I'm putting together a complete system.

[ArmyNavyCopGuy]

After they loosen up, you may want to check/reset your gains a bit,as well

I don't even know where to set the gains in the first place. I'm keeping it around 25%-40% to be on the safe side.

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

I don't even know where to set the gains in the first place. I'm keeping it around 25%-40% to be on the safe side.

Pretty good idea..tuning is one of the most time consuming aspects of car audio,other than running new wires for an install as well as sound deadening.Takes time and everything takes effect, as to what type of vehicle,preps taken,speakers, speaker locations,amps being used,HU,subs,enclosure all the way down to the electrical.As well as the most important..the user.Takes time to get it to systems sound at its best withing the environment its within.Took me approx. 3 weeks to get my temp setup to meet my expectations thats in my truck atm. till I get everything rewired and built.Start with the basics,until you know what each component is capable of,and understand its limitations, and you will know then what you are needing/missing,or wanting to add,or enjoying it for what it is with what you have

 

[ArmyNavyCopGuy]

Is setting gains with a multimeter a good idea?

 

[CSCStang]

How to Adjust Amplifier Gains Using a Digital Multi-Meter | Learning Center | Sonic Electronix

 

[els1989]

That's interesting info^

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ArmyNavyCopGuy]

I did it with the multimeter, just doesnt work lol. Its aupposed to be 44.72v... gain turned all the way up with the disc is like 8v lol

 

[ArmyNavyCopGuy]

Brought it back down to around 35% and the gain light turned green so Im going to keep it there.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Oh, and this thing hits ridiculously hard for one 12. My rear view mirror is officially worthless.

vids please

and how did it compare to your old kicker?

Does it really take 2 weeks to break in?

my hdc3 18s are still not fully broken in. Still stiff as hell. Bought it 1 month used and its been a few months already. Its a lot better than the first month i had it though.

Brought it back down to around 35% and the gain light turned green so Im going to keep it there.

That probably is a clipping indicator so yeah you can go with that. The amp getting hot could mean that it might be starved of current. Have you done the big 3 yet?

Also some car audio common sense lessons

1) If you turn it up and iit stops getting louder, you are most likely in clipping territory, instead of the amp, you can just lower one or two or a few notches on your head unit's sub-level control or even the head unit volume can be used to fine tune. Remember, different songs will have different levels of bass so you dont want to blast a bass heavy song as much as you would do to a old school rock song. Again, If you turn it up and iit stops getting louder, you are most likely in clipping territory.

2) Monitor temperatures. If the sub and amp is getting warm/moderately warm, then you are fine. If it gets hot like burning hot to the touch, you gotta go easy on it taking actions explained in #1 ^^^

3) Monitor system voltage drops at full tilt volume. Take multi-meter and put the prongs on the positive and negative outputs of the amp and see what battery voltage reading you are getting. If its under 12, you might need to ease of the gain until you can perform some electrical upgrades.

 

[ArmyNavyCopGuy]

vids pleaseand how did it compare to your old kicker?

It doesn't. I'll make a video today.

That probably is a clipping indicator so yeah you can go with that. The amp getting hot could mean that it might be starved of current. Have you done the big 3 yet?

Haven't done the big 3. I was going to do it with the 4awg cable I had and add it to the existing lines, but I read that 1/0 is a must. True or false?

Amp hasn't gotten hot to the touch. Definitely warm but not hot.

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

It doesn't. I'll make a video today.


Haven't done the big 3. I was going to do it with the 4awg cable I had and add it to the existing lines, but I read that 1/0 is a must. True or false?

Amp hasn't gotten hot to the touch. Definitely warm but not hot.

if you have some 4 ga lying around, use it..anything larger than the stocks 10-8ga is better and going to help. the larger the wire the more current flow you generate. ive used some 2ga that i had lying around for my big3 in the honda.

 

[ArmyNavyCopGuy]

 

[ArmyNavyCopGuy]

Dont know how to embed lol

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Bro, next thing you know, you are going to get another 12 and a 2k amp in the future lmaooo.

imbed doesnt work on here.

does it hit decaf?

This song will speed up the break in period pretty fast.

 

[ArmyNavyCopGuy]

Bro, next thing you know, you are going to get another 12 and a 2k amp in the future lmaooo.

imbed doesnt work on here.

does it hit decaf?

This song will speed up the break in period pretty fast.

This is way more bass than I anticipated. I will say though, that there are songs that the sub just wont play. Like Dj Snake -Super Boom... I thought the amp was cutting out, but it actually just doesnt play a section of the song. I figured at 32hz it would play some low notes.

 

[fly_marlin]

This is way more bass than I anticipated. I will say though, that there are songs that the sub just wont play. Like Dj Snake -Super Boom... I thought the amp was cutting out, but it actually just doesnt play a section of the song. I figured at 32hz it would play some low notes.

I'm really gonna take time to visit my boy with that sub and see if it really hits the lows. How big did your box end up being altogether? Mine's tuned higher and I def hit decaf songs nicely. Give it a month and play some low songs, should loosen up.