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Thread: Amp problems |
    
Bronze Member Username: Xxkmfdmxx
Post Number: 38
Registered: Oct-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 09:34 am: |
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Recently I tried installing two different amps. One Pyramid and on MA audio one..Yeah I know, crappy brands, But I have a pyramid sub that sounds decent so I figure I'd try their amp. Anyway, When I tried hooking up the Pyramid amp, everything went smoothly but it actually sounded better WITHOUT the amp, same as with the MA audio one. Could it be just because they are two not so good companies or something else?
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Silver Member Username: Carguy
Post Number: 134
Registered: Nov-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 09:44 am: |
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Hey mdfmk, Pyramid do not make good amps, MA Audio however does on certain models. If you go for their cheap ones, then yes, they suck.
If the amps were connected properly, it's suppose to sound better. Have you set up the gain/level according to your HU?
Also if you use the speaker wire converter, it'll degrade the sound quality. RCA is a better choice.
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Bronze Member Username: Xxkmfdmxx
Post Number: 39
Registered: Oct-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 09:57 am: |
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The levels were set up correctly and I did use RCA. still no luck with it sounding better. |
Silver Member Username: Carguy
Post Number: 137
Registered: Nov-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 10:12 am: |
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Ok then explain what you mean by not sounding better. Are you comparing it to the HU? Is it poor quality at high volumes or at all settings? Does the mid and highs distort or just the lows on the subs?
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Bronze Member Username: Xxkmfdmxx
Post Number: 41
Registered: Oct-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 10:15 am: |
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Yeah I'm comparing it to the HU. With the amp it Distorts at low volumes(which would also be poor quality at high volumes) |
Silver Member Username: Carguy
Post Number: 139
Registered: Nov-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 10:50 am: |
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When you say it distorts, do you mean the sound shakes or is choppy?
If you had proper equipments, you could measure the output of the amp and see if it's bad.
Most likely, the cause could be from either inadequate power or poor signal shielding. Is your ground any good? Sometimes that can be the problem.
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Bronze Member Username: Xxkmfdmxx
Post Number: 42
Registered: Oct-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 11:04 am: |
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Basically sounds choppy, What kind of equipment is needed? I might have it. I have the ground wire grounding to a peice of metal underneath the dash, Is that good enough? |
Silver Member Username: Carguy
Post Number: 142
Registered: Nov-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 11:43 am: |
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Whoa did you say you have a ground wire underneath the dash? Where is your amp located? People usually install them in the truck and create a new grounding there by sanding a piece of the metal sheeting.
If you're into electronics, you should be able to measure the output with a scope and determine the distortion factor. You'll also need a signal generator for the input.
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Bronze Member Username: Xxkmfdmxx
Post Number: 43
Registered: Oct-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 01:19 pm: |
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I have the amp in the glove compartment. Didn't have long enough wires at the time to mount it somewhere in the back so put it there instead. Only temporarily. I'll measure the output later on today though and get back to you. |
Silver Member Username: Carguy
Post Number: 154
Registered: Nov-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 02:51 pm: |
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Whoa, you either have a big glove compartment or a small amp. Grounding is very important. It has to be done right or else you'll pick up noise and have weird problems.
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Bronze Member Username: Xxkmfdmxx
Post Number: 45
Registered: Oct-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 08:22 pm: |
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Well The amp wasn't that big, Not a bad size though. What would you reccomend grounding it on instead? |
Silver Member Username: Carguy
Post Number: 161
Registered: Nov-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 09:29 pm: |
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If you take a look at your battery, it's already grounded. Why don't you borrow that to test the amp? Just make sure all the dirt/rust is sanded off. |
Bronze Member Username: Xxkmfdmxx
Post Number: 46
Registered: Oct-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 09:32 pm: |
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So test the amp directly on the battery? Just bought the battery two days ago so no need to sand =P |
Silver Member Username: Carguy
Post Number: 163
Registered: Nov-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 09:36 pm: |
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No I meant use the ground wire the battery is connected to. It should provide a good base for testing your amp. |
Bronze Member Username: Xxkmfdmxx
Post Number: 47
Registered: Oct-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 09:45 pm: |
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Hmm ok, I think I know what your talking about now. I'll test it tomorrow and post.
Thanks for your help by the way. |
Bronze Member Username: Xxkmfdmxx
Post Number: 48
Registered: Oct-04
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| Posted on Thursday, November 11, 2004 - 01:17 pm: |
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Just got done hooking it up again, sounds better. Thanks! |
Silver Member Username: Carguy
Post Number: 178
Registered: Nov-04
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| Posted on Thursday, November 11, 2004 - 01:54 pm: |
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Glad it worked out for you. |
