Confusion with new install and HU power

[randyrsx 10+ year member]

I've redone my system way too many times in the span of one year. But currently I'm running:

Kenwood eXcelon x979

Phoenix Gold Ti Elite 6 (300w RMS)

SoundSplinter RL-p 12" (500w RMS)

Kicker SX900.4 (Birthed at 1010w, so 126.25w to each front channel and 505w for sub)

All these individually have made me //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/yumyum.gif.0556df42231b304b9c995aefd13928a8.gif but now that they're all together I'm going more like //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

For those familiar with what I'm running, I turned off the internal amp of the HU and turned up the B.M.S. to +18 and Subwoofer level to +10 (seperate level increasers?)

I set the Gain Range on the Kicker amp to 1V (indicated how much the amp should expect receiving from your deck, 0 wasn't an option). Well I ran test tones with everything else on the deck as flat with 1kHz and 50 Hz tones and got some interesting results.

I only had to add a third of gain to reach the 126.25 for the fronts, but HERE'S the interesting part. When I ran my 50 Hz tone, the voltage was extremely high on the amp from just the HU alone with no gain. I mean it was around 55V which comes out to 756.25w?!?!? So I actually had to decrease my levels from the deck?!

Did I do something wrong!? I don't get it, how could the deck create that much power? I am wondering if I mis-wired the bridged rear channels.... don't make fun, but here's the amp manual (it's pdf could take a sec) http://www.kicker.com/06/tech-support/manuals/manuals/04SXMultiAmpMANUAL.PDF check out page 6 with it's bridged wiring using the + off both rear channels?! It didn't make sense to me so I did C channel + and D channel - which seemed to be what it was labeled on the actual amp itself.

Also, my sub isn't pounding nearly as hard as it used to with my Kenwood x790?

I'm perplexed and you guys are the geniuses.... HELP! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/angel.gif.fa7795fff6653f4381ba158c55a48b74.gif

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[mattmcss 10+ year member]

okay, lets split this amp up into two amps , amp1 and amp2

Amp1 is on your highs

Amp2 is on your sub (bridged)

Your deck is rated at 5v outputs, to set the kicker to the 4v level once on the MAIN (system) menu.

Now, I'm not sure what that B.M.S. bullshit is, but turn it off please.

Re-do the test tones, go into amp 2's gain setting and play with it +- depending on what voltages you see.

Re-do the test for the 1khz as well, and same thing, adjust amp 1's gain setting +- accordingly.

Let me know what happens.

 

[randyrsx 10+ year member]

Even though I turned the internal amp off of the HU, still set it to 4V?

 

[randyrsx 10+ year member]

Ok, I set it to 4V and re-did test tones without the Bass Management System on, just used the Subwoofer level out....

I did end up getting the voltage I needed but the gains are really high. It's now set at 10.5 (out of 12) for the front and 10 for the bridged rear... going on a test drive, but I think that's way too much gain?!

 

[dkguitarist 5,000+ posts]

set it to other voltages, and leave the gains where they are and see if you get different readings.

some headunits have crappy voltage so you have to level match the amps really high, and others you can level-match ~ 1/4 of the gains turned. it just depends on input voltage.

 

[mattmcss 10+ year member]

yeah, like on the system menu maybe do 2 volts, and see what happens.

 

[randyrsx 10+ year member]

Alright, I went ahead and changed it to 2V and it made a world of difference. My gains are now set at 4.5V and 4V which is a lot nicer to the amp. Matt, thanks again for selling it to me. Maybe one day if my digital camera isn't a pita I'll take a pic of the whole enchilada.

I think the less bass experience came because I had to use a Y-Splitter for the RCAs because the sub pre-out on the deck is a single, so had to split it left and right. I just added more on the EQ and Komp adjuster on the amp.

WOO!

 

[mattmcss 10+ year member]

glad you like it bro