O-Scope w/ RCA inputs

[frankiebones 10+ year member]

is it common for o-scope's to have RCA inputs. some of the ones i looked at didnt, but the article on bcae1.com referred to connecting the HU to the scope via RCAs.

is it only found on hi end scopes?

Click to read more...

 

[shellshocked 10+ year member]

I'm an electrical engineer and have used high-end oscilloscopes. I don't think it is normal for your average scope. The inputs on an oscilloscope are normally high impedance some also have 50/75 ohm impedance and is a BNC connector (twist on with a lock). The high impedance is typically the probes and the 50/75 input is used to match normal RF cable impedance. I am sure somebody probably makes a scope for audio only/low frequency applications which has RCAs...

 

[CBFryman2 5,000+ posts]

Buy a Female RCA jack at radio shack and use the probes on it.

 

[frankiebones 10+ year member]

i already have a female jack that i spliced to do a bunch of tests on my HU preamp outputs. does this scope look any good. i know some people on these boards have used it with some success but the display is so basic, it might be hard to see when the wave get chopped (im guessing)

 

[Kenny Pollock 10+ year member]

does this scope look any good.

Which?

 

[frankiebones 10+ year member]

Which?

sorry,

http://www.amazon.com/Oscilloscope-V...4?ie=UTF8&s=hi

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

What would be the point of connecting the HU directly to the oscilloscope? Clipping becomes an issue when an amplifier attempts to over-amplify the signal.

Edit: Link doesnt work

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

broken link

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

What would be the point of connecting the HU directly to the oscilloscope? Clipping becomes an issue when an amplifier attempts to over-amplify the signal.
Edit: Link doesnt work

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif Your HU speaker outputs/preouts can clip.

 

[CBFryman2 5,000+ posts]

You'd use the O-Scope to see at what point your pre-outs clip to get the most out of the most out of the head unit before your amp has to do anything.

 

[nauc 10+ year member]

hes talkin about this scope

http://www.elexp.com/tst_hhs5.htm

it comes with a probe-hook/alligator clip that works fine for decks, amps etc

you can also get somethin like this if you want, figure B, it has 2 alligator clips instead of the hook/probe thing

http://www.elexp.com/tld_pat1.htm

i got mine from elexp thru amazon, he threw in a free DMM too

 

[frankiebones 10+ year member]

sorry, here's the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Oscilloscope-Velleman-Personal-Scope-Hps10/dp/B0007ZPNH8/sr=8-1/qid=1165775924/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-8245374-2542358?ie=UTF8&s=hi

to maximize S/N ratio, u start at the beginning of the signal chain, and go down the line to each component/amp/eq/x-over in the system. for each, u use the max unclipped output.

yes, it will be very helpful for setting gains on my amps but also for the HU volume i actually listen to music at. i tuned my system using volume 56/62, but i dont go above 50 bc its not worth the risk that one of the components could be driven into clipping. i figure i could probably add 10 dB and still have head room, although when i tune my kicker amp (for the morels), i may use a frequency (or is it sine wave when using a scope?) that is about -5 to -10db ref. to allow for some "soft clipping."