Dammit! I was corrsponding with two people on two amps that I really wanted. one was the audison, the other was the A3. I feel torn!!! I've wanted a dual mono A3 forever! 150x2 would be perfect for my components and it fits better sizewise in my system. What to do What to do... I truly don't know what to do! If the guy wouldn't have made me think he flaked on me I wouldn't have opted for the audison! Don't get me wrong... I love the audison but I've wanted an A3 for so long!!! waaahaaahaaahaaa. someone please smack me! ... OOW, damn, not that hard!. anyone wanna buy my audison for $365 Shipped? lol. hmm. I'll do some brainstorming. oh god... My A3... My beautiful A3... come to poppa. It's BNIB waaahaaahaaa.
I need to knock this chit off! I'm ok... just had to breathe. I need to give this VRX a shot. If I don't like it i'll contact dude in a few weeks... if he has sold it, oh well. From what i'm hearing from my compadres on here that audison is top notch! Sorry about the meltdown.
Man I was worried for a sec you were going to turn into another one of the phorumites who just trades amps constantly and never installs them. Shit put it in for a week at least... might as well get some enjoyment out of what you've got
stipud wrote:Man I was worried for a sec you were going to turn into another one of the phorumites who just trades amps constantly and never installs them. Shit put it in for a week at least... might as well get some enjoyment out of what you've got
Yeh... I'll give it a shot. I guess my main concern is power. I'm running a 3-way eurosport setup and need some good power to run them. I tried out a Sinfoni 90.2 and while it sounded clean it just wasn't enough power for my components. The sinfoni was rated at 105/ch so the audison worries me. I've heard that in real world testing the audison produces between 130-150/ch... even though it's rated at 110/ch. I'm truly hoping for great results and i'm going to give the audison a fair audition for a week. But I tell you... If not I'm probably going to go with the DLS since it's rated at 150/ch. I'm crossing my fingers on this one.
The difference between 100 and 150 watts is not much, maybe 1.5dB. If you were finding it lacking on output, you are going to need a lot more power than that. Consider running your 3-ways active, or going with something absurd like 300w x 2.
stipud wrote:The difference between 100 and 150 watts is not much, maybe 1.5dB. If you were finding it lacking on output, you are going to need a lot more power than that. Consider running your 3-ways active, or going with something absurd like 300w x 2.
I was running a Zapco Z600c2sl at 150x2 at 4ohms and it was literally killing the speakers. I tried 105x2from the sinfoni and it was like going from a Chevy 350 to a honda 4 banger. I was using 200x2 from a soundstream amp and i tell you... it was perfect! im hoping this audison surprises me like a few are suggesting it will.
How were you setting the gains? As an electrician, you've been using an oscilloscope I hope?
Did you measure the power output of each amp? Generally 3dB is the accepted norm for noticing an audible difference in a signal. That's why most volume pots are exponential and double the output power every notch you turn them up. Since our hearing is logarithmic, it makes it sound like you are getting a linear volume increase.
stipud wrote:How were you setting the gains? As an electrician, you've been using an oscilloscope I hope?
Did you measure the power output of each amp? Generally 3dB is the accepted norm for noticing an audible difference in a signal. That's why most volume pots are exponential and double the output power every notch you turn them up. Since our hearing is logarithmic, it makes it sound like you are getting a linear volume increase.
I was using an Audiocontrol overdrive linedriver with the gains all the way down on the amps. I would go to 3/4 volume with a 60hz test tone. turn the overdive up til the lights hit the optimum level on the overdrive. I acquired a DRX9255 from my bro so I was hoping for more but I guess I'm just kinda
ttocs wrote:want to rent an o-scope to tune it with?
Thank you but I could borrow one from my local union training center. I've never used an o-scope to be honest... they're pretty outdated for my kind of work. I would love to give it a shot though. I've never really taken the time to properly tune my setup.
I'm betting the Sinfoni was just less sensitive than your Zapco, and that is the real reason it was quieter. The oscilloscope is really the best way to set the gains, although the DMM method can accurately estimate it as well. If you know what to listen for you can set gains by ear as well. But I don't think your current method will be very accurate!
The frustrating part is that after I installed my CDT upstage kit I can't set my gains with a DMM. I've always used this method and it worked great. without the upstage kit my impedence on my front components are 3.6ohm/side... Now if I check the impedence it fluctuates all over the place and doesn'r give me a reading. I called CDT and explained my situation and they said... do it by ear! I was like YOU do it by ear! It's friggin frustrating! I like the way the upstage kit brings my soundstage above the dash but it drives me friggin nuts not being able to set my gains effectively.
You don't have to set it to your component's impedance, just any rated impedance of the amplifier. Then as long as the speakers are within the impedance capabilities of the amplifier, you will get the right wattage for them.
Let's say it does 75x2 at 4 ohm or 150x2 at 2 ohm...
v = sqrt(75 * 4) = sqrt(150 * 2). The voltage is the same regardless of a 4 or 2 ohm load.
ttocs wrote:if you have access to a scope, and know how to use it why are you still struggling with the meter?
I have access to a scope but in my line of work we do not use them. And I wasn't necessarily struggling with a meter... I use meters every day... It's just that the upstage kit literally throws everything off. I do commercial, Industrial Electrical and have for 15 years. Scopes are relics when it comes to my work. I work with PLCs and relays, Big pipe and wiring as big around as your arm. A scope in my opinion is more geared towards electronic techs.
I didn't even think about the formula above... very easy. thank you!
Use a scope if you can! It works a million times better. You don't have to measure for a specific voltage... just increase the gains until it clips, then turn it back. Couldn't be easier! Took me 15 minutes to set my car gains properly, and yes it works much better than the DMM method, since you can fully tap into your headroom! You also know exactly where your deck and preamp devices clip, by measuring the RCA output voltage! Just do it! HUGE SQ increases, way lower noisefloor, absolutely optimal power output. You can't beat an oscilloscope for gains.
Is their features that the oscilloscope must have to have this work for me? will any o-scope work? ours are really old. And I've never used a scope to tun my system... what steps would I take?
First unhook your speaker wires (some people think you should test loaded, but I don't like running sine waves through my speakers at max volume!). Disable all bassboost, EQ, crossovers, you name it. Put in a disc playing a test tone. You start from your headunit and work down through the chain until finally reaching the amplifier.
With the probe + measure the RCA pole, and - to RCA shield. Turn up the headunit volume until the scope shows clipping, then turn it down until right before the clipped waveform appears. Do the same on any preamp devices you have (linedrivers, EQ's, etc). Finally at the amp connect the + and - to the + and - speaker outputs and do the same thing.
ShockTherapy wrote:Is their features that the oscilloscope must have to have this work for me? will any o-scope work? ours are really old. And I've never used a scope to tun my system... what steps would I take?
stipud wrote:Man I was worried for a sec you were going to turn into another one of the phorumites who just trades amps constantly and never installs them. Shit put it in for a week at least... might as well get some enjoyment out of what you've got
wonder who comes to mind...
screw car audio, I'd rather go fast....errr, wait a minute.
stipud wrote:Man I was worried for a sec you were going to turn into another one of the phorumites who just trades amps constantly and never installs them. Shit put it in for a week at least... might as well get some enjoyment out of what you've got
wonder who comes to mind...
corey that not nice......
most of my gear is gone :liar:
2020 honda accord sport
wonder who comes to mind...
