What to do to prevent amp from clipping?

[slammedchevy01]

Supposedly this is why I blew my 10W3 with my 500 Watt PG amp.Any help?

[TribalVision]

Check what preout voltage the head unit is, and set the gain to that voltage. The gain knob should have numbers on it somewhere between 5v-200mv. Most amps nowadays will be almost at minimum setting due to the higher head unit voltages.

Check this page out for a quick teaching on gain settings and what they do..
http://www.eatel.net/~amptech/elecdisc/gaincon2.htm

good luck

Steve

[slammedchevy01]

My pre-out on my Pioneer Premier 740MP is 4V.....so what should the setting be?4V or 5V? or what? I will look at the amp after I wash it right now!Thanks for the help wreck. Im switchin to Alpine Type R's ause the JL's wouldnt hit 3-6 Mafia Late Night Tip deep

[2k1Slvrdo]

Pre-voltage is the makes u have better sq, it delievers a cleaner sound. That's why eclipse head units are supposed to be so great. I don't think pre-volt has anything to do with clipping. Clipping is when the amp tries to push the subs harder than it can. It basically sound like a OEM stereo turned up way too high. It destroys subs when the speaker tries to move as far as the amp wants it too, but it can't. So basically, all the extra energy turns into heat, causing u to destroy the sub.

[TribalVision]

Clipping occurs when you have the gains set too high on the amp. This in turn "clips" the top of the sound wave off. If you set the gain to match your preout voltage, you will not get clipping..

steve

[Nick]

[TR02Yukon]

Head units clip just as easily as amps. Your head unit should never go past 1/2 to 3/4 volume. If you do you are likely feeding the amp a distorted signal.

BTW- Pre out voltage has nothing to do with sound quality in a good install.

There is no tried and true 100% way to prevent distortion at loud levels as some songs have stronger bass compared to others. So one album won't cloip your su/amp at 3/4 volume but anohter album may at only 1/2 volume.

Next time listen for distortion when listening. I can't imagine your sub sounded good before it blew. When the bass loses its tightness or crispness its distorting, back off the bass volume or the entire system volume.

[slammedchevy01]

Actually it was bumpin and I never even knew when it blew! I think the head unit only goes up to 60 but you have a good point and excellent help since my H/U volume was at 40. you couldnt tell it was distorting inside but if ya stood outside in front you would hear it, So should I have a shop fine tune my amp? How much does that usualy run? Also Loudness off, low, mid, or high? Is it better to have the H/U up on the deck so the gains and bass boost arent up as much on the amp?Thanks

[BC Rod and Custom]

If you have your gains properly set then you should be able to use all of your headunits volume. I've got a panasonic deck and I can turn mine all the way up without it distorting. THe best way to set you gain is to turn it all the way down and then turn your hu volume up until the speaker distorts. Then back the volume down 2 or 3 notches and turn the gain up until it distorts again.

[slammedchevy01]

Thank you very much!