Tested stock voltage with dmm is this right?

[ccapital83 10+ year member]

so I wanted to know what the voltage being sent to my stock sub was. I taped into it for my mono amp for my aftermarket sub. So today I wanted to check and see what the voltage was I tapped into. So Im a little confused. On my setup the way it works is bare wire to rca into the amp rca inputs. Then on the amp is a switch for hi low level. so on my car I tapped into the stock sub and it goes from bare wire to the rca inputs on the aftermarket amp. (hope that makes sense. So I didn't know If I was suppose to check the voltage from the stock wiring by the stock sub or after at the rca ends. So I took out the rcas and tested them with ddm and got 0.03 volts then I put them back into the amp and got 6.65 volts. So which is accurate do I go by the 0.03 before connected to amp or the 6.65 after the amplifier? if its before then I need a lci2 badly don't I because 0.03 seems extremely low.

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[los33]

The voltage you get from the rca's unplugged should be your rca voltage.

Is it a stock headunit or a aftermarket?

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[ccapital83 10+ year member]

Stock How can it be that low 0.03? I triple checked it and the dmm its deffinantly not the dmm thats how does the amp even turn on with voltage that low?

 

[los33]

Stock How can it be that low 0.03? I triple checked it and the dmm its deffinantly not the dmm thats how does the amp even turn on with voltage that low?

You are reading rca voltage which is the audio output of the headunit.

You are not reading the constant power wire.

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[ccapital83 10+ year member]

im getting 0.03 from the stock wiring going into the stock sub and 0.03 before it connects to the aftermarket amp hi level isnt that to low should I get the lc2I. I think I confused you explaining how the hi level connection works.

 

[los33]

im getting 0.03 from the stock wiring going into the stock sub and 0.03 before it connects to the aftermarket amp hi level isnt that to low should I get the lc2I. I think I confused you explaining how the hi level connection works.

Hi level connection is just another input source for the amp to get a signal for music.

You have to remember NO STOCK headunit will produce a high voltage.

Its normal to see below 1v which is why output is so low and people usually bypass the stock headunit it a lc2i or even cleansweep.

Locs produce a stronger preamp for amplifiers.

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[ccapital83 10+ year member]

so the LC2I could help raise my voltage and give me better sound?

 

[los33]

so the LC2I could help raise my voltage and give me better sound?

I cant say if itll give better sound, but it will improve your voltage preamp so an aftermarket amp can fully be used to its potential.

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[macsdad 10+ year member]

Very good advice here.

 

[ccapital83 10+ year member]

I cant say if itll give better sound, but it will improve your voltage preamp so an aftermarket amp can fully be used to its potential.
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Don't those go hand in hand> better stronger voltage equals better sound? wouldn't that make it sound better? Im trying to figure out if its worth the money and time to ditch my hi level connection and use this with rcas low level im trying to get cleaner bass. ALso I forgot to mention I canot turn my aftermarket level knob past 1/4 very very low never understood why. Ive seen posts in here about cars with premium audio the dsp will cut off bass at higher volumes I myself don't hear that happening but I know if it is its been advised to get a external loc. To my ears it gets boomy sloppy at higher volumes. So im not sure my car even has that it is a 2014 civic ex with touchscreen and stock sub.(mid woofer)

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Are you even attempting to measure AC voltage? Are you measuring a test tone? Pics of what you're trying to do would be helpful.

 

[ccapital83 10+ year member]

Are you even attempting to measure AC voltage? Are you measuring a test tone? Pics of what you're trying to do would be helpful.

what are the downsides to switching from this hi level to a lc2I what could end up potentially bad?

Here a couple pics only thing I cant get is the voltage coming from the stock sub because I need another person to hold camera for me will I do it Ill try to get that up tonight.