My speakers whine!

[chpthril]

Here's the CMD4A manual PDF, Non-Fade adjustment is on pg 17

http://www.clarion.com/us/en/MungoBl.../CMD4A_ENG.PDF

[talltigeguy]

CHP,

I honestly looked through the manual last night both online and the printed version that I have and did not see that. It turns out that the non-fader volume was set to 0 and when I put it up to +6...it rocks! Now I have to fix those gains again. Since I jacked everything up to make up for the low RCA output, I now have it clipping. This will be a lot easier to fix than not enough volume.

So I have proven in this thread: I can't hear...and I can't read.

Thanks for walking me through it anyway, folks. I am glad I have a place to come to for knowledgeable help.

I'm gonna go eat some humble pie, and enjoy my stereo.

[chpthril]

No problem, i'll post up if I ever decide to try to deliver a baby or something

CHP,

I honestly looked through the manual last night both online and the printed version that I have and did not see that. It turns out that the non-fader volume was set to 0 and when I put it up to +6...it rocks! Now I have to fix those gains again. Since I jacked everything up to make up for the low RCA output, I now have it clipping. This will be a lot easier to fix than not enough volume.

So I have proven in this thread: I can't hear...and I can't read.

Thanks for walking me through it anyway, folks. I am glad I have a place to come to for knowledgeable help.

I'm gonna go eat some humble pie, and enjoy my stereo.

[philwsailz]

Yay!!!!!!

I really had assumed that the non-fading output was probably already set to +6.

Heck yeah on turning it up!

Awesome find, great sleuthing!!!!!!

You guys rock!

[SPBFAN]

Ideally you want the amp gains as low as possible. Gain controls at the amp are not volume controls, (I know you know that).

Gain controls are specifically there so you can adjust all the components so that they are at their best setting; as Tim referred to it, "UNITY GAIN"

Every component in the audio chain has its best signal to noise ratio at a point just below where it clips. The music signal is way louder than the idle noise, at its maximum amplitude level, but the music signal is not clipping. If you make every component clip at the same time, you will be basically at UNITY GAIN.


If you find that you are turning the AMPLIFIER gains up at the amp because you think the system is not loud enough, you probably need to check a couple of other things. Is your fader control on your head unit turned way forwards or rearwards? Depending on which RCA outputs you are using, you might have the radio faded the wrong way.


Again, gain controls are not there to adjust volume. Setting them at only a quarter-way open is really desirable! As TIm pointed out, if you are running a really hot signal out of the WS420, you can get away with barely turning the amp gains on. If you are looking for more volume and you are playing with amplifier gains, you need to look elsewhere first.

X2 on this. I would like to add that a lot of times over the last year I have seen AMPs wired up the incorrect way and people are getting only half the power of the amps. They think that the amp is not as powerful as people say. When in reality the amp has more than enough power it is just configured incorrectly. If they are configured correctly you will be able to keep the gains to 1/4 or in my case for my tower less than a 1/4 and have plenty of power.

[SPBFAN]

Relay set up

Ok it took me only three weeks to post up the picture I took of the relay set up in my boat. The relay for the deck you can not see it is all tied up in the wiring harness above the deck and covered up by electrical tape. But here is the one for the switched power for the the amps and EQ. Sorry it took so long to post up.

[Lucky 275]

how many physical connections are on the relay? I picked one up today before seeing this post, and mine has 4 / I don't seen an 87a on mine. Do I have the wrong one?

[chpthril]

how many physical connections are on the relay? I picked one up today before seeing this post, and mine has 4 / I don't seen an 87a on mine. Do I have the wrong one?

All you need is the 4 - 85, 86, 30, 87. 87A is typically not used for 99% of relay applications.

[Lucky 275]

Thanks.

Just finished hooking up the 420 to make sure it worked... no relay and grounded and powered at the amps. Just wanted to make sure it powered up. It sounds great as is. No hiss and no pops, any idea if it will be different when I get on the water and fire up the boat?

I guess I could hook up my fake-a-lake and find out tomorrow.