Audiocontrol Overdrive?

[1980supreme 10+ year member]

Anybody have any experience with the product?

I'm running a pair of sub amps and my deck (an old alpine 9803) has 2V Max Sub Pre-Out. When setting gains, i was having issues with AC voltage so i figured i'd try out a decent line driver.

Even with the gains on full i'm not getting the voltage i should be. I know my electrical system isn't exactly up to it, but i figure i should atleast be able to set the gains.

Pair of nine.1's at 1.4Ohms each (Pair of SX's reconed by Fi with dual .7's). Should be about 38AC Volts. 1000Wrms. i can only seem to get 30AC Volts (gains maxed) without cranking the bass boost. 40Hz tone, SSF set to just under 20Hz.

BTW: i have 2 runs of KNU kolossus 1/0 from the battery.

any suggestions would be great.

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[Immacomputer 10+ year member]

1) DMMs are not always very accurate. I had one that would tell me my battery was putting out 17.8v with the car off. I've also worked with decent DMMs in a lab that were pretty far off from what some nice scopes measured. I don't really trust any DMMs unless they're expensive true RMS meters.

2) The amp is really seeing much closer to a 2 ohm load.

---b. The amp is rated at like 900rms at 2 ohms.

-----1. Manufacturer ratings are not always consistent with their ratings at different impedances. For example, the amp may do close to 1200 watts at 1 ohm but may only be able to put out around 700 at 2 ohms.

3) Try increasing the volume on the headunit unless there is something stopping you from that.

I would only really try option 3 if you're 100% positive you're not clipping the shit out of the amp with your current settings.

 

[1980supreme 10+ year member]

thanks for the suggestions, i'll try a couple different DMM's first.

Also, i don't understand how the amp is seeing any load when setting gains. i was under the impression that to set gains you should disconnect the sub leads, that's why i wasn't taking imp rise into consideration. (Hopefully i've been setting gains properly)

I don't hear any clipping at high volume, but then again, at high volume drinks in my cup holders dance...

i know for a fact that i didn't have the best connection the first time i went to set my gains as i had custom distro blocks machined and the set screws they used were too short. I do have longer ones in now so the wires have a better connection. (probably the biggest problem i had)

I'll attempt to get my hands on an O-scope also(mine is old as hell and went kaput).

BTW: I picked up the line driver for $30 US so it's on it's way anyway.

i'm really just looking for anything that could go wrong so when i go back and test everything i'll be able to figure it out quickly if it's not already fixed.

 

[spoonraker 10+ year member]

careful with the line driver, it amplifies everything, even noise...

when I first put my line driver in I got a nice low rumble all the time while I had it turned up until I worked on the wiring to get the noise gone

 

[Fixxer 10+ year member]

I just got my Matrix today (6ch version of the overdrive) and its great. It really made a difference in the output. I just need to get everything matched perfectly now.

 

[1980supreme 10+ year member]

thanks for the tip on noise, i'll be sure to turn down everything before i get it in. i suppose i'll just put all my nuts in one basket and tune everything right after it's in.

all my wiring is pretty sound now, but i'm thinking i'll strap the amps @ 2.8Ohms instead of doing each at 1.4. it just eliminates having to match both amps.

i was also looking into the matrix. a local shop had one for 200CAD, but i figured i didn't need the other channels yet and i got such a good deal on the overdrive that i'd give that a shot first. i still need a bracket made for my 200A alt(bought it for a different engine) so i'm attempting to save some money.

BTW thanks for not calling me a noob and making fun of me for buying subs that don't match the amps perfectly! (got good deal on the subs)

 

[spoonraker 10+ year member]

Reducing the noise from the line driver should have nothing to do with the settings on anything.

It just takes the signal and increases the voltage, so any noise you might have that is inaudible could be amplified to the point that you can hear it.

Before you put it in make sure your grounds are really solid, and you aren't picking up any radiated noise or other souces of noise.

 

[1980supreme 10+ year member]

yeah, i understand about the amplified noise, i just thought it through wrong //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/blackeye.gif.66a1670f5aaf7f406e783a63e3387dc5.gif

grounds are very solid. i have 2 runs of 1/0 directly from the battery. (one + and one -)

basically all i have left to do is deal with a huge voltage drop.

thanks for the tips guys

 

[Fixxer 10+ year member]

I have/had a noise issue somewhere but with the Matrix I don't have to turn my gains up at all so the noise is gone... Before with only the DQXS boosting the signal I had to still turn my gains up because they are 2v (if that.. the sub is less because I have to boost it more) and when I turned the gains up past a certain point you could really notice the noise. I'd like to find out where that inital noise was coming from though.

 

[1980supreme 10+ year member]

well good news, with better connections i managed to get my voltage up. i tried it again with a DMM multiple times and it worked well. also revving the engine to 1.5krpm helped A TON(although there was still a 1.5-2ish voltage drop).

i tried option 3 and it worked 100% aside from the fact that my factory speakers didn't like 40hz at that volume... (old deck no Xovers) once i get the line driver i'll be able to tune it a lot more to my liking. yay!

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

A line driver will not make noise any more audible unless you are doing something wrong. The signal to noise ratio should actually increase.

 

[fratch69 10+ year member]

I can help. I have 2 15 inch L7s powerd by 2 Kicker ZX 750.1s. I also have 4, 6 1/2 inch Infinnity Kappas powerd by a Rockford 450.4. My head unit is the Alpine 9857 2006 model. My head unit also only puts out 2 v. I installed an Audio Control 3.1 line driver/EQ yesterday and all i can say is wow. I knew i would like the EQ and figured upping my voltage might help. My Bass is much cleaner and defined from my subs. The midrange and highs are now screaming!!!!! I highly reccomend adding this piece to any decent sized setup. I read a bunch of forums on how Linedrivers are a waste of many and blah blah blah. Bull SH$T. Easily the best piece of equipment i have added. I couldnt be happier.