blowing amplifiers

I put it on a 1ohm load and the gain on the amp was set to 3/4 At first. Yes i measured the voltage before and it was reaching the 60s volts easily (and could still get higher to the 80s volts). which I thought was too high and so I lowered the gain (2/3) to take it down to about the 40-50's (volts) playing music ( at max volume).

The first amp (EQ gain & volume settings at 3/4) (amp settings same as in introduction) that blew with a Loud Hissing sound like pressure being released, it started smoking badly like a smoke bomb firework was put it in. The thing that bothered me the most was that the 100amp Fuse that is in the amplifier didnt blow. ( never went into protect mode or thermal)

The second Amp (EQ gain & volume settings at 1/2)-(amp settings same as in introduction) went into thermal and was very hot after about 30 min of play (i had it for about a month at this time). After 3hrs of no play i went back out to my truck to try it out and as soon as i turn on the power to my truck and power is given to the amp(HU not playing). you can hear a motor running fast and like a fizzle sound and it gets hott within 30 seconds. and also the 100amp fuse did not blow. SO now that amp is shipped off.  (Went into thermal and never came back on)

Arent these amps expensive so they are able to save themselves at times like this??

Also I play my ipod through the EQ. could that be a problem? would it be better to play it through the HU and let it run through the EQ?

And I'll repeat myself yet again:  anyone who speaks of a relative position on the gain dial, like "3/4" or "halfway" or anything of that nature, doesn't have a clue how to set gain properly.  After setting gain, you really shouldn't even care how little or far the screw is turned...if you have set it right.

You'll save yourself a lot of money if you learn to do it right and then do it the same way every time.  And afterwards if someone comes over to your setup and tells you that you should turn up the gain to make it louder, like, say, HIS combustible soon-to-fail setup, just call him a moron.  Or better, teach him how to do it right!

I try to do that until it starts clipping or getting distorted, and then i want to just control the volume from the Equalizer in the range that I have set the gain.. it never starts clipping or sounding distorted. so without that, how am i suppose to guide the gain? By matching with my midrange? My midrange is "loud" and they out do my subwoofers so i cant even go with that.

First you need to decide if you need all of that in your signal chain... but assuming you do want to use all that stuff, you begin at the head unit.  Turn ALL gains on everything all the way "down" (counterclockwise, usually.)  Then start at the HU and work you way to the amps.  Read the How To in the hot topics section.  Set your HU to the proper volume while playing a test tone.  Set the next item in the chain - like you EQ- then once it's set move on.  It is time consuming (and you should wear hearing protection) but worth the trouble.

And if you can't get it set up right, take the vehicle to a good local car audio shop and pay them to do it for you.

How about the sub volume knob? because as long as thats all the way down there will be no sound through the subwoofers