Question about subs

[kingsleysurf]

I just bought an a1500hcx audiobahn amp and im running one aw1206q sub on it... i cannot seem to get the levels right at all... THe sub is inverted in a sealed box and there are no airleaks. It hits hard, but it does not sound like it is a clean hit... and there are knobs on the amp ive never even heard of before.... can anyone help?

 

[VairKing]

Did you reverse the wires to the sub? Its inverted so you need to switch the (-) and (+)...

 

[kingsleysurf]

ok well, i switched them and nothing?!?! im going to try and play with the nobs a bit... also when i listen to a swisha house cd it slams, but distorted kinda, but when i listen to a regular cd... it just kind of barely hits

 

[kingsleysurf]

can someone explain these to me?

Gain (input sensitivity adjustment):

Variable Low-pass filter (Lpf Freq.):

Variable Subsonic Filter:

Phase Shift Control:

 

[kingsleysurf]

I also have a bass remote and it hasd a

Freq and gain on it as well

 

[debutis]

Gain: The gain is your input level
Your headunit sends out a certain RMS voltage through the preouts.
The amp gains are made to match the voltage you set it.
So in a perfect world a headunit sending 2.5v out should have an amp set to about 2.5v sensitivty.
In general people will turn it up farther than that and it doesnt cause a problem.
The best way to set gains is turn you radio up to just about as loud as you'd listen to it.
Turn your gains up slowly till you can hear a bit of audiable distortion...then back them down a bit
Variable low pass filter: This determines at what frequency the sound is cutoff. This is just your preference. I set subs to play just the low bass notes but I have midbass drivers so I dont need them hitting the higher notes. For 10" drivers I usually set the lpf at about 80hz. Try there and go up or down depending on how high you'd like the subs to play.
Variable Subsonic Filter: This is the lower cutoff for your subs. If you are running the driver in a sealed box, you dont need to worry about it. If the sub is in a ported box, set the subsonic filter somewhere around 20hz. If it distorts still, set it a little higher. In a ported box, the subs cone travels further due to free moving air. If you dont have a subsonic filter, you can end up severely damaging or even ripping the cone right off the speaker.
Phase Shift control:I could do a huge physics explanation for this, but Ill keep it easy. In the 0 degree position, it does nothing. In the 180 degree position, it reverses the polarity. This makes the sub play "backwards" and is usually only used when you invert a sub, you could also use it if your subs were facing in oposite directions (so one amp would be at 0 and the other at 180, so all the waves "travel" the same way. You want to leave it in the 0 position as long as you have a standrard (not either of the above setups).
The bass nob usually just controls your gain as well. Set your gain on the amp and you wont even have to worry about it. I only use mine when the girlfriend is in the car and can't stand the loud booms.

 

[debutis]

How do you have the sub wired??? If its in series, that could be your problem, the sub wouldn't be getting near the power it needs. Either way, make sure you're wired in parallel. What kind of wiring do you have to the amp?? I wouldn't be suprised if once you have that thing running like you want it, you'll have some serious dimmage..

 

[kingsleysurf]

I have them running Parallel-Parallel

 

[kingsleysurf]

Originally posted by debutis
Phase Shift control:I could do a huge physics explanation for this, but Ill keep it easy. In the 0 degree position, it does nothing. In the 180 degree position, it reverses the polarity. This makes the sub play "backwards" and is usually only used when you invert a sub, you could also use it if your subs were facing in oposite directions (so one amp would be at 0 and the other at 180, so all the waves "travel" the same way. You want to leave it in the 0 position as long as you have a standrard (not either of the above setups).
The bass nob usually just controls your gain as well. Set your gain on the amp and you wont even have to worry about it. I only use mine when the girlfriend is in the car and can't stand the loud booms. [/B]

So what your saying is that if i plug in the wires the way they are supposed to, to the amp + with + and - with -, then on the phase shift control i would turn it to 180 degrees? but if i reversed the + with - and - with + then i do not need to have it on?


Also when i am messing with the gain do i have all the settings all the way down or what?

 

[debutis]

Just wire the sub in parallel and dont worry about the phase shift, set that to 0. The gain should be turned to your likings.. Just not quite to the point of distortion. It depends on your hu rca voltage output. Thats really what you have to match with your amp. Once you go much beyond that on your amp and you'll run into distortion at higher levels.

 

[kingsleysurf]

so if i invert my subs, i just wire it up regular and leave the phase shift alone?

And when i was talking about messing with the gain, i meant for all the other settings, should they be turned all the way down while i am adjusting the gain? And then after i have finished messing with the gain do i tune the other settings?

 

[kingsleysurf]

bump

let me rephrase this:

When i am adjusting my amp, should i have everything turned down and start with the gain? Or should i adjust the gain last?