How to tell when amp is clipping?

[RCobra07 10+ year member]

It is a GP3000D-Pro. Would this mean the sound all together stops for a second or two, then starts up again?

I ran a set of RE Audio SE15's on it wired at 1-ohm mono and they were shot after a few months. Maybe too much amp for the subs, maybe not. I have never really blown anything in the past, so it is a bit frustrating. I don't abuse the system that I am aware of. I do have a factory NAV HU going straight to the amp and I guess I could use something to get a better signal out, such as a JL CleanSweep.

Also, the factory HU volume goes to 40, and I have never turned it past 27. The bass is typically set to -2 o -3 on the HU.

Also, on these amps, when using the bass knob, does it override the gain completely? Meaning, does the gain setting on the physical amp even matter when you have the knob connected?

Thanks.

Click to read more...

 

[Xprime4 10+ year member]

the bass knob is a filter. When you set the gain on your amp, let the bass knob at maximum level.

After that, if you play with the remote knob, you will know that even if it's maxout, you won't clip. That's if you set the gain correctly

What are Se power rating? i don't remember them being that high

 

[MasterOfAllBass 10+ year member]

if it starts sounding like your moms screams when she puts a lawn gnome in her ***, you got teh clips...

 

[hornedfrog1985 5,000+ posts]

They are rated at 600 rms.

 

[MakeshiftAudio 10+ year member]

Turn it on, walk away about 20 feet, and then you decide if you're gangster enough with bass boost and loud mode on with +12dB 80Hz to your amp.

Or use an oscilloscope. This is the only real way.

 

[Xprime4 10+ year member]

They are rated at 600 rms.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wow.gif.23d729408e9177caa2a0ed6a2ba6588e.gif ok so you put 1500watt + (assuming you got the electrical to back the gp3000) to it....

I don't know that many subs that can take 3x rated without complaining a little

 

[RCobra07 10+ year member]

the bass knob is a filter. When you set the gain on your amp, let the bass knob at maximum level.
After that, if you play with the remote knob, you will know that even if it's maxout, you won't clip. That's if you set the gain correctly

What are Se power rating? i don't remember them being that high

That's how I thought they worked too. And the gain on the amp is only at half.

 

[Xprime4 10+ year member]

I just checked your sign... and if the alty is stock that might be your problem

You probably are low volting the amp, which lead it to produce a dirty signal (let say you might drop to 10ish) which burn the subs

what is your alty rating? do you have a dmm

edit: just saw the "stop 1 or 2 sec" in the first post.... you definitively are low volting that amp... be carefull it will blow pretty soon if you're not carefull

 

[MasterOfAllBass 10+ year member]

if it starts sounding like your moms screams when she puts a lawn gnome in her ***, you got teh clips...

what? no one laughed at that.... you **** lol jk

 

[RCobra07 10+ year member]

Turn it on, walk away about 20 feet, and then you decide if you're gangster enough with bass boost and loud mode on with +12dB 80Hz to your amp.
Or use an oscilloscope. This is the only real way.

You know of any good how-to's on using an oscilloscope?

BTW, saw your sig. Any interest in buying a Xtant X1001? Some pric off this board sold it to me claiming it was new with wrapper still on cover. Well, it had wrapper, but fan is not properly mounted and there was no output when bench tested, however, it did turn on.

 

[RCobra07 10+ year member]

I just checked your sign... and if the alty is stock that might be your problem
You probably are low volting the amp, which lead it to produce a dirty signal (let say you might drop to 10ish) which burn the subs

what is your alty rating? do you have a dmm

edit: just saw the "stop 1 or 2 sec" in the first post.... you definitively are low volting that amp... be carefull it will blow pretty soon if you're not carefull

thanks for the info man!! alt is stock. i though it was 160A, but later found it to be only 136A. I do have a DMM, but to be straight -up, I dont really know how to use it

Subs are out now and I am not doing anything until i get all this sorted out...hopefully i have not done any perm damage to amp. I have stuck a small 10" on the amp just for a little bass, and everything is cool with that.

 

[Xprime4 10+ year member]

well it's too late to check the drop at 1ohm. but next time you got a setup and you hook it at 1ohm, put the dmm at V (direct current) on the +12v and amp ground and check the fluctuation when bass is at full tilt. Don't let it drop under 11v.... some would say to not let it drop under 12v...

Anyway voltage drops aren't good for the amp powersupply. When it shut down by itseflt, it's a protection circuit that tell the amp to shut before damage occur. It won't save you forever though

also the 136amp rating is probably @ 2500 rpm. So if you're not driving, the alt won't give you that much amperage

 

[Mass Car Audio 10+ year member]

Also, on these amps, when using the bass knob, does it override the gain completely? Meaning, does the gain setting on the physical amp even matter when you have the knob connected?

Thanks.

Leave your bass knob at 0db.

 

[Mass Car Audio 10+ year member]

You know of any good how-to's on using an oscilloscope?

Take your probe from your oscilloscope and connect your negative output on the amp to the negative gator clip and stick the positive part of the probe on the positive output of your amp. Then set the oscilloscope to ac volts and play a test tone and if you see a clipped waveform then turn your volume or the gain down until you see a nice clean waveform.

 

[RCobra07 10+ year member]

Leave your bass knob at 0db.

It's actually a remote bass knob, not a bass booster or whatever at a certain frequency; probably should be called a remote gain knob.