Ampkifier output voltage question

[rumblefish 10+ year member]

I have a Sundown 1500dv2 and a Sundown 100.4. When I was setting my gains with a dmm, I noticed something that I thought was odd. At first, I set them with the vehicle off. I thought better of it, and started the vehicle to set them with it running. The output voltage stayed the same with the vehicle on or off. I checked the volts at the amp, and it was around 12.6 with the vehicle off and around 14 with the vehicle on. I figured the output would be higher with the vehicle running, since the amps were seeing a higher voltage. The vehicle is an 02 Tahoe. I do have an XS power D2700 in back by the amps. I guess my question is should the output voltage of the amp be higher with the vehicle running? (By that I mean by measuring the speaker outputs with a dmm.)

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[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

A lot of high quality amps are regulated to produce about the same power from 12.5-14v.

My old speaker amp was tested at 68x4 at 12v and 70x4 at 14.4v.

 

[rumblefish 10+ year member]

Thanks. My concern was that I was under the impression that Sundown amps were unregulated. I guess they must be regulated to some degree.

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

The amp will be capable of more output with the car running. But if you can set it to the desired output on battery power it won't change when you start the motor. Consider yourself lucky.