I think I need a special amp?

[Biker 10+ year member]

I have a real problem. I have blown up at least $600 worth of speakers. I have tried several amps and continue to blow my speakers. Even Diamond audio coponents rated at 180watt RMS.

Here is my problem. When I turn my head unit up to MAX [35] my 4 channel amps puts out to much voltage with the gain turned all the way down. Using the gain tutorial turning my gain all the way down I have to lower my HU volume to 3/4 to get the correct voltage for my speakers. Then my kids use my car, turn it all the way up and BAMM. Out another $200.00. This is the case even when the amp is rated lower than the speakers.

I was wondering if it could have something to do with my piece of Crap HU having 5V pre-outs instead of the reg voltage. Do I need a special amp for my HU?

Please help..... I want my sound back.

Thanks Biker

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[Safe-N-Sound215 10+ year member]

I know how to fix it, stop letting your kids use your car. Or beat the shit out of them which ever you prefer.

And having 5v pre outs doesn't make your h/u a piece. That kenwood is a good h/u.

 

[phantom240 5,000+ posts]

I have a real problem. I have blown up at least $600 worth of speakers. I have tried several amps and continue to blow my speakers. Even Diamond audio coponents rated at 180watt RMS.
Here is my problem. When I turn my head unit up to MAX [35] my 4 channel amps puts out to much voltage with the gain turned all the way down. Using the gain tutorial turning my gain all the way down I have to lower my HU volume to 3/4 to get the correct voltage for my speakers. Then my kids use my car, turn it all the way up and BAMM. Out another $200.00. This is the case even when the amp is rated lower than the speakers.

I was wondering if it could have something to do with my piece of Crap HU having 5V pre-outs instead of the reg voltage. Do I need a special amp for my HU?

Please help..... I want my sound back.

Thanks Biker

Um. Well. Heres what I would do. Take a shovel, call your kids in, and give that shovel a nice swing. They'll get the message.

No amp will take the abuse of max headunit volume with max gains. Thats just a distortionfest. Clipped signals heat up speakers like nobody's business, and kill them quite rapidly. My real advice is to find a way to set the gain so they cant go and mess with it. If they do, just tell them not to mess with it or youll give em a pair of cement boots.

 

[Safe-N-Sound215 10+ year member]

What amp are we talking about? You might want to get one with less power if you cant trust/control your kids.

 

[pickup1 5,000+ posts]

dont let them use/listen to your system!

 

[SilverSquared 10+ year member]

I say pull the fuse when ur out the vehicle.

 

[SocMunky 10+ year member]

I say pull the fuse when ur out the vehicle.

Theres a plan!

 

[Biker 10+ year member]

Its obvious no one is reading my post. I got one guy telling me to lower my gains so this wont happen and I have clearly stated that this is happening with the gains at the lowest settings on 3 different amps.

I got another guy telling me to get a lower power amp when I have clearly stated this has been done with no sucsess.

Then the rest of you are telling me to live with spending $1500.00 on my system and dont turn it up to loud.

When I first came here everyone told me to use the gain tutorial and the idea was to protect you equipment so with max volume your stuff was safe and now everyones telling me to live with it.

No One has answered the question about the 5 V Pre Outs. I had a Moderator here post a while back to me that I needed an amp designed for the 5 V Pre outs. but never given any guideance and dont see this type of thing in the Amp specs.

The obvious fix would be find a way to change how much output the HU is putting out but cant find a way to do this. Is there anything I could put between the HU and the amp to lower that signal.

Some of the amps I am have already tried with the same results are the Arc Audio, Rockford fosgate punch all with less rated RMS power than my speakers.

Biker -

 

[djman37 5,000+ posts]

I have a real problem. I have blown up at least $600 worth of speakers. I have tried several amps and continue to blow my speakers. Even Diamond audio coponents rated at 180watt RMS.
Here is my problem. When I turn my head unit up to MAX [35] my 4 channel amps puts out to much voltage with the gain turned all the way down. Using the gain tutorial turning my gain all the way down I have to lower my HU volume to 3/4 to get the correct voltage for my speakers. Then my kids use my car, turn it all the way up and BAMM. Out another $200.00. This is the case even when the amp is rated lower than the speakers.

I was wondering if it could have something to do with my piece of Crap HU having 5V pre-outs instead of the reg voltage. Do I need a special amp for my HU?

Please help..... I want my sound back.

Thanks Biker

partsexpress i think sells in-line voltage reducers. like -3db or -6db things. check for something like that.

*edit*

inform the children that 'the next time my speakers get blown, no more borrowing the car.' take away some of their electronic crap they have.

 

[Darren5531 10+ year member]

Have you tried just running your speakers off the head unit? I know it won't sound as nice but then you wont' have to worry about your speakers blowing at least for the most part. If you need some more speakers I have 2 pairs of 6.5" that I could sell.

Best of luck fixing your problem. I wish I could help.

Thanks for your time,

Darren

 

[mokedaddy 5,000+ posts]

Turning the volume down does decrease the output level of the deck (yes I know common sense) so that is why when you set the gains on your amps at a certain volume (lower than max to compensate for the lack of input voltage that your amps will take) the volume should not be turned past the point. Let your kids know that volume cant go higher than stated volume or damage will be done to speakers. Or get in-line voltage reducers. Or last but not least buy and amp that takes 5v inputs. This spec is usually listed as input sensitivity and usually reads 4v - .2v or something along those lines, whatever it says on the amplifier gain control.

 

[T3mpest 10+ year member]

I have a real problem. I have blown up at least $600 worth of speakers. I have tried several amps and continue to blow my speakers. Even Diamond audio coponents rated at 180watt RMS.
Here is my problem. When I turn my head unit up to MAX [35] my 4 channel amps puts out to much voltage with the gain turned all the way down. Using the gain tutorial turning my gain all the way down I have to lower my HU volume to 3/4 to get the correct voltage for my speakers. Then my kids use my car, turn it all the way up and BAMM. Out another $200.00. This is the case even when the amp is rated lower than the speakers.

I was wondering if it could have something to do with my piece of Crap HU having 5V pre-outs instead of the reg voltage. Do I need a special amp for my HU?

Please help..... I want my sound back.

Thanks Biker

Control your kids.....

 

[dB-r 10+ year member]

Look for an attenuator. Might even find one at Radio Shack. Put it in line between your hu and amp.

Or if you want to send me the amp I can install attenuator inside the amp on the inputs.

Chris

 

[t-money 10+ year member]

this is not a equipment problem, control your kids or this will keep happening. You don't need a amp that takes 5 volts cause most amps can take 5 volts as long as the gains are set correctly. Turn down the output on the head unit itself when you lend out your car or let you kids cost you more and more money. Also a little discipline wouldn't hurt.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/furious.gif.fc81ca146dbff91fede3ed290dbc4f4c.gif

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

Its obvious no one is reading my post. I got one guy telling me to lower my gains so this wont happen and I have clearly stated that this is happening with the gains at the lowest settings on 3 different amps.
I got another guy telling me to get a lower power amp when I have clearly stated this has been done with no sucsess.

Then the rest of you are telling me to live with spending $1500.00 on my system and dont turn it up to loud.

When I first came here everyone told me to use the gain tutorial and the idea was to protect you equipment so with max volume your stuff was safe and now everyones telling me to live with it.

No One has answered the question about the 5 V Pre Outs. I had a Moderator here post a while back to me that I needed an amp designed for the 5 V Pre outs. but never given any guideance and dont see this type of thing in the Amp specs.

The obvious fix would be find a way to change how much output the HU is putting out but cant find a way to do this. Is there anything I could put between the HU and the amp to lower that signal.

Some of the amps I am have already tried with the same results are the Arc Audio, Rockford fosgate punch all with less rated RMS power than my speakers.

Biker -

OK forget what has been said, some people aren't getting it right.....

Two things kill speakers, mechanical damage, and heat.

Assuming you aren't running your amp incorrectly and only providing rated RMS power it is not mechanical damage. However if you are incorrectly hooking your amp up you could be sending way too much power (ie bridging a 4ch into a 2ch and going over the mechanical limits of the speakers) however this is very easy to detect as you can actually hear the speaker beating itself to death and I don't think even your kids are stupid enough to listen to music like that...

Now on to heat. When an amplifier is clipping, which it is when the gains are set to max (not always, but it's safe to assume). When it is clipping it is making way more power than it is designed too, producing much higher average power that the speaker must dissipate. In the end the speaker will lose and the voice coil will fry.

The answer to your problem is to set your gains correctly and beat your children for breaking your stuff.... or at very least make them clean toilets with a toothbrush to pay for their irresponsibility.

Ohh and if you have an amp that is designed to handle 0-8v inputs you'll have more le-way with the gain setting... ie you can set it higher.. but it doesn't really matter.

Also set your gains at max volume so they can set the HU volume to max without hurting anything, just keep them away from the gains....