Amplifier clipping problems

[waxstaff]

Hi Guys,

I have read up on amplifier clipping and im a little confused applying it with my current setup ill start by briefly explaining my system:

• 2 x Vibe Space 1000RMS each 2Ohm VC's
   
  
• MTX Thunder - 1500RMS at 1Ohm
   
  
• There is an extra battery in the boot too 4 gauge wiring all the way through.
   
  
• A voltmeter installed on the dash (i have seen it drop by almost 2 volts when turned up very very high)
  

I understand the amount of power required to power this amp must be substantial probably far more than my stock alternator can push out i think the alternator can do about 100amps maybe 120 however the car and alternator are about 12 years old.

So the first question is: If an amplifier does not have the required amount of power from the battery and alternator to actually put out 1500WRMS, does that mean when it hits the limits of what the car can provide will the amp clip?

The reason i ask is that when turning the volume up to high levels you can hear the subs sounding like the amp is clipping. However i listen to dubstep so the bassnotes are long and low. On some tracks with certain bass i can push the subs up really high and the bass feels incredible.

However i cannot leave it like this as a large bassnote causes it to clip frequently which is obviously risky.

I feel like i am not getting the full amount out of my system because my car cannot provide the power. Do i have a dodgey amp? Or is my car just not capable of pushing out the required power to keep the amplifier running?

Comparing to my old system which was only at 600WRMS (pushing it) its lacking a far amount of bass for something in theory is almost 2.5 times more powerful.

If anyone can help me out i would be very grateful!

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[Ninesvnsicks 10+ year member]

So the first question is: If an amplifier does not have the required amount of power from the battery and alternator to actually put out 1500WRMS, does that mean when it hits the limits of what the car can provide will the amp clip?

I would like to know this too I have my AQ1200D and it clips sometimes and i have to turn it down although my subs can handle way more then 600rms a piece.

 

[Koala]

it sounds like you could be clipping at a certain frequency range only. Do you have bass boost on or do you have the bass boost turned up?

 

[waxstaff]

it sounds like you could be clipping at a certain frequency range only. Do you have bass boost on or do you have the bass boost turned up?

The bass boost is set to 0 halfway it can go to -12db or +12db so i presume this would be on?

 

[mast240 10+ year member]

are you seeing clipping only when you have voltage drop?

 

[waxstaff]

are you seeing clipping only when you have voltage drop?

Yes usually when its dropping by .5v you can start to hear nasty bass coming from the boot.

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

turn the bass boost off, and yes you can get clipping from low voltage.

 

[Koala]

so there you go, turn the bass boost to 0, then beef up your electrical. Then you're good

 

[TheUnderFighter 10+ year member]

He has the bass boost off, it's set to 0 he said. Though, I think the 0 setting he was reading, was the bass setting on the HU.

Also, OP, I hope you have the big 3 done under the hood?

 

[waxstaff]

Okay ill turn the bass boost to 0 what does this actually do? will it prevent the clipping allowing me to put more power through it? Thanks for all the responses so far guys!

 

[waxstaff]

He has the bass boost off, it's set to 0 he said. Though, I think the 0 setting he was reading, was the bass setting on the HU.Also, OP, I hope you have the big 3 done under the hood?

Yep at the moment it is on 0 i can turn it down more but thats going into minus levels so im not sure if thats what they ment. The bass on the HU is set to 0 and the subwoofer level is about 3 out of 10.

I have done 1 of the big 3 i put a 4 gauge from the negative on the battery in the front to the chassis i looked at doing alt to the battery but the alt is very difficult to get to and im not skilled enough/confident enough to attempt pulling it out.

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

Okay ill turn the bass boost to 0 what does this actually do? will it prevent the clipping allowing me to put more power through it? Thanks for all the responses so far guys!

are you talking bass boost on the amp or deck? if its on the amp then turn it all the way down. if its on the deck then leave it at 0

 

---------- Post added at 12:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:37 PM ----------

 

Yep at the moment it is on 0 i can turn it down more but thats going into minus levels so im not sure if thats what they ment. The bass on the HU is set to 0 and the subwoofer level is about 3 out of 10.
I have done 1 of the big 3 i put a 4 gauge from the negative on the battery in the front to the chassis i looked at doing alt to the battery but the alt is very difficult to get to and im not skilled enough/confident enough to attempt pulling it out.

do your big 3 in 1/0 and do all of them, it doesnt help much if they arent all done.

 

[waxstaff]

Okay ill get some 0 gauge on payday then i presume 4 gauge is not enough. Ill probably have to get someone to do the alt to pos on battery for me then.

Amp bass boost set to 0. Min value -12 max value +12

Deck bass boost set to 0

Deck Sub Gain set to 3. Min value -10 max value +10

Loudness on the Deck is on.

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

Okay ill get some 0 gauge on payday then i presume 4 gauge is not enough. Ill probably have to get someone to do the alt to pos on battery for me then.
Amp bass boost set to 0. Min value -12 max value +12

turn it to -12

Deck bass boost set to 0

leave at 0

Deck Sub Gain set to 3. Min value -10 max value +10

leave that at 0 or flat

Loudness on the Deck is on.

loud feature on my deck is turned on some say dont use it, some say its ok.

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

The bottom line is your trying to pull more current then your alternator can supply, hence the voltage drop. That in itself is harmful to your amplifier and can cause it to fail.