Rep Power: 334

Okay so i blew up my amp becuase i set the gain on full and used the bass remote to "limit the gain". http://www.7thgencivic.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=215257
Kicker KX800.4

So i assuming this isnt the right way to do it.

Before what i did was:
1. Turn the gain on the amp all the way up to 11 (max).
2. Turn the dial on the bass remote up to desired bass listening level. (any level that is not distorted or clipping).

So how do i do the gain while keeping use of the remote? THis is what i think i need to do.

1. Turn the bass remote all the way up to 11 (max).
2. Turn the gain on the amp up slowly (goes from 0 to 11) till the subwoofer starts to clip than back off 1 notch?
3. Avoid using Bass boosts of any kind; amp or headunit.

I just want someone to verify or correct my procedure here. i Dont wanna have to blow it up again!

 
Rep Power: 786

get a 50hz test tone recorded with 0db of attenuation, turn your volume to a normal listening level, play the tone, get a multimeter set to 200v AC and a female RCA attachment to plug the probes into the meter, take note of the voltage that your deck is putting out (say 2.5v for example) and then go to your amp and set the gain to about 2.5v. If you do that you should be able to use your remote bass **** at practically any level and have no problems. Your gain is not a volume control, turning it up will not make your system louder. Learn that.

 
Rep Power: 346

I disagree on a few points:
1. a little clipping will not typically cause you to blow subs that are being powered within their recommended RMS range. I would even go as far to say that a lil bit of clipping is to be expected with the volume turned up. If you match your input voltage exactly with your HU output voltage, you may bedissapointed when you compare your system to other people's system's...because their's will prolly smoke yours, and if they don't over do it, you probably would not even know that they are clipping their signal.

2. Your gain will make your volume louder...that is the whole point of the amp! However, once you get above the voltage that the amp can handle then you will start to get some distortion. At that point you should pick an appropriate spot for the gain so that you can minimize clipping.

For me, setting my sub amp gain is a royal pain because it is hard to get to maximum level without my head throbbing. I had it pretty simple the last time I did it, because my amp has a clipping light. I played a song with a lot of bass around 50hrtz, and I turned the bass **** all the way up. I adjusted it so that the amp would start to clip when the bass **** was all the way up...that way, my amp never really clips unless I turn the bass all the way up...which it is usually to loud to do anyway without going deaf.

 
Rep Power: 334

well i dont have a multimeter but this is what i did.

1. i set the amp gain to 0.
2. i set the bass remote to 11 (max).
3. i turn my up deck (pioneer deh 6400) to loud listening volume of 45 (60 max).
4. i slowly turn up my amps gain.
5. i didnt hear any clipping at 1/2 gain, but im scared to put it anyhigher for fear of my amp crapping out again.

results: my subwoofer isnt as loud as i remember it. maybe becuase my box and sub just suck?

im running a JL 10W3v2 D6 wired to 3 ohms. in a ported box.
my amp can put out:

200 watts RMS x 4 at 2 OHMS
400 watts RMS x 2 at 4 OHMS

Since im using the bridge, i should be getting 400 watt at 4 ohms.
So since my amp can run at both 2 or 4 ohms, 3 should be okay right? how much power is my amp getting, is it more or less than 400 watts RMS?

 
Rep Power: 346

sounds like you did you setting right...but it probably gets too loud to really get it perfect by ear.

...but if you are in bridge mode your amp may not be stable below 4 ohms. Most amps that are bridged are not stable below four ohms.

 
Rep Power: 334

Is it safe to run my amp like this? it seems to be working fine,it always has for a very long time as long as i kept the gain low.

I PLAN on getting a JL 10W7 and it seems as if it only comes in a single 3 ohm coil? I dunno if it would work out for me then

And my backup was a JL 10w6 but they only come in dual 4 ohm.

I need a 10 inch sub that comes in Dual 2 ohm so i can wire it to 4 ohm. Can you guys recommend me a good sub? i need one for a sealed enclosure!!!

 
Rep Power: 334

also about the gain. do i use this method here? http://forum.sounddomain.com/ubb/ult...c;f=2;t=030419

AMP 400 x 4ohms = 1600 squareroot(1600) = 40 volts?

OR do i take the lowest RMS in the system?

SUB 300 x 3ohms = 900 squareroot(900) = 30 volts?

and heres my volt meter i found in my basement. do i just stick the negative and positive to the screw in terminals on the amp where the speaker wire (NOT RCA WIRES) connects to the subwfooer?


I need lots of help. lol thanks!

 
Rep Power: 346

I honestly think it is not your gain, but instead it is because you are running your amp at 3 ohms in bridge mode...most multichannel amps don't do this. keep it 4 ohms and above homie.

 
Rep Power: 334

hmm probably so

Can you recommend a sub for a sealed enclosure, prefferably 10 inches that can be wired into 4 ohms?

i want a sub that is probably 400 or 500 RMS. Price doesnt matter too much, i know how to save money. lol

 
Rep Power: 334

Quote:

You cannot run the amp bridged into a 3 ohm load. You would have to put 1 sub on a separate channel. With this setup you will be getting about 150 watts to each sub. With the amp bridged you have to have at least a 4 ohm load on each bridge setup.

Thats what the kicker REP replied to my email with.

Now a new question arises. is it okay to run at 300watt RMS sub at 150 watts rms?

 
Rep Power: 334

I finally got rid of that JL sub (3 ohms).

I got a brand new Solo Baric 10 L5 Dual 2 OHM (wired to 4 ohms) paird with my old Kicker KX800.4:
400 Watts RMS @ 2 OHMS

Okay so now im not worried about my amp crapping about becuase im using a 3 OHM sub while its only 4 OHM stable.

Now my issue with the gain and remote bass comes up again.

I used the Sounddomain method to set my gain on my amp:
1. Turn volume up to 75% max (LOUD) (about 45 on my headunit)
2. Play THe 50hz test tone.
3. Get the voltage im looking for using this forumula. Squareroot(RMS power * OHMS)
3a. WIth that formula i get SqaureRoot(400 * 4) = SquareRoot(1600) = 40 Volts
4. I slowly turn the gain up till it reads 40 volts from the speaker outputs on my amp.
5. I find that at 45 headunit volume i have to turn up the gain to about 65 %, just a little more than halfway to get the speaker out to show 40 volts.

The sub sounds GREAT when i listen to it at 45 volume, However I don't like to have to listen to my music so LOUD ALL the time just to enjoy the full BASS.

So this is what i am ASSUMING.
If i turn the gain up to say 75-80%, than i can enjoy the same amount of BASS at lower volumes, such as a more reasonable 30.

Is this the way to acheive what i want? FULL BASS at lower listening levels?

Now as far as the BASS REMOTE, i assume this is a feature that allows me to do things on the fly. To my knowledge the BASS REMOTE controls the amount of gain the SUBWOOFER sees in REFERENCE to the ACTUAL gain settting on the AMP ITSELF. So if i set the REMOTE at 100% and the Gain on the AMP to 50%, than the sub will see the full 50% and no more. Am i correct so far?

Thus, I conclude that for me to be able to listen to my music at 45 (loud) and 30 (medium) while both having the same amount of BASS and not having 45 kill my SUBWOOFER, i need to use the BASS REMOTE.

So this is what i imagine i would have to do.
1. Set the gain on the AMP to FULL
2. Use the REMOTE BASS control to control the amount of gain the SUBWOOFER sees.

So when i want to listen to my music at 30 (medium volume) and still want full bass I would just turn up the Dial to 75-80%. And on other days when i want to listen to my music at 40 or 45 ( LOUD volume) I would just turn down the BASS REMOTE appropriately to say about 50-65%.

Is this Right? Ive heard so MANY MANY MANY TABOOS about turning the gain on the amp to full becuase EVERYONE says my amp will clip.

WHATS THE REAL DEAL HERE?
THANKS!

 
Rep Power: 334

Im not sure if ppl are understanding what i am trying to do.

What i want is to be able to have the FULL sound of the BASS at lower and higher listening volumes of the headunit. I want to do this without destroying my subwoofer.

After alot of run around answers, Even from Kicker Support. This is just what i assume.

I assume that I should:
1. Leave the REMOTE BASS TO FULL
2. Re-adjust the gain on the amp using 30 (medium listening volume) Headunit Volume.
3. Adjust till i get the same 40 volts from the amps Speaker Outs.

So now, I should have full bass at 30 volume. SHOULD I EVER WANT TO listen to my music louder at say 40 or 45, I would just TURN THE Dial on the BASS REMOTE DOWN, Thus limiting the "gain" seen by the woofer.

Correct?