QuestionQUESTION: my question is one you've probably already answered, but i wanna know why the amp cuts off when I've only listened to half a song. it won't even finish the song before it cuts off. I've got the whole thing rewired but it's still doing the same thing. the guy who rewired told me it was the radio. that it doesn't have enough power to push the speakers, but i don't think thats the problem. any advise?
ANSWER: With no specifics on the hardware or how the signal path is setup (high or low level ect)...I will be pretty generic.
Subs or Satellites:
If the speakers are wired to the amp correctly and within specified impedance's, I would say that the amp level is set too high, some type of 'bass boost' is enabled (never use those) or a crossover is set incorrectly.
With Crossovers and Levels set correctly, you should be able to get long lasting, decent sound at 100% volume from the deck (at least very close to 100%) or you need a new installer.
To play the Devils' Advocate, YOU might be turning the bass up at the deck and then cranking the volume which could cause this problem even if everything was setup well. If so, you have a lot to learn about operating and what to expect from audio systems.
jm
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QUESTION: WELL I HAVE A KENWOOD EXCELON RADIO WITH TWO 12 KENWOOD SUBS 1200 EACH AND AN 1800 WATT AMP ON THEM. AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT HOOKING UP A SYSTEM RIGHT, SO IF YOU COULD TELL ME WHAT YOU MEAN BY HOW THE SIGNAL PATH IS HOOKED UP. AND I REALLY DON'T HAVE THE BASS UP TOO HIGH ON THE RADIO I USUALLY KEEP IT AT 7 OR 9 WHEN I CAN PUT IT AT 15 HIGH ON THE SUBS AND CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE CROSSOVER IS TOO
ANSWER: If the ground conection is secure, everything you have told me makes it sound like the amp level is set too high.
Turn all of the bass boost off and center the deck controls for bass and treble.
Tern the amp level all the way down.
Put in a decent CD. I use Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd for this.
Crank the deck to 90-100%, go to the amp and start bringing the level up until you hear it distort then back it off a tad (say, one hour of clock position).
A crossovers main goal is to send the correct frequencies to the amps and speakers best suited to reproduce them.
Low-pass crossovers only allow freqs below the setting to 'pass' on to the amps/speakers. This reduces the load on the amp and the speakers greatly since they may only be reproducing 20-150 Hz instead of full bandwidth. This reduction in loading allows you to have more clarity and punch at all freqs.
Basics:
If you set the crossover to a higher freq (200Hz), you will need to reduce the amp level. If you set the crossover lower (70Hz) you can usually set the amp level somewhat higher. The reason is the difference in the amount of music that is being allowed through the crossover.
70 hz can sound really nice but you will often have a huge gap in the music since most midranges do not go below 200 Hz very well. So for clarity and smoothness in a system, a subwoofer low pass setting of 150 Hz is usually better for filling in such a 'gap'. For accurate tuning, a great deal of this really depends on the vehicle and its' particular accoustic properties.
People that want to have the 70 Hz punch AND the middbass up to 200 Hz usually invest in a dedicated mid-bass amp and speaker array. These are generally 4 way designs. It is not uncommon for these systems to do 125+ SPL without the subs on! Mid-bass rocks.
At any rate, once the system is tuned, the sub enclosure will have more to do with how the woofers sound than anything.
Remember the idea is to pull the amp level back a tad from what you think is distortion. You want to be able to use full volume. Remember to reduce the EQ (bass/treble) at the deck as you get tow2ards 100% volume when showing it off. Once the deck is 'flat' you will have a reference point where it should sound good wide open. Save all you EQ'ing for lower normal levels.
If you are using more than one amp, tune the louder ones to the weakest ones' RMS output for accuracy and longevity.
JM
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QUESTION: WELL ACTUALLY THE BASS BOOST WAS ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THE CROSSOVER FREQUENCY WAS SET AT 70. ALSO THE AMP HAS AN INPUT SENSITIVITY SET AT 2 1/2. ALSO EVERYTHING WAS REWIRED EXCEPT FOR THE RCA WIRES, WOULD THAT BE A PROBLEM? AND COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT TYPE OF AMP WOULD BE GOOD TO PUT ON TWO 6X9 KICKERS AND TWO 3" KICKERS
AnswerYou told me the bass boost was up.. but it is not. So that can be skipped.
Go through the rest of what I told you to do.
If it is shutting down, the level is too high (unless the speakers are wired at 1 ohm which you should now understand is a killer for that amp). We have went over this part a couple of times now and the more you reask, the more I think you may have them wired at 1 Ohm.
Now that you know how to tell.. how ARE they wired?
If you can use the link to crutchfield speaker wiring, then tell me some SPECIFICS about the impedance load on the amp, I can give you a concise answer instead of these generalities.
Just because it is at 70 Hz means nothing if it is shutting down.
The sony amp is not good at all for high sustained volumes.
If you want a good amp for the entire system, go to ebay and search for a remanufactured, 'zx700 kicker' amp.
These are 5 channel, one power wire, crossovers built in and one of these will run the entire system for under 225.00.
I found one for 179 plus shipping.
