clipping.

[bassbaby94]

how do know when your clipping your amp and damaging your sub?

how do you avoid it?

if i have an amp that is supposedly stable at 1 ohm running 800- 1000w at 2ohms with the gain set a quarter turn from max am i clipping/ damage anything?

advice and feedback appreciated thanks

Click to read more...

 

[Popwarhomie 5,000+ posts]

Get a Clip-O-meter...

Use search. Very common question.

 

[big scott]

yup, what he said.^^

but my sub and amp tells me its clipping. it says " hay there im clipping , turn me down ... "

lol...

 

[bassbaby94]

thanks @Popwarhomie
i wish i had that option lol @big scott

 

[TheFiverMan 10+ year member]

Get a DD-1 or use an O-scope

 

[C1500martin 10+ year member]

or get yourself a DMM and set your gains with that so you won't clip.

 

[bassbaby94]

the thing is i dont the money right now. is there any possible way without an o scope or SMD distortion detector? a rule of thumb i could go by?

also, if i was unknowingly clipping how long would it take for damage to be done to the sub or amp? how much damage could be done?

 

[bassbaby94]

i could probably borrow a dmm but i dont know how to set the gains with them. its more confusing to me lol

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

the thing is i dont the money right now. is there any possible way without an o scope or SMD distortion detector? a rule of thumb i could go by?
also, if i was unknowingly clipping how long would it take for damage to be done to the sub or amp? how much damage could be done?

Set by ear if you can hear things. If it stops getting louder and sounds bad, turn it down.

Damage depends on how long / how bad you clip. If coils are stinky, that's bad. You could ruin both your sub and amp.

 

[bassbaby94]

thats what i did. i have it set according to my hearing and hwo i think it sounds.. its just really friggin loud for the amp im using so i was just seeing if i could somehow be clipping it i guess.. dont get me wrong it sounds fine. no smell from anything and my amp doesnt even really get hot. ive never had to deal with clipping i just thought i could be pushing my amp too hard even tho it seems fine

i just dont want to damage my sub is all.

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

If things aren't hot or smelly and it sounds fine, you aren't clipping enough to seriously damage equipment (unless you're on a road trip or something).

I won't say for sure that you aren't clipping, but just a small bit won't blow everything up.

 

[bassbaby94]

exactly the awnser i was looking for! thanks man. @adulbrich

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

Any time