Clipping Indicators

This may be related to my other topic "HOW MANY FARADS" or it may not be.  But anyways,  The A18001DT amplifier I have has a series of five LEDs,  the first 3 are Blue, the final two are red.  Whenever I hit a hard beat,  1 of the blue LEDs  lights up.  (occasionally a second one lights too).  Does anybody know how I should Read this "CLIPPING" indicator?   Is 2 LEDS bad,  or is it showing me how far I am from clipping?~wayland

forget the leds. does it sound muffled, or sounding louder even though it is not? if so then you are having the amp clip

to all those that have car audio shops, you should let people hear an that isnt clipped and then one that is. it is a hard thing to hear if you dont know what it sounds like. i always let people i install for hear what it sounds like before i let them go

No, it's not sounding muffled.  I just want to know how to "read" what they are telling me.  I'm guessing they're just a LEVEL indicator?   Progressively lighting up as the "thumps" get harder?~wayland

sorry for that, im just sick of having kids asking me to fix there system when they have either cooked their amp or sub and i take a look at their gains and feel like puking. no offense to the people on here as most of us care a lot, but to the installer that cares more about how many cars they get through in a day than how well they install the sh*t. to me it is just like audiobahn in the car industry or bose in the home audio. i just dont believe in making money off the ignorant, i would rather teach them

then you are probably clipping the amp. ive never installed one with leds to indicate that. but if it is on the harder thumps than it is definately clipping. turn down the gains.

the gains are at no more than 20%....    I'm guessing that you're not clipping until it reaches the RED zone....~wayland

Usually, the red LED's indicate clipping. The blue area should be fine. On alot of amps, the "Level" knob is the same as an "gain" knob Paul

I see what you're saying..   But by LEVEL i meant the amplitude of the signal going to the speakers.  I can't think of the technical term,  but i'm thinking the sequential LEDs are similar to the Displays on some stereos,  which show how strong the signal is at various Hz.~wayland