Adidasdude1989
New member
Thats what i want, i cant bring myself to turn the power down...I just crave the power of bass
Although i dont constantly have it blaring 24/7. But you think id do better with the link your gave me?
REALLY Hot AMP
- Thread starter Adidasdude1989
- Start date
Although i dont constantly have it blaring 24/7. But you think id do better with the link your gave me?
KeithGTP03
GTP Level Member
You wouldn't recognize your subs with an amp that can actually power them. You could then turn the gain down so you're not clipping the shít out of the amp.
nik12937
New member
When you set your gains, you aren't setting your overall volume, your adjusting the amplifier's sensitivity to the headunit's RCA voltage. Higher voltage preamp's usually correlate to not turning the gain knob up as far. My Massive Audio N3 get's a 4 volt signal from my deck, and I only need to turn the gain up about 1/3 to reach maximum RMS wattage.
Find the max level on your headunit, and back it off a few steps (30 out of 35 for an example) and use that as your max volume. Play a bass test tone or something similar at that volume and turn the gain up until you hear distortion or the subwoofers don't play any louder. Setting gain by ear is still my go to way, DMM's are very unreliable and oscilloscopes cost a lot of money.
And I would never buy a Kicker amp, they make more than rated power for sure, but $200 for 400W RMS?! I paid $300 for my N3 a few months back, and it's CEA certified, so it puts out its power. $100 more for an extra 1000W RMS? Please and thank you.
Find the max level on your headunit, and back it off a few steps (30 out of 35 for an example) and use that as your max volume. Play a bass test tone or something similar at that volume and turn the gain up until you hear distortion or the subwoofers don't play any louder. Setting gain by ear is still my go to way, DMM's are very unreliable and oscilloscopes cost a lot of money.
And I would never buy a Kicker amp, they make more than rated power for sure, but $200 for 400W RMS?! I paid $300 for my N3 a few months back, and it's CEA certified, so it puts out its power. $100 more for an extra 1000W RMS? Please and thank you.
KeithGTP03
GTP Level Member
That kicker amp is also CEA-2006 compliant. He doesnt need 1400W RMS. He'll end up with 2 blown subs.
I800C0LLECT
Audio Moderator
Looks like you're gettin beat by the gain knob. I think you should try to understand it first 
Amplifier Gain Controls
Also...every additional speaker adds ~3 decibel gain to total output. You'd be better to leave that second speaker in there. There really isn't much to gain output wise if you're looking to double power output from your amplifier. Every time you double your power you add ~3 decibels output. Kinda neat how that number keeps popping up...Anyways, if my amp was 300 watts then at 600 I increase TOTAL SPEAKER OUTPUT by ONLY 3 decibels. 1200 = an additional 6 decibels from 300.
Unfortunately, it takes an additional 10 decibels for a person to perceive "twice" the volume.
So you probably need either A) More Efficient Subwoofers or B) Better design and installation to maximize your efficiency.
EDIT: BEWARE!!! Setting the Gain wrong can lead to a "clipped" signal and potentially the need for a new amplifier to replace your paper weight that use to power subs
Amplifier Gain Controls
Also...every additional speaker adds ~3 decibel gain to total output. You'd be better to leave that second speaker in there. There really isn't much to gain output wise if you're looking to double power output from your amplifier. Every time you double your power you add ~3 decibels output. Kinda neat how that number keeps popping up...Anyways, if my amp was 300 watts then at 600 I increase TOTAL SPEAKER OUTPUT by ONLY 3 decibels. 1200 = an additional 6 decibels from 300.
Unfortunately, it takes an additional 10 decibels for a person to perceive "twice" the volume.
So you probably need either A) More Efficient Subwoofers or B) Better design and installation to maximize your efficiency.
EDIT: BEWARE!!! Setting the Gain wrong can lead to a "clipped" signal and potentially the need for a new amplifier to replace your paper weight that use to power subs
PROBLEM!! the gain is NOT a volune knob... Live it learn it love it!! Haha
Sell that krappy amp and buy a mmats... U can run those full tilt on 104* day and they will be warm if that!!! I personally think they are the ultimate daily amp. They just run soooooo dammn cool!
Honestly bro, for a low budget solution, look up the APSM-1500. It's been clamped doing rated power... there's a huge thread about it on another forum which should be easy to find via google. However, I HIGHLY suggest you take the advice given and learn how to set gains. There are a lot of good threads about it on the 'net.
Adidasdude1989
New member
Ok i have been thinking about taken KeitheGTP03's advice on getting a better amp or anyone else's that sounds better for that matter.
Anyways, as for now, what should i do from keeping this damn thing from getting so damn hot? I was messing with the gain a little bit yesterday, turned the volume up and played a song that bumped and it never shut down, just go real hot like hot to the touch but then gave in an felt the power that love
I will read anything people have to throw at me. I am gonna look at gain controls and how to set it. Everyone please post your opinions. I enjoy learning about this stuff because i have no clue...
Anyways, as for now, what should i do from keeping this damn thing from getting so damn hot? I was messing with the gain a little bit yesterday, turned the volume up and played a song that bumped and it never shut down, just go real hot like hot to the touch but then gave in an felt the power that love
I will read anything people have to throw at me. I am gonna look at gain controls and how to set it. Everyone please post your opinions. I enjoy learning about this stuff because i have no clue...
Adidasdude1989
New member
Oh and if i turned down my gain a bit an then turn the bass level up a bit on my deck, what would that do? Feel dumb for asking but i wanna know why im having this problem thats all...