SMD Frustration

[nismotwin 10+ year member]

This will probly be more of a rant than posting a question but, here it goes. I first got into car audio back in the 90's, loved messin with it thought i knew it all. I had four 12" mtx's in sealed boxes on a RF 800a2. No big 3, no electrical upgrades, no nothing. Bumped that set-up forever, 10 years no problems ever...ignorance is bliss. Anyway...i grow up life goes on then, i find Steve Meade on youtube. I get the bug again and decide to hook up some stuff i got laying around and really learn. First i play around with making ported boxes i get that down. Then i get a DD1 and CC1. As i'm setting the gains i first find the maximum undistorted vol of the HU, then go to the amp where the DD1 manual says to set the bass boost halfway...what? I figure he knows more than me so i do it. Set the gain to -10db and within seconds of playing at full tilt i can smell the voice coil. Frustrated for awhile i say this is bull and turn the bass boost off, no more problems. Now i want to redo how the gain is set since i turned it off and, -10db immediate distorts with the gain all the way down, -5db samething, -15db is good. Frustrated again i want to set the gain to -10db. Then i realize the track you find the max HU vol with is a 0db track. Shouldn't i use the -10db track to find the max of the HU and set the gain on the amp too? Did i just find out Steve Meade is full of **** or am i still dumb?

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[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

It's don't say set the boost half way. It says set the gain REMOTE halfway.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

This will probly be more of a rant than posting a question but, here it goes. I first got into car audio back in the 90's, loved messin with it thought i knew it all. I had four 12" mtx's in sealed boxes on a RF 800a2. No big 3, no electrical upgrades, no nothing. Bumped that set-up forever, 10 years no problems ever...ignorance is bliss. Anyway...i grow up life goes on then, i find Steve Meade on youtube. I get the bug again and decide to hook up some stuff i got laying around and really learn. First i play around with making ported boxes i get that down. Then i get a DD1 and CC1. As i'm setting the gains i first find the maximum undistorted vol of the HU, then go to the amp where the DD1 manual says to set the bass boost halfway...what? I figure he knows more than me so i do it. Set the gain to -10db and within seconds of playing at full tilt i can smell the voice coil. Frustrated for awhile i say this is bull and turn the bass boost off, no more problems. Now i want to redo how the gain is set since i turned it off and, -10db immediate distorts with the gain all the way down, -5db samething, -15db is good. Frustrated again i want to set the gain to -10db. Then i realize the track you find the max HU vol with is a 0db track. Shouldn't i use the -10db track to find the max of the HU and set the gain on the amp too? Did i just find out Steve Meade is full of **** or am i still dumb?

Fk him and his products they are completely useless because its still passive gain setting. If you have any understanding about how music is made, theres too much fluctuation between bass signal strength in each recording that affects the performance of your setup waay too much for his DD-1 to have any usefulness. you are better off setting gains by heat monitoring.

Just play your heaviest bass song.

On the head unit, set it to around 75 to 85% of max, sub level maxed out, bass boost and loudness off and any EQ bands associated with bass keep them flat

On the amp, keep the Bass boost off at 0, subsonic filter at 75% of your box tuning

Play the song, raise the gain until it stops getting louder, then back it off a notch.

After that just learn and recognize the bass strength in each song and adjust sub level or volume knob tomatch each song. You'll get used to it. Most important thing is to play for 5 mins at a time and monitor your amp and sub's temperature. If its too hot, back it down. Too cold, you can turn up the gain a bit. Slightly warm after 30 mins of play would be optimal

An example would be, in a metal song, there will barely feel like any bass vs a hip hop song which will have a huge excess of bass. Youll want to turn the sub level down for the hip song and raise the sub level with metal.

You cannot expect to have optimal sub performance with each song by just setting it once and just leaving it there. Thats basically impossible. You will have it at a safe level at best but you will be severely limited on output in every other song you listen to.

Not to mention if you set the gain with a -10 db bass track and play music that has -5 or -1db bass drops in it, you'll blow your gear because that will put you into a heavy clip.

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Fk him and his products they are completely useless because its still passive gain setting. If you have any understanding about how music is made, theres too much fluctuation between bass signal strength in each recording that affects the performance of your setup waay too much for his DD-1 to have any usefulness. you are better off setting gains by heat monitoring.
Just play your heaviest bass song.

On the head unit, set it to around 75 to 85% of max, sub level maxed out, bass boost and loudness off and any EQ bands associated with bass keep them flat

On the amp, keep the Bass boost off at 0, subsonic filter at 75% of your box tuning

Play the song, raise the gain until it stops getting louder, then back it off a notch.

After that just learn and recognize the bass strength in each song and adjust sub level or volume knob tomatch each song. You'll get used to it. Most important thing is to play for 5 mins at a time and monitor your amp and sub's temperature. If its too hot, back it down. Too cold, you can turn up the gain a bit. Slightly warm after 30 mins of play would be optimal

An example would be, in a metal song, there will barely feel like any bass vs a hip hop song which will have a huge excess of bass. Youll want to turn the sub level down for the hip song and raise the sub level with metal.

You cannot expect to have optimal sub performance with each song by just setting it once and just leaving it there. Thats basically impossible. You will have it at a safe level at best but you will be severely limited on output in every other song you listen to.

Not to mention if you set the gain with a -10 db bass track and play music that has -5 or -1db bass drops in it, you'll blow your gear because that will put you into a heavy clip.

This is very good advice and would get you flamed mercilessly on SMD forum by all his fanboys who try to justify their purchase of his over-priced trinkets.

 

[707 10+ year member]

This is very good advice and would get you flamed mercilessly on SMD forum by all his fanboys who try to justify their purchase of his over-priced trinkets.

That is why i would rather wait 2 weeks for a reply on a post here ; than 2 minutes for a bottle of deuche over there.

 

[nismotwin 10+ year member]

Fk him and his products they are completely useless because its still passive gain setting. If you have any understanding about how music is made, theres too much fluctuation between bass signal strength in each recording that affects the performance of your setup waay too much for his DD-1 to have any usefulness. you are better off setting gains by heat monitoring.
Just play your heaviest bass song.

On the head unit, set it to around 75 to 85% of max, sub level maxed out, bass boost and loudness off and any EQ bands associated with bass keep them flat

On the amp, keep the Bass boost off at 0, subsonic filter at 75% of your box tuning

Play the song, raise the gain until it stops getting louder, then back it off a notch.

After that just learn and recognize the bass strength in each song and adjust sub level or volume knob tomatch each song. You'll get used to it. Most important thing is to play for 5 mins at a time and monitor your amp and sub's temperature. If its too hot, back it down. Too cold, you can turn up the gain a bit. Slightly warm after 30 mins of play would be optimal

An example would be, in a metal song, there will barely feel like any bass vs a hip hop song which will have a huge excess of bass. Youll want to turn the sub level down for the hip song and raise the sub level with metal.

You cannot expect to have optimal sub performance with each song by just setting it once and just leaving it there. Thats basically impossible. You will have it at a safe level at best but you will be severely limited on output in every other song you listen to.

Not to mention if you set the gain with a -10 db bass track and play music that has -5 or -1db bass drops in it, you'll blow your gear because that will put you into a heavy clip.

Thats pretty much how i did it back in the day. Definitely more indepth tho. My sub amp doesn't have a subsonic filter, never had one that did. I always tuned to the bassiest song i had. I got on the SMD forum maybe 3 times and immediately saw it to be a whole bunch cronies waiting to kiss the rings. Thanks guys!!

 

[nismotwin 10+ year member]

It's don't say set the boost half way. It says set the gain REMOTE halfway.

On my amp it's not a remote gain control, it's a +24db i think 40hz punch bass control.

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

Just start off easy on it and work your way up with the volume knob as you get used to your system. That's the best way, imo. Get a feel for when your subs are mechanically or thermally stressed. Also watch voltage and monitor your amp temperature

 

[nismotwin 10+ year member]

Just start off easy on it and work your way up with the volume knob as you get used to your system. That's the best way, imo. Get a feel for when your subs are mechanically or thermally stressed. Also watch voltage and monitor your amp temperature

Yep...i can do that. I just fell for the smd gimmick, thinkin i was gonna be all fancy and professional which led me to getting frustrated and second guessing what i know.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

The DD-1 works as advertised. It's still up to you to understand your equipment and how it's used

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

still doesnt change the fact that its a useless overpriced POS.

OP could have used that money for better gear.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

To us yes it's pointless. To some it's a gear saver.

 

[germanyt 10+ year member]

I normally refrain from bad mouthing others. Especially in this hobby as it's not exactly mainstream and needs all the love it can get. But Meade is a world class pile of **** and his products are as bad as Chinese sweat shop knockoffs. I won't even click his forum when im searching for an answer on google search.