Clipped Signal?

[skeptikal Premium Member]

I'm not sure how signal clipping works... but I have read on the forums that if you underpower your sub by alot it will clip the signal and sound like shit.... or even blow the amp. I want to know if I am clipping the signal with the setup i have.

1200 Watt (MAX) SPL Class D amplifier

2200 Watt (MAX) 12" Bahn FlameQ (AW1206T)

I think the gain is about at half right now... But i want to know if I should get a bigger amp or keep the amp and spend a little more money on a 12" RE SE.....

Thanks!

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[victorino 10+ year member]

Hey How Good Are Those Spl Amps Im About To Buy The 1600 Spl Ii For My 12" Tipe R And I Dont Know If It Will Be Beter Than A Jbl Bp600.1

 

[Nikuk 5,000+ posts]

I'm not sure how signal clipping works...

Rough explanation: you know that sound comes in waves? draw a wave on a piece of lined paper (notebook style), stay in the line. a few lines down draw a another wave that is bigger. where the top of the waves cross over the line? thats a clipped signal.

but I have read on the forums that if you underpower your sub by alot it will clip the signal and sound like shit.... or even blow the amp.

myth. if this were the case then your setup would"blow" everytime you turn the volume down some. the reason people say you clip your amp when underpower is because they dont know how to use the amp. Acme X Sub handles 800 wrms, you have an amp that puts out 500 wrms. Now, if you set the gain properly you will give the amps 500w into the speaker. Where if you crank that sucker all the way up you are likely clipping it and feeding more then the amp is capable of cleanly putting out.

I want to know if I am clipping the signal with the setup i have.
1200 Watt (MAX) SPL Class D amplifier

2200 Watt (MAX) 12" Bahn FlameQ (AW1206T)

I think the gain is about at half right now... But i want to know if I should get a bigger amp or keep the amp and spend a little more money on a 12" RE SE.....

Thanks!

its possible. check the gain setting sticky in the amp section. follow that and you will be golden. try it, see if you like it, if not, then consider buying new/different equip.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Improper gain/bass boost/volume knob use is the only way to clip the signal. As Nj stated, it isn't the act of underpowering the sub that causes the clipped signal, it is people compensating for the lack of power by cranking the gain and bass boost to get the volume level they desire.

If you ever need help with your setup or tuning or anything, let me know and we can meet up sometime. Oh, and if you do get the RE SE, let me know.....I want to hear it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/peace.gif.2db28b618ed8d1964ebbe2f5021d2c39.gif