Print Page | Close Window

pioneer amp clipping?

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=115193
Printed Date: May 15, 2024 at 2:16 PM


Topic: pioneer amp clipping?

Posted By: bawston
Subject: pioneer amp clipping?
Date Posted: July 20, 2009 at 3:14 PM

I have a pioneer GM-8400M (300Wx1@4ohm, 600Wx1@2ohm) amp, and i just started testing it out to make sure it works, but it doesn't seem to be working right.  I have already tried calling pioneer tech support, but its been busy everytime i call.  The problem is that the sub will pop when the amp plays on what seems to me to be very reasonable volume and higher.  I need to have the gains set to around 5-4v (maybe a quarter of the way up) (radio puts out 4v preout) and the bass knob no more than half way for it to play correctly, but at that point, it is very low.  At first i thought it was that the sub couldn't handle the power (JL W0 @4ohm) so then i hooked it up to a Kicker L5 @ 8ohm, and it did the same thing.  We then tried it at 2ohm, but no success.  Do you think there is something wrong with the amplifier, or is the amp actually supposed to be putting out good power, and the subs can't handle it? 

Also note:  We have been testing this amp on a test bench, using a 10a power inverter and a cap wired into it, however any other amp we test seems to put out more power and work fine on it.




Replies:

Posted By: bawston
Date Posted: July 20, 2009 at 4:30 PM

i'm gonna put it in a car and see what happens with a little more current going into the amp.





Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: July 20, 2009 at 5:37 PM
Of course it is clipping. You have the gain kinda set to match the head unit, but are using the bass boost. If you use a bass boost, you have to turn the amp gain down to accommodate or else the amp will clip the boosted frequencies. Try turning it off and leaving it off, then set the gain correctly (not by the inaccurate marks on the amplifier) and you should be good.





Print Page | Close Window