Help clipping

[CrownVicTM]

Hey everyone i have a Sundown ZV3 18 reconed. Correctly also. What are the possible reasons of it clipping on like 1/4 gain on my soundstream 1600.1d? its not the sub because i hooked it up to a friends system and played it off of his audiopipe and all worked fine. I also have a pretty ****** deck since my other one got fucked. Im getting a new one tomorrow too see if thats the possible problem. This deck is a 2v.

Click to read more...

 

[Umbra]

An amp can be clipping with or without a speaker/sub hooked up to it. The clipping you're referring to happens at the amp. It's fed a a signal from the HU. Depending on the capabilities of the amp it can only amplify the signal cleanly before the signal becomes clipped.

If the HU has a high preamp voltage the gain on the amp would be set relatively low. Conversely, with a low preamp voltage you'd have to turn it up higher. The setting of the gain knob is source dependent. You might only turn it up a quarter of the way before clipping.

There are guides here for setting the gains with a DMM. There are also guide that help you spot clipping by ear, but the only way to pinpoint where clipping occurs is with an oscilloscope or one of those SMD devices.

 

[CrownVicTM]

So is it the amp just being a piece of **** or?

 

[garychoffmann 10+ year member]

There are so many variables. Amp set incorrectly, bad input source, bad wiring, inefficient ground etc.

 

[CrownVicTM]

There are so many variables. Amp set incorrectly, bad input source, bad wiring, inefficient ground etc.

Bad wiring such as? And should i go threw and do all the wiring/ground first.

 

[garychoffmann 10+ year member]

If the amp cannot draw enough power or ground the power well it can lead to premature eclippilation. Check your power and ground and what's your voltage? How are you determining it's clipping? What is the source of your signal?

 

[gckless 5,000+ posts]

Signal could be distorted anywhere, as early as the source. You playing YouTube tracks?

 

[CrownVicTM]

Yes I'm playing YouTube tracks?

 

[CrownVicTM]

If the amp cannot draw enough power or ground the power well it can lead to premature eclippilation. Check your power and ground and what's your voltage? How are you determining it's clipping? What is the source of your signal?

What gauge wire should I be running also? I'm determining it's clipping by ear. Listening to it. And what do you mean source?

 

[Dmac1991]

either 4 gauge OFC or 1/0 gauge CCA/OFC

 

[garychoffmann 10+ year member]

Head unit, ipod, mp3 player etc. Say your using a cheap mp3 player through a cheap and dirty head unit. Your amp stands no chance of getting a good signal. Your source is what you are playing your music from.

 

[CrownVicTM]

I have this headunit Kenwood KDC-BT318U - Using a AUX cord with the brand new iPod touch. Sometimes I use a USB and get the same results. I'm using 8 gauge right now. I'm installing 0 gauge probably tomorrow. I have the in unhooked. I'm afraid to cook it. I'm sanding down a new ground then using a small grinding pad to get the metal even more clean and paint free.

 

[garychoffmann 10+ year member]

8 gauge on a 1600 watt amp is no bueno. Be glad you didn't cook the amp. Assuming battery in the front and amp in the back 8 gauge is not recommended. At 15 ft 8 gauge has about a 50 amp capacity. So it can support roughly 500-600 watts. So if you're trying to use a 1600 watt amp the power wire can simply not support the amp.

 

[CrownVicTM]

8 gauge on a 1600 watt amp is no bueno. Be glad you didn't cook the amp. Assuming battery in the front and amp in the back 8 gauge is not recommended. At 15 ft 8 gauge has about a 50 amp capacity. So it can support roughly 500-600 watts. So if you're trying to use a 1600 watt amp the power wire can simply not support the amp.

so it is my wiring? I have it all unplugged ect. I have a brand new 15ft of 0 gauge I need to put in. I have. 200 amp. Military battery.

 

[big scott]

it could be, but you need to put that 1/0 in . do a good ground then see what you have. it may be something else . but that wire you have is no good for your system.

do 1 think at a time. wire first.