Signal too weak?
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=75918
Printed Date: July 18, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Topic: Signal too weak?
Posted By: ajrod27
Subject: Signal too weak?
Date Posted: April 08, 2006 at 10:27 PM
I am currently trying to hook up a kenwood KAC-9152D monoblock to my explorer, but i can hardly get any sound out of it will the sensitivity all the way up. Do you think theres a problem with my stereo or the amp? Any advice? My head unit is a pinoeer DEH-P4700MP, dual preouts but no subwoofer controls. The specs say it has 2.2 volt preouts. I dont know what to do. Any advice would help. Thanks.
Replies:
Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: April 08, 2006 at 10:45 PM
Start with what you know that works: - Is there another amp being fed via RCA inputs from the HU?
- Do you have the fade and balance controls set to center position?
- Is the Kenwood amp used, bought through an unauthorized source, or otherwise questionable?
- What have you been running up until now that you know functions properly?
- Is the sub or subs wired to the proper impedance?
Keep the sensitivity (gain) on the amp at a relatively low level (high voltage expectation) while you are troubleshooting your install. At the very minimum position, it will allow the sub to produce sound. Turn it too high while you're figuring things out and you'll be opening up another can of worms. ------------- 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: ajrod27
Date Posted: April 08, 2006 at 10:59 PM
Theres isn't anything else using the rca's. I hooked my computer up to it and the signals were weak coming from the HU. Fade and balance are centered. Kenwood amp is brand new from sonicelectrnix.com. This is the first amp i've tried hooking up to it. The speaker is 4 ohms. I am going to test the amp out in my friends truck on monday. Anything else i can try before then?
Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: April 08, 2006 at 11:11 PM
The amp has a speaker level input. You could connect wires sliced into the rear speaker wires and bypass the RCA low level input function altogether. I would use this only as test methodogy, not as a permanent solution. With this high level input connected, the low level RCAs must be disconnected. The signal will be picked up from the speaker outputs to the rear OEM speakers, and they can remain connected.
-------------
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: ajrod27
Date Posted: April 08, 2006 at 11:15 PM
Thats alot of work to just test something. I'll just wait until monday. Thanks alot though.
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: April 09, 2006 at 12:38 AM
If you have a pair of subs in the vehicle, disconnect one of them and see if you magically have bass response. If the subs are of the dvc variety, start by disconnecting all voice coils and ensure that they are all wired properly.
-------------
Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: ajrod27
Date Posted: April 09, 2006 at 12:55 AM
I only have one sub. DVC. I have hooked the amp up to the speaker in my bass guitar cabinet and it still has almost no power. Should i just buy a new stereo?
Posted By: ajrod27
Date Posted: April 09, 2006 at 10:23 PM
I could buy a processor to boost the signal right? I was thinking about a SOUNDSTREAM BX-12. Is that a good choice?
Posted By: godblessdremil
Date Posted: April 10, 2006 at 3:21 AM
I had this problem before, yes the pre-outs can be bad and producing a weak signal. To test this simply use another amp to test it. If its the same problem then the pre-outs are bad. Then use an line out conventor or the speaker input. If you use the speaker input disconnect the rca's.
|