Hi all.
Have a new Clarion XC-2410 4ch amp where I was only going to use 2 channels
for 2 x 4ohm drivers (power rated approx 120-150w RMS)
Looking at the manual, is the option of 'Bridged' to basically double the power.
Question - When wired this way with the same volume level, the amp clip protects - so I have to REDUCE volume to stop this, which negates the configuration to gain more power / volume.
I'm running it off a bench power supply for now to observe current draw - want to have maximum volume on a peak current of about 10amps @14.5v.
Should I reduce the input level before the volume control to allow the extra
'bridge' gain - hence power?
I won't be using a car head unit as source - but a message player instead.
I remember years ago, inputs to an amp for bridge connection were different along with output wiring, but no mention of input changes in the manual.
Appreciate any guidance. Cheers
Have a new Clarion XC-2410 4ch amp where I was only going to use 2 channels
for 2 x 4ohm drivers (power rated approx 120-150w RMS)
Looking at the manual, is the option of 'Bridged' to basically double the power.
Question - When wired this way with the same volume level, the amp clip protects - so I have to REDUCE volume to stop this, which negates the configuration to gain more power / volume.
I'm running it off a bench power supply for now to observe current draw - want to have maximum volume on a peak current of about 10amps @14.5v.
Should I reduce the input level before the volume control to allow the extra
'bridge' gain - hence power?
I won't be using a car head unit as source - but a message player instead.
I remember years ago, inputs to an amp for bridge connection were different along with output wiring, but no mention of input changes in the manual.
Appreciate any guidance. Cheers
I'm not sure what you mean, but with the same input voltage the amp clips in bridged? Is it clipping the input or the output?
In normal operation, the signal is duplicated, and one is reverse phased. That way you'll be 'reversing the direction of your amplifier side' and thus you reverse the output terminal polarity. Makes it possible to kinda like.. run them in series. See how this doesn't actually change anything over on the preamp side?
Besides all of that though, the amps are at a fixed gain. The gain knobon the front allows you to adjust it but you shouldn't adjust your volume using the gain knob. Change it with the volume pot on your preamp-device
In normal operation, the signal is duplicated, and one is reverse phased. That way you'll be 'reversing the direction of your amplifier side' and thus you reverse the output terminal polarity. Makes it possible to kinda like.. run them in series. See how this doesn't actually change anything over on the preamp side?
Besides all of that though, the amps are at a fixed gain. The gain knobon the front allows you to adjust it but you shouldn't adjust your volume using the gain knob. Change it with the volume pot on your preamp-device
Check in manual if it will drive a 4 ohm load in bridged mode. Input wiring will be the same, just flick a switch to invert one channel. Output wiring is different but it sounds like you know that
I'm guessing you are never going to get 150W per channel with only 10 amps of input current. I'm wondering when bridging the channels, which dramatically increases the current draw, if you are not hitting the limits of your supply. It's possible that although the amp is not going into protect, that the rails are sagging so badly that the output clips.
I might be way off base, but why are you trying to limit the amplifier to only 10 amps? Using it out of a vehicle or some other special use case?
Good luck,
Jason
I might be way off base, but why are you trying to limit the amplifier to only 10 amps? Using it out of a vehicle or some other special use case?
Good luck,
Jason
Hi all,
Thanks for the replies.
I did this 2 weeks ago -- and it's got hazy!
It clipped (cut out) as in the LED indicator on the Clarion.
The manual states each of 4 chans can drive 2ohm load each OR 2 chans with 4ohm load.
Using it as a special case - no head unit, only an MP3 message generator feeding a
line level mixer (with gain adjust for message and mic input)
The mixer feed the Clarion. I have to add a volume control, which I'd prefer between the Mixer and Clarion. (One vol control will affect message or mic level this way)
Not expecting 150w /chan at 10amps. Just want max power available using a vehicle cig /aux power socket.
I'm sure I had the 2 channels of the Mixer with split RCA's to feed all 4 line level inputs of the amp. The speaker wiring was wired to the manual and correct.
I certainly did not have 2 of the 4chan inputs inverted however. There is no control
or switch for this on the Clarion XC-2410.
I appreciatively await your advice.
Thanks for the replies.
I did this 2 weeks ago -- and it's got hazy!
It clipped (cut out) as in the LED indicator on the Clarion.
The manual states each of 4 chans can drive 2ohm load each OR 2 chans with 4ohm load.
Using it as a special case - no head unit, only an MP3 message generator feeding a
line level mixer (with gain adjust for message and mic input)
The mixer feed the Clarion. I have to add a volume control, which I'd prefer between the Mixer and Clarion. (One vol control will affect message or mic level this way)
Not expecting 150w /chan at 10amps. Just want max power available using a vehicle cig /aux power socket.
I'm sure I had the 2 channels of the Mixer with split RCA's to feed all 4 line level inputs of the amp. The speaker wiring was wired to the manual and correct.
I certainly did not have 2 of the 4chan inputs inverted however. There is no control
or switch for this on the Clarion XC-2410.
I appreciatively await your advice.
How much current does it draw at full power running 2 ohm stereo?
Clipping is the distortion of the audio signal as it reaches the power supply rail voltage. It's the clipping off of the top and/or bottom of the waveform. In the following image, the yellow amp has less rail voltage and is being driven to clipping. The white amp's waveform has higher rail voltage and isn't yet driven to clipping.
Clipping is the distortion of the audio signal as it reaches the power supply rail voltage. It's the clipping off of the top and/or bottom of the waveform. In the following image, the yellow amp has less rail voltage and is being driven to clipping. The white amp's waveform has higher rail voltage and isn't yet driven to clipping.
Attachments
10 amps at what voltage? You are asking for too much with that power supply? The amp is going to have dynamic peaks as well and every time that's happening you are dropping voltage drastically and the amp's power supply is going to demand even more current which will task your 12v supply. You need something that will provide around 35 amps continuous at 12v or higher to work in that power range.
You also aren't getting "max power available" out of a cigarette outlet with an amp that can produce 150w a channel, the car wiring is too thin and the fuse will either keep popping or the cigarette jack will melt and come apart (if the car's wiring doesn't melt first).
You also aren't getting "max power available" out of a cigarette outlet with an amp that can produce 150w a channel, the car wiring is too thin and the fuse will either keep popping or the cigarette jack will melt and come apart (if the car's wiring doesn't melt first).
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