Exceptional Clipping?

[shava 10+ year member]

Alright so my new amp (Infinity Reference 611a) has a handy clip light, and I have been trying out different things over the past couple days.

Some songs with lower notes or more powerful notes that are actually clipping the track if I break it down in audition. Is this clipping ok if it does it just a few times in a song for a split second? I really dont want to damage my brand new sub. I just got a type R, I know im behind on the times but it was the best that the store had for the money locally. I want to at least get a few years out of this sub, minimum. So exactly how much clipping can be going on without actually hurting the sub?

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[Rich B 5,000+ posts]

Sounds like you didnt set the gains using a DMM.

Heres a link to the gain setting tutorial-

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63933

 

[bryce-man 10+ year member]

haha 69th post

WOOP WOOP!!!!!!!!!!

 

[shava 10+ year member]

If I set them with a DMM using -3db test tones and then I listen to music that little clip light comes on for a split second when the harder notes hit, im just asking if that is ok or if there should be NO clipping at all.

 

[Trey803 5,000+ posts]

truth is a little clipping probably wont hurt it but i personally cannot tolerate clipping

 

[shava 10+ year member]

Alright thanks. I just want to be good to go.

 

[Twistid 5,000+ posts]

hey im a quote in some noobies sig:boobies:

 

[shava 10+ year member]

hey im a quote in some noobies sig:boobies:

You like it.

 

[Trey803 5,000+ posts]

BUT...the longer you play it with clipping the hotter and hotter your voice coils are going to get(assuming clipping is occouring) so you may want to be carefull playing it for long times while the clipping is occouring. If the light only goes on occasionally the voicecoils should have enough time to cool down before it clips again but as I said this is all maybe and the only way to be sure is to have no clipping at all

 

[Trey803 5,000+ posts]

hey im a quote in some noobies sig:boobies:

I'm a quote in your mom's diary

 

[MiniVanMan 10+ year member]

If the light is just flickering occasionally, on the most heavy beats, then you're okay. You just don't want any sustained clipping. If you have a 3 second tone from a song, and it's clipping the entire time, that's bad. if it's a 3 second tone and the clip light comes on very briefly, you're okay.