by Jonathan » Fri Jun 24, 2005 9:35 pm
"oh yeah, i also forgot to ask, to help the clipping what would u guys recomend, getting a better HU (i like my pioneer it sounds nice) or just getting a line driver"
Setting the gains correctly. That's the #1 solution. Not using EQ/Boost also aids in preventing clipping, if you do use EQ, cut surrounding frequencies instead of boosting whenever possible. The main benefit of a line driver isn't to prevent clipping, but to provide a higher resolution signal and lower the noise floor of the system, and in your case it really won't help prevent clipping.
That particular amplifier offers an 18db bass boost centered at 40hz. 1/8 of a turn on that amplifier is approaching a 3db boost. 3db takes twice the power to produce, if you're near the limit, it is extremely easy to drive an amplifier into clipping with bass boost. If you had the EQ boosted simultaneously, you could be requiring 2-10x the power that it normally would have if all controls were flat.
The box definately doesn't help matters, you need to seal off leaks. Use silicone or caulking around the wires in the back of the box to seal off that leak, or install a terminal cup in it's place. Try to get the sub mounted as tightly as possible on the front baffle, making sure no air will leak there. You'd be surprised how much of a difference a little bit of air leak will make as far as cancellation goes.
My last thought, it seems as if you're trying to get more SPL out of the system than it is capable of. If you want more SPL, I'd suggest stepping up to a ported enclosure, you'll get an increase in output and you'll get increased SQ at higher volumes due to the mechanical control of the box. Mechanical and thermal power handling increase when using a ported enclosure over sealed, assuming that you are above the tuned frequency. The Eclipse Aluminum you're using really opens up ported, in both SQ and SPL.
"oh yeah, i also forgot to ask, to help the clipping what would u guys recomend, getting a better HU (i like my pioneer it sounds nice) or just getting a line driver"
Setting the gains correctly. That's the #1 solution. Not using EQ/Boost also aids in preventing clipping, if you do use EQ, cut surrounding frequencies instead of boosting whenever possible. The main benefit of a line driver isn't to prevent clipping, but to provide a higher resolution signal and lower the noise floor of the system, and in your case it really won't help prevent clipping.
That particular amplifier offers an 18db bass boost centered at 40hz. 1/8 of a turn on that amplifier is approaching a 3db boost. 3db takes twice the power to produce, if you're near the limit, it is extremely easy to drive an amplifier into clipping with bass boost. If you had the EQ boosted simultaneously, you could be requiring 2-10x the power that it normally would have if all controls were flat.
The box definately doesn't help matters, you need to seal off leaks. Use silicone or caulking around the wires in the back of the box to seal off that leak, or install a terminal cup in it's place. Try to get the sub mounted as tightly as possible on the front baffle, making sure no air will leak there. You'd be surprised how much of a difference a little bit of air leak will make as far as cancellation goes.
My last thought, it seems as if you're trying to get more SPL out of the system than it is capable of. If you want more SPL, I'd suggest stepping up to a ported enclosure, you'll get an increase in output and you'll get increased SQ at higher volumes due to the mechanical control of the box. Mechanical and thermal power handling increase when using a ported enclosure over sealed, assuming that you are above the tuned frequency. The Eclipse Aluminum you're using really opens up ported, in both SQ and SPL.