posted
I emailed rockford.com and they said the 1100a2 draws 40-80 amps while playing and 80-130 when clipped. I have 3 questions about this amp: 1. how do you clip an amp?
2. How can you tell yor amp is clipping?
3. how do you stop your amp from clipping?
------------------ 2 Fosgate Power Dvc 15's and 2 Power 800a2's comming soon! www.sounddomain.com/2592
Playing at usual output levels, the amp will draw (at 4 ohm stereo) 40-80 amps. When you drive it very hard, causing it to distort above the accepted minimum (about .5-1% THD) it is called clipping- When you clip the amp, you get more power, but it becomes distorted. Distortion on subs is usually not a big issue however.
To stop your amp from clipping, play a clean signal into it and run it at 4 ohm stereo. I wouldn't be too worried about clipping (distortion) though.
ShadowStar
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Computers are a lot like air conditioners.. Open Windows and they become useless..
The day Microsoft makes something that doesn't suck is the day they make vacuums.
Posts: 2578 | From: Somewhere In the Northeast | Registered: May 1999
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posted
You have to be careful with a lot of clipped signal, it will eat subs with a vengance... Even Fosgate Power subs will burn VERY quickly with that kind of power being clipped... Like were talking in minutes with enough clipped signal...
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Posts: 186 | From: Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada | Registered: May 1999
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posted
"I emailed rockford.com and they said the 1100a2 draws 40-80 amps while playing and 80-130 when clipped. I have 3 questions about this amp: 1. how do you clip an amp?"
Answer-turn the volume up as high as it goes, and play the loudes cd you have, something like the 1812 overture from Telarc (cannon shots).
"2. How can you tell yor amp is clipping?"
Answer- When you hear the crackle and harsh sound from the speakers. (some amplifiers will shut down)
"3. how do you stop your amp from clipping?"
Answer- Turn down the volume please.
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[This message has been edited by Eli47 (edited 10-25-99).]
Posts: 1057 | From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 'eh | Registered: May 1999
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posted
Trust me, you'll know if it's clipping.I had never heard clipping until this happened=====> I listened to a bass cd with some 20 htz and below notes the other day, I then started to hear a popping noise and instantly KNEW what it was, needless to say the first button I hit was pause in order to stop the cd, turn it down, and prevent damage to any of my speakers.
If in doubt, TURN IT OFF/DOWN!!! You don't want to damage your equipment now do you? johnwayne is right, clipping will eat a sub for lunch(or any speaker for that matter).
posted
Sorry shadow......I read it wrong. I thought he was saying to turn the volume all the way up, then set the gain so it would never clip.......my bad......it was a good idea though!!! hhehehe
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Posts: 2542 | From: Moberly, MO USA | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
I think there is a misunderstanding between "clipping" on an amplifier and "clipping" a speaker-
RF- the noise you heard, that popping that makes the hair on the back of you neck stand up and makes you flail for the volume control, that was more than likely the "bottoming" of a speaker, where the coil and former tap the bottom of the magnetic gap.
The "clipping" of an amp is caused when the amplifier "clips" off the relative extrema (the top and bottom curves) of the signal wave and then outputs this signal. This is a form of distortion-
It kills speakers because the portion of the wave that is clipped off is output by the amplifier as a spurt of DC voltage, which heats up the voice coil- because the speaker isn't moving where the wave is flat, it doesn't force air across the coil to get rid of this heat. When this occurs a few times, the heat build up causes the coil to burn.
ShadowStar
------------------
Computers are a lot like air conditioners.. Open Windows and they become useless..
The day Microsoft makes something that doesn't suck is the day they make vacuums.
Posts: 2578 | From: Somewhere In the Northeast | Registered: May 1999
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