Audio buddies- need opinion!! - Page 2

lizardking · 08-12-2005, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoketitan

1) the jl 450/4 are cool--like the front stage power

I always thought utopias are ver efficient and dont need a ton of power?

you may want to look at the new alpine 125x4 4 ch--I heard they are pretty good amps and are cheap

just as another option

2) rear fill run it off the deck thats all it needs anyway (unless your unning 5.1 and you dig surround effect)

3)setting gains, if you have the cash its best to set them with a hand held oscilloscope, connect to the outputs, using some math you get the exact voltage amount you want to each speaker--youll never clip again

ive never had the la around cash to own one--so I do all my level matching by ear

clipping indicators will work also

,

use the multimeter to test voltage, ohm etc etc,

4)crossovers---its best to set them by ear from all that I have read, and have done myself

I have found its really cool to have either a HU with internal crossover, or a outboard digital crossover that you can control from the driver seat--so you can fiddle with the settings and hear the changes each slope/cross makes real time

i tend not to use the amp crossovers--

as a side note some say amp crossovers are better than deck crossovers, but some also say that amps are "cleaner if you defeat most of the onboard processing
so just thought Id add to the discussion

I believe your right about the efficiency rating they are very efficient from what I gathered. I want the power since the RMS is 100 and peak at 200. I figured I need to give them what the deserved.. No need having high end speakers and give them 50 watts..LOL.. I acutally have been thinking about running the rears off the deck then bi amping the speakers (Utopias crossover supports bi-amping). I wish I could make my mind up on that one... I do have Dolby Digital, DTS, DLP and Circle Surround sound and really like that when I'm playing Mettallica S&M and KORN DVD's.

Clipping indicators, a very nice feature on the MB Quarts amps, which I considered the Q line.

Crossovers, My deck has digital crossovers with the most adjustments I've seen on a deck lately. I'm using the amps and the deck for a 24db slope. LOL...I like to be able to adjust at the dash....

Gains, You can get a really decent scope for $150-$200. I never touch my gains once set...I'm not one who believes its a volume control.. I like my gains as low as possible for a lower noise floor.

Sammy Sandbag · 08-12-2005, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizardking

I never touch my gains once set...I'm not one who believes its a volume control.. I like my gains as low as possible for a lower noise floor.

Well that was my reason for the Matrix. Right now I have my gains all the way down, because with the Matrix I could get the signal to them high enough where they seemed to be properly powered. I was just wonder the best method for setting things up with this combination. The Matrix has LED's that show the voltage output, but only in increments of like 3, 5, and 9 volts I believe and it's a bit hard to get anything precise when listening to a music CD with the voltage bouncing up and down.

Where would I find a test tone sine wave that I could possible burn to a CD?

lizardking · 08-12-2005, 06:32 PM

You can get a tone generator, its what I used. I used NCH tone generator.

Sammy Sandbag · 08-12-2005, 07:27 PM

sweet, thanks lizard

Justintoxicated · 08-12-2005, 08:32 PM

a DMM won't detect clipping but when you amp is sending 40 V @ 4 ohms you can damn well sure it is clipping if it is only rated for 17

check www.realmofexcusrion.com for test tones.

Or make them youself.

lizardking · 08-12-2005, 08:50 PM

Some headunits won't even clip at full volume and some will clip before 3/4 volume... You have to be careful using a DMM setting gains if your not familiar with them.. Guys, seriously, if you want to set your gains buy a scope for the same price as a nice Snappy DMM.. There all over Ebay and you can charge friends or others to set gains and make back the money you spent.. If your already spending big cash on your system you may as well spend $150 on a scope to setup right... If your unsure about setting the gains by using the DMM then just set the gains where they should be via the formula posted then back them off a click.

Justintoxicated · 08-12-2005, 08:54 PM

yea mine does not clip untill full volume and even then it's only at like 60htz and acording to some reviews, problem is my amp clips the signal at 2V and the HU is capable of sending 5V+ So I just don't turn it up all the way. THe good thing about the eclipse is the knob turns up kinda slow and is ranged from 0-80 so it would be difficult to accidentaly do this.

lizardking · 08-12-2005, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justintoxicated

yea mine does not clip untill full volume and even then it's only at like 60htz and acording to some reviews, problem is my amp clips the signal at 2V and the HU is capable of sending 5V+ So I just don't turn it up all the way. THe good thing about the eclipse is the knob turns up kinda slow and is ranged from 0-80 so it would be difficult to accidentaly do this.

Hmmm interesting...

lizardking · 08-13-2005, 12:30 PM

Today I installed my JL Audio 450/4 and so far it's louder which it should be.. It's just as clean as my Eclipse amp but then again WE can't tell audible differences in amps... The amp has some really nice features and bi-amping is one of them. With having more power the midbass is stronger.. The look of the amp is pretty pleasing to the eyes and its not all that big.. Decided to mount the amp using spacers to the back of my Subzero ABS122 box...very well hidden... So far everything is fine and it really gets LOUD.. SQ is great but that's the speakers not the amp..