New HU. Changed sub from LOC to RCA, Now have to run the gain very high?

[gamehawk55 10+ year member]

OK, So heres the story and hopefully someone can let me know if what I'm doing is still safe or if something has gone wrong.

I have a 2007 Pontiac G6 with the monsoon system/amp. I also have a 10" JL W7 in the HO Box powered by an Audison LrX 5.1K. When I first got the car I had just installed the sub using an AudioControl LC2i LOC so I didn't have to replace the head unit. Everything sounded OK but I knew it could be better. So last week I installed a Kenwood DDX419 Head Unit. At the time I didn't have enough time to properly run the RCA's from the sub pre-out to my amp so I just left the LOC in place because it still sounded great (even better than the stock deck with the LOC). So that brings me to today. Finally got around to "finishing" the install and running the RCA's and disconnecting the LOC along with installing the E-Brake wire and microphone. Now onto my main concern. When the LOC was in place I was able to run the amps sub gain at around 25% and it sounded perfect (probably could have even raised it a bit more). But now with using the Pre-Out I have to set the gain to about 90% to get the output I had at 25% with the LOC in place. Also I have to have the Loudness option on the deck turned on AND bass set to +4 AND the sub level at MAX on the deck.

BUT. Because my car has the monsoon amp powering the cars speakers I only have to turn the HU up to about 13-15 to reach my preferred max listening volume (HU goes to 35). So because of the fact that my volume is so low is it normal that I would need to crank the gain that much to get the proper amount of output? Just doesn't make sense to me why I could run the gains so low with the LOC and now have to crank it nearly full when using the 4v pre-out. I'm guessing it's because the HU at that volume is actually only putting out around 1.5v to the amp?

Any helpful information would be greatly appreciated cuz I don't want to blow my sub or anything after all haha

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[TaylorFade 10+ year member]

Quite simply... the LC2i was giving you more RCA voltage. Gains are a sensitivity setting. Less input voltgage, more gain. More input, less gain. Add to that- that at listening levels (for your other speakers), your sub out is probably only getting tenths of a volt.

If it was good with the LC2i, go back to it.

 

[gamehawk55 10+ year member]

But wouldn't I get a cleaner signal using the HU Pre-out vs. the Lc2i? Even if I do have to crank the gain using the Pre-out?

 

[TaylorFade 10+ year member]

But wouldn't I get a cleaner signal using the HU Pre-out vs. the Lc2i? Even if I do have to crank the gain using the Pre-out?

Maybe if you were using an optical out or a walmart LOC. AudioControl is legit.

 

[gamehawk55 10+ year member]

Well since I went through all the trouble to run the RCA and remote line I would like to leave it that way if I can. I just want to know if it's safe to have the gain cranked all the way like that considering the HU is only turned up to 30-50%. Can't put it any higher or the front/rears will be way to loud haha. Unless someone knows of some secret way to change the gains of a monsoon system or somehow maybe turn off the internal amp of my kenwood deck so it's just uses the monsoon amp instead of doubling up (seems like that's whats happening). I know that the best way to do it would be to completely bypass the monsoon system and wire the stock speakers to my Audison amp so I can sent all gains of the entire system perfectly. But from what I've read that isn't a very easy job.

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

Well since I went through all the trouble to run the RCA and remote line I would like to leave it that way if I can. I just want to know if it's safe to have the gain cranked all the way like that considering the HU is only turned up to 30-50%.

For a sub amp it's OK. And yes, the problem is the low volume setting you're using.

Can't put it any higher or the front/rears will be way to loud haha. Unless someone knows of some secret way to change the gains of a monsoon system or somehow maybe turn off the internal amp of my kenwood deck so it's just uses the monsoon amp instead of doubling up (seems like that's whats happening).

I'm not sure about the monsoon, but the Delco amp in my Buick used speaker level inputs. You can't turn off the HU amp.

I know that the best way to do it would be to completely bypass the monsoon system and wire the stock speakers to my Audison amp so I can sent all gains of the entire system perfectly. But from what I've read that isn't a very easy job.

Again, not sure about the monsoon. But my Buick's amp sat under the rear deck in the trunk and all the wires from HU and speakers went to it. And the connector is the same one used by the HU, just with more wires. Very convenient.

I would tape up the RCAs and put the LOC back in until you go for the permanent install.

 

[gamehawk55 10+ year member]

I ended up installing a Cache Cloc+D line driver. Seems to work fairly well. Was able to turn my gain down to about 1/2 and also turn off ALL EQ (flat) and the loudness settings and keep my sub level at 0. Just need to wait till after xmas now so I can get some new subs. My poor W7 is getting a little too worked I think so I can't get it to pound quite as clean as it used to. Thinkin of getting a pair of Sundown SA-8V2's in the new year //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif