the HU are disabled.

 

[ShazMeBot 10+ year member]

Well I checked to make sure it's grounded good...and It is. Later today I am going to put the amp/sub back in and do what you said about the HU settings for the sub. I checked, and am sure that the RCAs are in the right preout. If it still is clipping...do you think I might have recieved a damaged HU?

thanks

 

[Topcat 10+ year member]

try beefing up the wiring to 4 gauge

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

Do you really know what clipping is? And how do you determine that it's clipping? Got an oscilloscope on it?

 

[marshall 10+ year member]

I would say get an oscilloscope on it, and if no one in here can help you any further, you might want an audio shop to try and help you with it, simply because we can't be there.