how to tell if i'm clipping

[CHUCKmfnNORRIS 10+ year member]

how does one tell if they are clipping there sub? and clipping is when the amp it turned up to high?

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[jake760 10+ year member]

Subs stinking/smoking/distorting/etc. Clipping happens when you ask the amp to produce more power than it can. The peaks of the AC wave are "clipped" off creating DC current, which causes the voice coil to really heat up.

 

[CHUCKmfnNORRIS 10+ year member]

so its just asking more than what the amp can send causing damage to the sub because its not a clean signal?

 

[jake760 10+ year member]

Yes. Lets say you've got your HU at volume 40 and the amp is putting out its full RMS output (say 1000rms) everything is great. You turn it up to 45 and the amp is now trying to put out 1500rms, which it can't. The AC wave is clipped and your subs are seeing DC current, which burns them up quickly.

 

[CHUCKmfnNORRIS 10+ year member]

ok everything is clear now.