Will setting my gains improperly even at low HU volume (20 out of 50) draw unnecessary power n cause clipping?

Question

99 honda civic. stock alt. 75amp alt. getting yellow top optima tomorrow and planning to do big 3 upgrade. roughly 1200w rms or so, serious voltage problems @ HU volume 20 (with accessories) HU and sub amp cuts out. gains for both amps set at max from the installers (Nebraska Furniture Mart for the 4 channel, Inphase Audio for the sub/amp). After studying a little more im seeing that clipping can dmg ur amp/sub/speakers etc and maybe draw unnecessary power?

also if i set my gains properly will this rms work with my system without upgrading to 150a alt? just optima and big 3?

SUB - Kicker 11S12L72 2OHM L7 750w
MONO AMP - Kicker 11ZX7501 750.1 (underrated, guarantee in box said 934.1)
4 Infinity speakers - 100w in front, 150w rears
4 Channel Amp - MTX x704 1260w max 4 Channel
4guage Stinger OFC Wire, purchasing KnuKonceptz 0g OFC wire for the Big 3

Answer 1

like gusism said, never go back to those installers. the only way an amp's gain should at max is if the h.u. is giving the amp less than a 1 volt signal which i doubt is happening. the reason your amp is cutting out is because the gain is way to high. i think they set it up that high to make you think your amp is more powerful than what it is. you will need to get a bigger alternator for that power because your stock electrical will you use up alot of the smaller alternator's power.

Answer 2

The gains should not be at MAX. You need to reset them.



Your gain controls are designed to match the voltage of the RCA outputs on your head unit with the amp's RCA inputs voltage. They should generally be no higher than 3/4 of the way.



Start your amp gains at zero , turn off all sound processing on your head unit (bass boost off, EQ at flat) and play some music. Set your head unit's volume knob to 80% of its max (in your case 40). Start raising the gains to the point of distortion, then back off the gain until the distortion is gone. You want to try different music tracks from different genres of music. That's it. Gains are set.



When your volume is lowered, your amps are producing less power so less chance of clipping, but if the gains on the amp are maxed, your head unit volume at 20 may still be enough volume to cause your amp to produce a clipped signal. If you are really concerned, you can look at getting a pocket Oscilloscope. That will give you a more precise way of setting your gains so that no clipping is occurring.





100A of alternator power for every 1000W of RMS output is a guideline to follow. You are better off doing the 150A upgrade and the big three with your setup. At this rate, your 75A will die prematurely anyway.



Never go back to those "installers."

Answer 3

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