Need Help - Tuning AMP/speakers for corvette

[silvrhand]

I have the current setup, and need some help as different volumes the system sounds good but still feel like I have clipping going on.

- Pioneer NEX 4000 Head Unit

- JL Audio HD 900 amp

- Focal PS165V front component speakers

- Focal PS130 rear 5.25" speakers

- JL Audio 10W1v3 stealthbox for the corvette.

Now my question comes around how to tune the amp gain for the speakers, do you tune them for RMS or do you tune them to the max power? I was using my volmeter to measure the amperage based on the RMS rating of the speakers, but to do this I needed a constant signal, aka test tone.

I am not sure if the frequency of the tone makes a difference.

I set the volume to 75% on the radio and measure the amps coming off the outputs of the JL

- front speakers are 80w RMS = sqrt ( 80 * 4 ohms ) = 17.88 volts

- rear speakers are 60w RMS = sqrt ( 60 * 4 ohms ) = 15.49 volts

- rear sub is 300w RMS = sqrt ( 300 * 4 ohms ) = 34.64 volts

so based off what I've learned.. this is the above voltage I should see is this correct?

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[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

Tune the amplifier according to JL's instructions. http://mediacdn.jlaudio.com/media/mfg/9013/media_document/live_1/HD900_5_MAN.pdf?1342152066

 

[silvrhand]

Tune the amplifier according to JL's instructions. http://mediacdn.jlaudio.com/media/mfg/9013/media_document/live_1/HD900_5_MAN.pdf?1342152066

Doesn't that mean I'll push the speakers more than they are rated for? That is where I'm slightly confused..

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

Doesn't that mean I'll push the speakers more than they are rated for? That is where I'm slightly confused..

That doesn't matter. You're running good quality speakers and a good quality amplifier. The power the speakers will receive is constantly varying, and most of the time it's only a few watts.

 

[Xerjyo]

if you "over power" your speakers more than rms they are rated to, you will have what si called headroom which is nice to have in sq sistems, how ever your amp at 4omhs will give you like 75 reall watts per channel so ther is no way you burn the speaker because of to much power

 

[silvrhand]

That doesn't matter. You're running good quality speakers and a good quality amplifier. The power the speakers will receive is constantly varying, and most of the time it's only a few watts.

Hmm considering the RMS output of the amp is 4x100 @ 4 ohm load for a set of PS130 speakers rated at 60w RMS, isn't that a bit much?

 

[Xerjyo]

Hmm considering the RMS output of the amp is 4x100 @ 4 ohm load for a set of PS130 speakers rated at 60w RMS, isn't that a bit much?

dont think so, sq cars usually use two times the rms rated, whoever, you dont clip the speaker you clip your amp signal, so if wou are worried for blowwing a speaker with to much power, just stay under the max watt rated for the speaker, max watts for the ps 130 is 120 watts just stay under that power

 

[CSCStang]

Hmm considering the RMS output of the amp is 4x100 @ 4 ohm load for a set of PS130 speakers rated at 60w RMS, isn't that a bit much?

You won't be playing a constant sine wave, so you'll be good. If you set it at 100rms and it sounds like too much, back it off to 75 or 80rms.

 

[silvrhand]

thanks everyone for being patient, and walking me through this.

 

[Xerjyo]

thanks everyone for being patient, and walking me through this.

dont worry we are here to help just to give you an idea, i wil use in my proyect for daily sq car, focal 165-wrc rated to be 80 watts with an arc audio se 4200 in an semi active setup, wich means using 2 channel for woofer and 2 for tweets, this amps is rated at 200 watss per channel, look in google for something called headroom