input sensitivity gain

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=105713
Printed Date: July 06, 2025 at 8:04 AM

Topic: input sensitivity gain

Posted By: lostracer
Subject: input sensitivity gain
Date Posted: June 26, 2008 at 3:57 PM

I'm running 2 Kicker ZR240's and a Kicker 100XS.
The input range on them is 150mV-3V RMS.

My HU is a Pioneer 6800DVD with a 4V pre-out.
Is there a chance of me damaging the amps by having the higher voltage from the headunit?

Thank you.

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The One&Only!

Replies:

Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: June 26, 2008 at 4:40 PM

It won't hurt the amplifier. Your gain will need to be set all the way down on it to be set up properly.

Posted By: lostracer
Date Posted: June 26, 2008 at 5:09 PM

Thank you. Had me worried for a sec.
And thanks for fixing my title. It was originally typed as "Input Sensitivity(gain) question" Obiviously it was too long and it didn't like the ( ) added. LOL.

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The One&Only!

Posted By: jmelton86
Date Posted: June 26, 2008 at 6:13 PM

When HU's claim 4V preouts, is this 'peak' or RMS?

What about amps' input? Is this rated for 'peak' or RMS input?

The reason I ask this is because my CDA-9830 is rated for 4V preamps, but on my amps I have the gains set to about 2V -by ear (the only way...)

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Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: June 26, 2008 at 8:30 PM

lostracer wrote:

And thanks for fixing my title. It was originally typed as "Input Sensitivity(gain) question" Obiviously it was too long and it didn't like the ( ) added. LOL.

Topic titles don't like capital letters and certain other "embellishments".

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Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.

Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: June 26, 2008 at 8:54 PM

Copied and pasted from the bottom quarter of the list of forum rules.

• Do not include the following words or phrases in your subject: help, help please, install, installation, question, questions, install help, install questions, please, plz, assistance, or any other vague word or phrase. Be specific and informative

Posted By: whiterob
Date Posted: June 27, 2008 at 1:19 AM

jmelton86 wrote:

When HU's claim 4V preouts, is this 'peak' or RMS?

What about amps' input? Is this rated for 'peak' or RMS input?

The reason I ask this is because my CDA-9830 is rated for 4V preamps, but on my amps I have the gains set to about 2V -by ear (the only way...)

From what I understand all manufacturer's do it differently. Some measure the peak to peak voltage while other don't. So a 4V on one deck may be the same as a 2V output on another.

I may be mistaken (someone correct me if I'm wrong) but that is the way I have always heard it.