Is this my amp "clipping"

[efm80 10+ year member]

well I have a PPI PCX480(4 channel) for my mids and highs that has been having some overheating issues and turning off after awhile at full volume. It seems the fan has went out in it. The other day listening to 50 cent-Just a Lil Bit at very high volume, like 45 out of 60 on my deck at certain parts of the song my PPI amp cuts out for a second or two then cuts back in. Its really weird. Its not like it turns off, then I have to wait 10 minutes for it to cool down before it comes back on. It just cuts in and out. And it doesn't do it on any other song that I have heard yet, even when cranking it louder. I even thought it might be the song, but by going back and hearing the same parts at lower volume it didn't do it. I noticed there is a demanding mid bass note that really starts to buzz and distort in my speakers at high volume. ITS SO WEIRD!! I thought it had something to do with my electrical or something with my subs and sub amp really taking some power. But then I turned the subs off and it still did it. So my question is...is this clipping of my amp???? or something else?? thanks!

eddie

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[efm80 10+ year member]

anyone??? please

 

[thch 10+ year member]

that is indeed the wrong term. clipping refers to the amp's inability to put out more then some peak amount of power (more specifically, voltage*). eg, you crank the gains, if the amp were to provide that gain it would need to output several thousand watts but cannot. thus the output is limited. for music, and severe clipping, the amp is basically pushing the cone all the way out, then pulling it all the way back, with no fine control over its motion. this adds distortion and such, and can be harmful to the equipment in general. smaller amounts of clipping are generally safe and potentially desirable.

are you saying:

1.) when the music cuts out, all speaker and wooers stop playing

2.) with the woofers off, the issue persists

3.) at lower volumes the issue is not present.

if so, that is really a strange problem.

are you using the highpass filter for the speakers attached to the ppi? if nothing else that might help out the buzzing issue.

*for the cases most commonly discussed.

 

[silvercookie 5,000+ posts]

could have a

1. bad ground

2. rca's loose from vibrations

3. rca loose on headunit

4. oo low of voltage..

5.power or ground wire on amp could be loose.

 

[efm80 10+ year member]

its weird, only does it on 50 cent-just a lil bit. Thought it was cd scratched but then I lowered the volume and it was fine. Its my mids and highs amp that is doing it. The subs and sub amp are fine. The highpass filter is on. I really don't know???????????