Hi guys, finally got all four corners installed in the Prelude. Set-up is Eclipse 3-ways SC8365 in the doors and JL VR690 6*9's. I have an Alpine CDA-9857 connected to a Phoenix Gold TDL66 line driver which ten feeds the amp.

My question is mainly about the optimal cross-over settings on the amp...I am a little confused as to which would work best. Before I play around, I thought I'd seek some opinion on the following ~ Filter type, filter mode & frequency..

I listen to metal & punk rock,

Many thanks!

 

the Eclipse set if I'm not mistaken has passive crossovers???
if you're using them, then turn all filtering off from the amp (redundant and messes things up).
as for the 6x9's, I'd set the high pass filter at 80hz/24db.

make sure you put channels 1&2 to the components and 3&4 to the 6x9's

 

Thanks man! Yes all the wiring is good but the settings & options on this amp are starting to confuse me.

Here are the specs on the speakers:
http://www.eclipse-web.com/component/sc8365.html

I now have the filter mode/slope set to off for ch 1&2. With this setting, does the setting on the rotary dial or the filter type (HP/LP/BP) matter?

My big concern question is the input sensitivity since I am running an line driver to the amp. If I am not mistaken, the switch should be set to high. Should the gain be dialed down in this instance? What has me confused is the blurb from the JL manual ~ The output of the amp will decrease for a given input voltage when the input range is set to high. Conversely the output will be higher with the switch set to low??

http://mobile.jlaudio.com/pdfs/13258.pdf

Thanks!

 

with the amps crossover set to "off" the other settings do nothing.
try both the high and low, one will sound about right, the other wont, turn your gain to about 1/3 then flick the switch with music playing, pick the one that sounds close to right, then adjust the gain.

 

I read the manual and yes it does seem a little confusing, I think they get off on things like that, "Ha were smarter than you."
I think what there trying to say is that you don't really need the line driver because the amp puts out more sound/power when set to low to ajust for HU's with 2 volt preouts, its like it has its own line driver in it.
Thats just what I read it as, I may be wrong, someone who knows a bit more about JL amps would know better, just giving you a second opinion on it.

I did find this in the manual that explains it a little better,

Since your using a line driver and take it the out put on the driver is 8volts then I would set it to the High setting, once again just my 2 cents, don't take it as bible because i have not worked with the JL amps that much and I have never installed a 4 channel one...I'm just a weekend warrior

 

Correct, with a line driver that setting should probably be set ti "high"...but why limit yourself, you paid for the ***** and switches, play with them and see what they do, who knows what you'll find, maybe the "wrong" setting sounds better to you??

 

It sounds much better set at low. However, as soon as my deck hits 23 it clips the front speakers on both settings at various input gain settings. Is this an Alpine thing? It seemed to do the same before installing the amp as well.

 

Dialing down the BBE setting on the CDA-9857 seems to eliminate this...Has anyone else experienced sound clipping at a specific volume with BBE set at 3 (highest)?

 

I'm going to take a guess and say its because the low setting is set to run between 200mv and 2v, but the line driver is running much more than that into the amp.
Just so its clear for MTT, I agree with you the only way your going to find the sound you want or like is fiddling and playing with it, and doing it again, and changing this and tweaking that. I did not intend my post to indicate that this was the only thing he should do, but rather 1 suggestion, in the end is you have to set it up the way you enjoy it, plus playing around with the settings is a good way to gain some knowledge of how it all works.

So I will make this suggestion, try removing the line driver from the equation, and then try both high and low to see what that sounds like.
Also depending on how you like your music if the highs seem a bit to screaming or your getting the sssssss's try to change the crossover setting for the tweeters. For example the x-over network that came with your speakers might or might not have different db settings like (+3)(0)(-3)
Try with the (-3) it always sounded a little cleaner to me, if not then go to (+3) and so on

 

For sure, continuous improvement & tweaking is going to be key. This whole SQ thing is a journey without a doubt...My last car stereo was 8 years ago and my only concern was the boom from the subs...

As for the cross-over, it is currently set to -3 db but given the placement of the three drivers in my door panel, I think this low setting for the tweeter is causing the mid to have more of a presence which seems to throw the balance of the front stage off a little bit.

I am going to see if bumping this up to 0 db alleviates this...

Many thanks again for the insight. I'll keep you guys posted...