Wow, decide to have an evening with the Mrs & I miss a little debate I could have entered....
A few facts that hopefully will dispel tripe already posted....
Ignore the power figures of the amplifier. It will most likely have been measured at 14.4 volts so is kind of irrelevant tbh. Dont worry about the wattage of the subwoofer either because it really is a pointless figure!!
You read the box didn't you!!!
Most amplifier output claims are based on 14.4v, this is the normal charging voltage from an alternator....
The amp in question is CEA rated, so will do what it says on the box....
no that is true but you don't want to be putting best part of 400wRMS up a 150wRMS sub
Good advice....Over powering a sub to that extent could cause over excursion as well as exceeding the coils thermal limits....
why?? it wont do it any harm. Ive had a JL audio 750/1 HD amp running a JLW3 rated at 250 watts and absolutely no problem at all
wattage is a very dangerous subject!!
In your initial post you recommend ignoring wattage!!!!!
The gain has nothing to do with the power the amp puts out. Its a level. It doesnt change the power of the amp aslong as it working within its operational range of impedances and supply voltages
The 1000/1 is a great amp. Produces a real 1000 watts of power all the time. (at that all important 12 VOLTS!!)
Unlike most amps out here. It wont do 1200 watts but 1000 real watts is more than adequate
Interesting theory mate....Just like saying the volume control on the Head Unit doesn't affect how loud it is.....Oh, hang on....The volume control does affect how loud it is....
The gain control attenuates the signals input voltage to match the amp, which in turn permits the amps voltage rails to achieve full voltage at full volume....If it is set too low, full output will not be achieved, if it is set too high, full output will be achieved too soon causing 'clipping' & excessive heat build up....
Why are you so obsessed with 12v???
It is a bit much for that sub but having lots of power is far better than having too little. Just have to listen to it with ur head screwed on.
Less likely to damage anything with plenty of power
NEWS FLASH The only way to burn out a coil is with too much power....
Whether the excess power is delivered by a correctly set up high output amp or an incorrectly set up low output amp, the issue is the same, too much power creating excess heat....
A coil receiving a clipped input will be acting in a similar fashion to a heater element at the point of clip...Getting hotter & hotter till it deforms & comes into contact within the motor gap.....
I would put money on it blew up because of lack of power and the amp not bein of particularly good quality!
Could of made a few quid here....It blew because it was receiving too much power from a poorly set up amplifier which exceeded its thermal handling limits....
If it blew due to lack of power, then why don't they blow when being played at low volume?????
you can't have too little power though
it's an underpowered amp thats clipping it's tits off that kills most
Holy crap, I concur with Mr Dink....Must be coming down with something....Probably a touch of DC.....:rasp:
What's clipping and how can you detect it?
Amplifiers have 'gain' controls so the input signal voltage can be adjusted to permit the amp to achieve full output power, if the gain is set too low, then the amp won't achieve full output, if the gain is set too high, then the amp will reach full output too soon & signal 'clipping' will occur....
The RMS voltage of a 'clipped' signal is much higher than that of an 'unclipped' signal, so heat generated from a 'clipped' signal is much greater than that of an 'unclipped' signal.....Essentially, 'clipping' = BAD NEWS....
A 'clipped' signal can be heard as distortion, basically as the speaker cone reaches full excursion, (max power), it simply stops and sits at full power for the extended time spent at full voltage, (extended duration at the peak of the wave form), whilst the cone is stationary heat build up in the coils is greatly increased, (in basic terms, the coil acts in a similar fashion to a heater element)....
This would be easier to explain using a sketch.....You should at first realise that a speaker receives voltage through both the negative & positive terminals, positive voltage pushes the cone outward, negative voltage pulls the cone inward....an amplifier has two voltage rails, ones positive, ones negative....once the max output voltage of these rails is achieved, then clipping will occur, (no increase in volume can be had once an amp is clipping although RMS voltage will increase).....
KEY;
Trace
A & B = Amplifier running at full volume, (
GAIN SET CORRECTLY)
Trace
C & D = Amplifier running 'clipped', (
GAIN SET TOO HIGH)...
Trace
E & F = Amplifier running below full output, (
GAIN SET TOO LOW)...
If you check the peaks of TRACES C & D you will see the time or duration spent at full voltage is much greater, (the wave form is squared off or 'clipped'), this is where the heat generated is at its greatest.....
It happens when an amplifier is driven beyond its capabilty, put simply.
Thats why u should ignore most amplifier output claims that maufacturers give you because its likely to be bo**ox!!
Not sure I even understand that statement????!!!!!
lol so you can't hear it then.
I'm guessing you wouldn't get this unless you put all the settings to max on an amp?
Clipping can actually be heard quite well if you use a 1KHz tone recorded at 0dB....Whilst playing this tone increase the volume level on your Head Unit and at the point of 'clip' the pitch will alter....If you then repeat this step whilst increasing an amplifiers gain control it will again alter in pitch as the amp 'clips', then simply back off the gain slightly for safe use....
When running this test with a sub you should use a 50Hz tone recorded at 0dB, although it is much more difficult to actually pick out the point of 'clip'....
Much better to set using a scope....