Gain setting question...

[fugit 10+ year member]

I have an arc audio 2100cxl that I just got and when I tried to set the gains (theres one per channel) I can't make them read less than 61v with the volume at 85%. That is checking the bridged channels. it should be at 38.98v for 380 x1 @4ohms. The gains are all the way down and it's still like at 59v. It will drop if I lower the volume knob to less than half but the gains are still at nil. I have an alpine cda-9831 with the internal amp set to off. I haven't tried checking the voltage for each channel yet, but thought I'd see if anyone has used this amp or had a similar problem. I don't want to ruin anything. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/help.gif.cee8f684da1ba626487a8bc51152e1ec.gif

Click to read more...

 

[fugit 10+ year member]

I didn't know that about the input. Will that screw it up or cause a problem? My HU goes to 35, and I tried it everywhere 20, 25, 26, 28 everywhere. It only moves if I turn it down to 16 or less. Thanks for the quick reply. I want to get this in ASAP! I've heard alot about them and I'm going to more than double the power I have now.

 

[fugit 10+ year member]

I emailed Arc Audio and they said their amps are tested at 1khz and my HU won't see 4v at 1khz ever so it would work fine. I still have the problem with the gains though. I checked each channel and still way too high. I have the internal amp in my HU set to off, and put the volume at 25/35. The gain on the amp for my mids worked fine. The crazy thing about all this is that I decided I'd turn it up until it started to distort and it never did. I had the volume nob buried and it was clear. (and crazy loud) I just don't want to screw up my stuff, so should I be worried about the voltage on the amp?

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

You know the 2100 only has a maximum input of 2.5 volts, right ? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif The CDA-9831 has 4 volt pre-outs ...
QUOTE]

I'm running an 8v Eclipse to mine, and I know MANY running 8v and 16v balanced outputs to them- no issues

Like the rep said, its tested pretty high- just gotta know how to read the specs

Fugit- my Arc piles on the volume with barely any sign of distortion at the HU's limit- thats the way these amps are-super clean- the Arc 2100 was the amplifier that put Arc Audio on the map (Robert Zef's(Zapco founder/designer) first amp he created for Arc) that amp is a keeper- whether you run highs or an SQ sub- i know someone w/ three of'm (one running DLS comps, two running individual IDQ's)

Image Dynamics uses the Arc 2100 to test their speakers

 

[fugit 10+ year member]

The MX is off. Glad to hear that about the amps, my curiosity is about ruining them by not adjusting the gains correctly. I got both of these for the price of one so I know I won't come across a deal like that again. They are definately high quality, I ran a ppi pcx-440 for about 2 hours and it got really hot and started to cut out.(crappy ventilation) I did the same trip with the Arc's and they were warm and thats it.