Am I overpowering my co-axials?
06-02-2007, 12:04 AM
#1
50 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 78
Am I overpowering my co-axials?
I have an MTX 895.5 and have wired my 6.5fronts and 6x9 rears in parrallel and now running at 100wx4 at 2ohms on channel 2 and 4.
6.5'S are cliff design eBay: CLIF DESIGNS PX652T 6-1/2" 2-WAY CAR SPEAKERS 6.5" PAIR (item 300116416249 end time Jun-05-07 21:37:34 PDT)
and the rears are 6x9's from JBL http://www.cardomain.com/item/JBLGTO926
Deck is the following(only goes to Volume 30) Rockford Fosgate RFX-9120 - 4x 40watts CD/MP3 - Alpha Car Audio
Both have peaks greater than 100w.
Either I'm not setting gains properly(most likely because I'm a noob and don't have a voltmeter or multimeter or have ever done it before), or I'm overpowering them. I don't seem to be getting the volume I wanted.
What might I be doing wrong? I've searched and tried setting them but it doesn't seem to be doing it. I'm turn the gains down to 0, turn the deck on while the car is parked and not started, turn off the "Punch" feature, set everything flat(bass treble) to 24 of 30 volume and then turn up the gain, but not really giving me much umphh...Do I need to unplug the RCA's to the amp before to reset?
How can I set gain without a meter as best I can. I figured this amp would have really improved the power and sound.
6.5'S are cliff design eBay: CLIF DESIGNS PX652T 6-1/2" 2-WAY CAR SPEAKERS 6.5" PAIR (item 300116416249 end time Jun-05-07 21:37:34 PDT)
and the rears are 6x9's from JBL http://www.cardomain.com/item/JBLGTO926
Deck is the following(only goes to Volume 30) Rockford Fosgate RFX-9120 - 4x 40watts CD/MP3 - Alpha Car Audio
Both have peaks greater than 100w.
Either I'm not setting gains properly(most likely because I'm a noob and don't have a voltmeter or multimeter or have ever done it before), or I'm overpowering them. I don't seem to be getting the volume I wanted.
What might I be doing wrong? I've searched and tried setting them but it doesn't seem to be doing it. I'm turn the gains down to 0, turn the deck on while the car is parked and not started, turn off the "Punch" feature, set everything flat(bass treble) to 24 of 30 volume and then turn up the gain, but not really giving me much umphh...Do I need to unplug the RCA's to the amp before to reset?
How can I set gain without a meter as best I can. I figured this amp would have really improved the power and sound.
06-02-2007, 12:12 PM
#2
50 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 78
I'm not. I set the gains improperly. Just went back and did a few thousand searches and found 2 or 3 that helped.
But...my amp seems to be running really really hot to the touch. Is that normal, or is that because it's black, and in the trunk of a black car.
If it gets to hot, will it shutoff on it's own or blow a fuse?
But...my amp seems to be running really really hot to the touch. Is that normal, or is that because it's black, and in the trunk of a black car.
If it gets to hot, will it shutoff on it's own or blow a fuse?
06-02-2007, 12:46 PM
#3
Originally Posted by THAD
I'm not. I set the gains improperly. Just went back and did a few thousand searches and found 2 or 3 that helped.
But...my amp seems to be running really really hot to the touch. Is that normal, or is that because it's black, and in the trunk of a black car.
If it gets to hot, will it shutoff on it's own or blow a fuse?
But...my amp seems to be running really really hot to the touch. Is that normal, or is that because it's black, and in the trunk of a black car.
If it gets to hot, will it shutoff on it's own or blow a fuse?
06-02-2007, 03:49 PM
#4
50 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 78
It's mounted on 3/4" plywood that I cutout to fit into my quarter panel.
When you open the trunk, you look to the right quarterpanel that I built a flat panel of wood to cover(it's vertical), going from the back of back of the trunk and to the hood hinge, it's 20" x 32"), and screwed it onto the panel so you could see MTX staring right at you.
Should I have cut a smaller sqare hole into the panel and mounted the amp onto the hole so air could get to underneath(bottom) of the amp?
When you open the trunk, you look to the right quarterpanel that I built a flat panel of wood to cover(it's vertical), going from the back of back of the trunk and to the hood hinge, it's 20" x 32"), and screwed it onto the panel so you could see MTX staring right at you.
Should I have cut a smaller sqare hole into the panel and mounted the amp onto the hole so air could get to underneath(bottom) of the amp?
06-02-2007, 04:47 PM
#5
so you have both the front and rear left bridged to two channels at 2 ohms and the front and rear right bridged to two channels at 2 ohms and then the subwoofer on the 5th channel, at 2 ohms. is that right?
if thats the case, you are really loading that amp down and that would be the cause of all the heat. if it does get too hot, it should just shut down and go into protect mode.
any particular reason you aren't running it in 4 channel mode?
if thats the case, you are really loading that amp down and that would be the cause of all the heat. if it does get too hot, it should just shut down and go into protect mode.
any particular reason you aren't running it in 4 channel mode?
06-03-2007, 12:00 AM
#7
50 Watt CAFz'r
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 78
Originally Posted by hott-nix
so you have both the front and rear left bridged to two channels at 2 ohms and the front and rear right bridged to two channels at 2 ohms and then the subwoofer on the 5th channel, at 2 ohms. is that right?
if thats the case, you are really loading that amp down and that would be the cause of all the heat. if it does get too hot, it should just shut down and go into protect mode.
any particular reason you aren't running it in 4 channel mode?
if thats the case, you are really loading that amp down and that would be the cause of all the heat. if it does get too hot, it should just shut down and go into protect mode.
any particular reason you aren't running it in 4 channel mode?
Why am I running at 2ohm, because the amp say's I can....I guess. The amp spec's say it will.MTX Car Audio - Thunder895 Amplifier
With more power I figure more wattage the better? Should I just run the sub at 2ohm and the speakers at 4 ohm.
Even running at 100wt/channel at the speakers go loud, but not as loud as I would have expected. Maybe it's my crappy speakers.
If I go down to running 4 speakers to 4 channels, then will my volume go down? I was hoping that I'd get a more quality and volume. It's not bad, but hoping maybe for more out of my speakers...Maybe that's it with my particular coaxials.
06-03-2007, 12:55 AM
#8
running 3 channel with all at 2 ohms, instead of 5 channel 4/2ohms is def the reason for all the heat. i know your amp can do it, but that is likely the cause of it.
as for the speakers, clif designs isn't exactly alpine or mtx, they likely cant handle nearly the power that they claim. based on my personal experience with clif designs products, i wouldn't be surprised. nothing wrong with those jbl's though. you may just be overdriving everything. it may not be as loud if you go back to 4 channel, but i bet overall sound quality would improve alot.
as for the speakers, clif designs isn't exactly alpine or mtx, they likely cant handle nearly the power that they claim. based on my personal experience with clif designs products, i wouldn't be surprised. nothing wrong with those jbl's though. you may just be overdriving everything. it may not be as loud if you go back to 4 channel, but i bet overall sound quality would improve alot.
Originally Posted by THAD
You are right on the nose.
Why am I running at 2ohm, because the amp say's I can....I guess. The amp spec's say it will.MTX Car Audio - Thunder895 Amplifier
With more power I figure more wattage the better? Should I just run the sub at 2ohm and the speakers at 4 ohm.
Even running at 100wt/channel at the speakers go loud, but not as loud as I would have expected. Maybe it's my crappy speakers.
If I go down to running 4 speakers to 4 channels, then will my volume go down? I was hoping that I'd get a more quality and volume. It's not bad, but hoping maybe for more out of my speakers...Maybe that's it with my particular coaxials.
Why am I running at 2ohm, because the amp say's I can....I guess. The amp spec's say it will.MTX Car Audio - Thunder895 Amplifier
With more power I figure more wattage the better? Should I just run the sub at 2ohm and the speakers at 4 ohm.
Even running at 100wt/channel at the speakers go loud, but not as loud as I would have expected. Maybe it's my crappy speakers.
If I go down to running 4 speakers to 4 channels, then will my volume go down? I was hoping that I'd get a more quality and volume. It's not bad, but hoping maybe for more out of my speakers...Maybe that's it with my particular coaxials.
Last edited by hott-nix; 06-03-2007 at 01:01 AM.
06-03-2007, 08:44 AM
#10
50 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 78
So I'd be better off with replacing the Clif Designs at some point, but definitely rewiring to 5 channels. I'll definitely do that.
One of the members is selling ARC Audio coaxes and ARC Audio components http://www.canadiancaraudio.com/onli...kers-subs.html , would either be a better investment than the Clif Design's? The ARC Audio Co-Axes are rated at less wattage than Clif Designs. Perhaps I should stick to a name brand or post in the WTB section. I'm not looking to spend much.
What about something like this?eBay: New Zapco 6.5" i-602 80 W Coaxial Speaker Silk Dome (item 120126623587 end time Jun-05-07 15:02:24 PDT), or even something like these 3OHM speakers... http://www.cardomain.com/item/ORI37107
One of the members is selling ARC Audio coaxes and ARC Audio components http://www.canadiancaraudio.com/onli...kers-subs.html , would either be a better investment than the Clif Design's? The ARC Audio Co-Axes are rated at less wattage than Clif Designs. Perhaps I should stick to a name brand or post in the WTB section. I'm not looking to spend much.
What about something like this?eBay: New Zapco 6.5" i-602 80 W Coaxial Speaker Silk Dome (item 120126623587 end time Jun-05-07 15:02:24 PDT), or even something like these 3OHM speakers... http://www.cardomain.com/item/ORI37107
Last edited by THAD; 06-03-2007 at 10:05 AM.
