help! System not hitting hard at all.

[iLL Ridge 10+ year member]

Oh man. Get a dmm fast. Get some ac volt readings. You're guessing at the knobs.

 

[wannabang 10+ year member]

Alright. I did more reading.

My HU's voltage through the "sub out" is 5 volts.

The JL's gain is 2V-200mV. I read somewhere that it can be 2V-200mv to 8V-800mV (if my memory serves me).

The Cadence's gain is 9V-200mV.

My logic tells me that the Cadence would require 9 volts to be at minimum gain (or something like that) and that a line driver would help boost my voltage from 5 volts to 9 volts, but then again, I'm a beginner.

 

[iLL Ridge 10+ year member]

Gain doesn't neccesairly have to be down all the way. 5 volts is plenty to push an amp to full rms. You still need a dmm. Check the ac volts at the speaker outputs- pref with test tones.

 

[wannabang 10+ year member]

Gain doesn't neccesairly have to be down all the way. 5 volts is plenty to push an amp to full rms. You still need a dmm. Check the ac volts at the speaker outputs- pref with test tones.

What would the dmm help me achieve? Would it help me with diagnosis? I'm still a beginner.

 

[iLL Ridge 10+ year member]

It'll tell you what your max rms voltage is. It'll tell you when you're clipping, it'll tell you if you're getting full voltage to your amp from the rca's and the battery/ground.

 

[wannabang 10+ year member]

It'll tell you what your max rms voltage is. It'll tell you when you're clipping, it'll tell you if you're getting full voltage to your amp from the rca's and the battery/ground.

In other words, it will tell me whether I need the Line Driver or not? And, I understand that it will help me set the gain, but, if the Cadence at max gain, still wasn't hitting as hard as the JL, doesn't that mean something is wrong with the Cadence (assuming i don't need the line driver to get full RMS out of the Cadence)?

And there's online tutorials on how to get these readings from the dmm?

 

[Omg Itz Layz 10+ year member]

what is it wired at?

what is the hu model?

what is the amp model?

what subs?

i dont feel like reading 3 pages of noob so answer thease and ill see if i can help ya

 

[wannabang 10+ year member]

what is it wired at? 4 ohmswhat is the hu model? JVC Arsenal KD-A615

what is the amp model? JL Audio 500/1, Cadence ZRS-7500D (problem amp)

what subs? JL Audio 13w3v3

i dont feel like reading 3 pages of noob so answer thease and ill see if i can help ya

no prob.

 

[Omg Itz Layz 10+ year member]

no prob.

ok you head unit has plenty of voltage out (2 Sets of 5V preamp outputs )

and your amps at 4ohms are gonna put out almost the same amount of power id say 100 less on the jl amp

what is the coil config on the jl sub (dual 2, single 8, single 4?)

 

[wannabang 10+ year member]

ok you head unit has plenty of voltage out (2 Sets of 5V preamp outputs )and your amps at 4ohms are gonna put out almost the same amount of power id say 100 less on the jl amp

what is the coil config on the jl sub (dual 2, single 8, single 4?)

That's what I thought, but the Cadence seems to put out significantly less, or the JL more.

single four.

 

[Omg Itz Layz 10+ year member]

That's what I thought, but the Cadence seems to put out significantly less, or the JL more.
single four.

imo send the candence back or sell it and save up and buy a real sub an use that jl amp on it until you can afford to buy a decent amp like buy a dc level 4 15 or 12 what ever and then buy a sundown saz 1500d or if on a budget a audiopipe 1800d

 

[NissanKicker 10+ year member]

Check you power wire...

... Make sure you haven't burnt the wires.

( it usually burns at the fuse in the front on either or both sides. )

if you squeeze the wire where it goes in the fuse & out the fuse and you hear a crunchy sound... You need to cut about 3 inches - 4 inches from the side(s) that are burnt.

... Reconnect, and you will have full power again. ( make sure your amp & hu are set, cause if everything is turned down... You wouldn't be able to tell if that was the problem... Which i do believe it is )

 

[surreal 10+ year member]

DMM/Ammeter..

Do it.

 

[wannabang 10+ year member]

triple post.. dang.

 

[wannabang 10+ year member]

double post.

Computer's not letting me go to the fourth page? hmm.. well, if I burnt the wires, wouldn't I notice a power loss on both amps, and I'm noticing a power ("output") loss on the JL, but I'll check it when i get home and an pull it in the garage. Currently I'm out and about and it's cold and getting dark.

Any recommendations for a DMM, that I don't have to spend a ton of money on?

And I'm calling woofers monday since they didn't reply to my email about returning the amp, I hope they let me, and it's not too insanely expensive to do so. The Sundown SAZ1500 is sitting in the back of my head. As for subs; there are a bunch on my list for comparing.. However, I don't have tons of cash to blow at the moment so a second battery might not happen for awhile, and I don't wanna strain the electrical with 1500 watts.