Independant faders? Need help!!

[Brit rider 10+ year member]

Hi Everyone,

OK i am about to install a system in my boat. heres what i'm going with:

Clarion XMD-3 head unit

Kicker 550.2 Amp (for speakers on the tower)

Kicker 850.4 Amp (For speakers in the boat )

All Kicker Speakers.

OK the basic problem is, i want to be able to adjsut the volumes of the 2 amps individually. this would enable me to turn up the tower speakers when i want and also adjust the speakers in the boat.

I'm guessing some kind of fader control or line driver would be best for this, placed inbetween the RCA outs of the HU and the RCA inputs of the Amps??

Anyone got any suggestions as to what i could use?

Thanks

Click to read more...

 

[Scarenius 10+ year member]

Amps have gain knobs on them... I mean, it's not like a car where you have to sit and stare at the road, you can get up and move around and reach them when need be.

 

[Brit rider 10+ year member]

I know i could do this, but if that solved the problem then i'd do it, but when you are driving with a rider in tow it shard ot get up, flip opena cubby hole and start trying to find gain knobs.

I'm thinking of using an audio contorl 4.1 - anyone have any opinions on it?

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

The gain is NOT a volume control, and should not be used as such. Add one of THESE in the RCA line of each amp and you'll be good to go. Turn the N-22V up all the way when you set the gain, then from then on out use the N-22V like a volume control on each amp. Your headunits volume knob will be like a "master" control, then you can use the N-22V to adjust the volume to each amp without the risk of clipping.

 

[Brit rider 10+ year member]

Thanks, that looks perfect! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif I new someone must make one somewhere!

So do you think its worth installing a line driver too? and if i did, would i put it before or after the N-22V.

Ok last question - who makes the N-22V and where can i get a couple?

Thanks again //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Brit

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

So do you think its worth installing a line driver too? and if i did, would i put it before or after the N-22V.

I wouldn't worry about a line driver

Ok last question - who makes the N-22V and where can i get a couple?

In my last post, click the word "THESE" //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif It's a hyperlink to where to purchase them.

 

[Brit rider 10+ year member]

oh sorry, my bad. thanks again.

The one thing is, the headunit issn't the greatest. but i really don't want to change it. and as this things going in my boa ti need to squeeze every inch of power possible.

I really feela line driver will help (plus i have to put in one for my ipod to hook into) so i may as weel do them all.

Its just where to put it! I wonder if it makes a difference if its before or after the N-V22.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I really feela line driver will help...................so i may as weel do them all.

Do you actually understand how a line driver is supposed to be used?? All it supposedly does is help reduce the amount of noise possibly induced by the RCA wires and allowing you to have lower set gain. There are no volume gains from it (well, there shouldn't be. If there are, then the amp's gains either weren't properly set before adding the line driver, or weren't properly adjusted after adding the line driver). With the line driver you have a higher signal voltage, which means that you need to turn the gain down. The power output should be exactly the same both before adding the line driver and after adding the line driver. Basically you should just be hoping that a line driver will give a little "cleaner" signal (that I highly doubt most people will be able to difference before and after). But if you start out with a crappy signal (quality wise), the line driver isn't going to fix that.

 

[Brit rider 10+ year member]

eek, sorry i think maybe i wasn't too clear with what i was saying.

Basically the headunit puts out only like 2 Volt signals. we have to have the stereo at like full blast or near too when cruising to compensate for wind noise and also, we run speakers on our wakeboard tower, these need to project sound 75ft back to the wakeboarder behind the boat.

so basically i want to make sure that the amps are getting the cleanest sound possible when the headunits working hard.

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

2 volts is enough to run just about any amp to full power. If you want a line driver to be sure, I'd put it close to the head unit and put the volume control after it.

BTW I ride Brit too... 74 Commando MKII

 

[Brit rider 10+ year member]

Norton? Sweet, very nice bike 8)

 

[Apoc 10+ year member]

You dont need a great HU in a boat environment. Around all that water, it is inevitable that water will be around it somehow someway. Also, I hope you plan on taking your system out of your boat each year unless you live where its in the water all the time...

 

[Brit rider 10+ year member]

its a marine headunit.

also It all lives in a dry storage area, and the boat is taken out of the water after each use to live in a garage.

it all keeps fine...

 

[Apoc 10+ year member]

its a marine headunit.
also It all lives in a dry storage area, and the boat is taken out of the water after each use to live in a garage.

it all keeps fine...

Alright, nevermind then...you should be set