Experiment with clipping

[mustbenu 0]

so i was sayin how the sub was making a knocking sound(bottoming out). so i decided to perform an experiment. i setup a -6db 50hz test tone put my radio at volume 35(70%) and i tuned the gain to put out 31.62 volts, which is 1000 watts.

next i put in the removed the test tone cd and put the song that made the knocking sound in. looking at the volt meter some parts of the song would jump to over 40volts thats like 1600 watts, now i see why the sub was knocking, obviously that is a clipped signal. why is this happening? if i set my amp with a DMM with a test tone why am i getting a huge signal when i play a song. doesnt make sense and also makes the DMM method for setting gains seem pucking pointless.

Edited March 29, 2006 by mustbenu

[jntar 15]

so i was sayin how the sub was making a knocking sound(bottoming out). so i desided to perform and experiment. i setup a -6db 50hz test tone put my radio at volume 35(70%) and i tuned the gain to put out 31.62 volts, which is 1000 watts.

next i put in the removed the test tone cd and put the song that made the knocking sound in. looking at the volt meter some parts of the song would jump to over 40volts thats like 1600 watts, now i see why the sub was knocking, obviously that is a clipped signal. why is this happening? if i set my amp with a DMM with a test tone why am i getting a huge signal when i play a song. doesnt make sense and also makes the DMM method for setting gains seem pucking pointless.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Set it with a 0db tone.

[mustbenu 0]

well i read the tutorial and it says use te -6db because if you use 0db you wont get full use of the amp

[ANeonRider 3]

Guess I missed something on the tutorial here.

Unless you have a method to make sure that the headunit or amplifier is not clipping, use a 0dB tone.

[mustbenu 0]

ok i just used a 0db tone and the voltage jumped even higher than the -6db it hit 50v thats a 2500w clip WTF is going on?

[Beat_Dominator 2]

Something's instantaneous power output is higher than advertised? This is why I like to set my gains by ear and only use a DMM as a 2x check.

[mustbenu 0]

Something's instantaneous power output is higher than advertised?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

what does that mean?

[Beat_Dominator 2]

I should have said Dynamic....... you might have preouts that have dynamic spikes higher than they should be.... or the song you are using might be poorly recorded? I was just taking a guess at the problem.

[mustbenu 0]

im thinking maybe my HU is throwing clipped signals above 50% volume, im gunna try it again tommorow wit the volume alot lower, see what happens.

[Eldorado 0]

I set my gain by eye

[///M5 2,833]

That pic of your eyes you put up earlier would let you set mine with 'em. Mmmmm, eyes.

[Eldorado 0]

Dhass my sekret wepun