How can I tell if my SUBWOOFER is distorting/clipping?

Question

I'm trying to set my gains by ear. But when I turn the gain up the only difference between a low gain setting and large gain setting is the loudness. I think I know how clipping should sound like for speakers but I can't tell how clipping sounds like for subwoofers. Also, my sub delivers 150 watts rms whilst my amp delivers 250 rms. Dont want to **** up my sub!

Answer 1

If you can't tell by ear then you should try setting your gain with a DMM (digital multimeter).  It will be a far more accurate way of setting the gain then by ear, especially if you do not know what to listen for.

The links below should help you.  You can get a DMM for fairly cheap at Radioshack or at Harbor Freight Tools.  

http://mobile.jlaudio.com/support_pages....

http://www.bcae1.com/gaincon2.htm

Good Luck!!!

Answer 2

I agree with MDC...just a note:Clipping and distortion are not the same thing.Its important to use a meter.Below are brief explanations of both clipping and distortion..

CAN DISTORTION DAMAGE A SPEAKER?

"The answer is very similar to that for a square wave.  So long as power being applied to the speaker is within its power rating (and the signal is not causing the cone to move beyond design limits) you can play any signal you like, distorted or otherwise.  The main reason people equate distortion with blown speakers is that speakers tend to blow when people crank up the sound to the point where the sound is badly distorted.  What is really happening here is that the signal is being compressed and a lot more power ends up going to the speaker than one realizes.  So the answer is no, distortion itself does not blow speakers.  Overdriving them does!"

CLIPPING?  

Clipping occurs when an amplifier is requested (by pre amp signal) to produce more output VOLTAGE than it has the capability to do so

Now that you know what causes clipping...its seemingly impossible to adjust gains properly by ear.You cant measure VOLTAGE by ear ;)

Answer 3

Okay, Turn your gains and bass boost all the way down on your amp, and turn up your CD player as loud as you listen to it, and then adjust your gain to just under where you hear distortion(it will sound sloppy) and then enjoy!