CLIPPING: WHERE DOES IT START, HOW DO YOU PREVENT IT?

We all love to push our amps and speakers to the highest brink. This is why it so essential that we are regualting the frequencies and levels that our equipment is producing. Clipping is often a consequence of amps being pushed to hard therefor it is important to identify where clipping starts, and how to prevent it.
In this video, JP shares his knowledge on how to properly run your subs and amplifiers to avoid clipping, and what to check for if you notice distortion in your sound.

JP95 - 1500w RMS 5 Channel amplifier

[robertholsopple]

I wish clip lights were standard issue on all amps. Very good idea.

[SeanOMatic]

Distortion is always present in some form, even with the best amps. Clipping, however, can be avoided.

[Pittsburgh-]

Bottom line... buy a amp that has at least 50% more rms power than what your subs are rated. Don't match the rms, so bigger than needed rms amps don't have to work so hard

[arok_audio]

The "pushing runner" analogy was brilliant! Thank you sir❣

[minenachos]

Damn JP that's a good explanation. You know 30 years ago we didn't have all that fancy technology and oscilloscopes was expensive as fuck. Back then I used the multimeter and some test tones. I turned it up till I heard distortion watching the voltage and then turn it back 30%. So basically don't laugh we didn't have all this big power back then but you know we did have the same fucking decibels. I was doing 58's w/ four 12s walled. I think the amps was showing right at 280 volts when you could hear distortion and I'd turn it below 220. Car audio is just like everything else, you're already fucking something up when it starts feeling good.

[jeffreycattelino]

The head unit can clip to the amp then the amp can clip to the subwoofers or speakers. The audio controls lc2i loc tells you when the head unit clips. I learned that when I hooked up the dd1 to the amp.

[vincebowling]

I had a set of two 15s built to my spec from a well known builder and blew one in less than four months from a " by the ear" setup on two amps running the two subs. When I ordered my two Zv5s, I also ordered and religiously used my SMD DD1 and CC1 to set my head unit max volume and amp gains, and have been clip free for over two years now. No issues whatsoever. I'm a firm believer now.

[Nedsped]

Yes, what I've noticed with my system is when I added more battery power, the amp doesn't clip as early. Your amp Is only as good as its power, same applies with speakers, your choice of speakers are only as good your choice amps

[jayvog]

Thank you bro. That was about one of the best explanations for some of the tech terms used throughout the car audio world. Awesome content and I do plan on the future to go with some of your JP line. Now if there were JP branded speakers. . . Hint, hint, hint.

[x.Elena_Rivera.x]

That was the baddest clipping video of ever seen it made so much sense wen he said about running and someone trying to make u run faster and making u trip nice awesome video D4S

[chevy]

Had a shop tune mine "by ear" five mins later started smelling coils. Bought a dd1 and have had zero coils smell.

[Supercharged]

The two biggest causes for clipping is system set up (gains matched to headunit output voltage and max clean volume on deck determined) and the music itself if more often than not clipped as well and if it's not clipped it's recorded louder than what the gain overlap is set on the amp thus again overdriving the amp past it's max rail voltage. There is so much that goes into making sure you never clip that most people don't even bother.

[misaelbarboza]

JP, I have been waiting for thid video since i bought my SUNDOWN X V2 D2 along with a SFB 3000D which I am doubting right now if I need to upgrade to a SALT 4 AMP or get an ALT or a JY LITHIUM BATTERY. good video like always I watch all your content. @DOWN4SOUND 🙌

[jero]

Got to start at the head unit. If it’s clipped so will the rest of your signals to the amp. It’s only amplifies the signal. Got to check and set at every unit. Head unit, high output to RCA’s Dsp and the amps. It’s a process.

[ronnydisalvo]

3:02 in that was some Socrates shit jp..mind blown😵😵great analogy
.FR 4:53 into video and ANOTHER knowledge brain hurts

[dreww_]

What if you turn on your car and the amp is already clipping without subs hooked up and without wires touching? What could it possibly be

[stevemaniaci]

Jp thanks for explain clipping . An I love your line of amps. There are so awesome 👍👍 I don't just have one favorite amp, I like in your line up know there so many to choice from . Cool stuff jp .

[kevinmontoya]

so I have a 160a alternator that puts half at idle, a new group 35 battery up front with the big 3, 1/0 ofc running to the back to 2 semi truck starter batteries powering a (true) 3000w ds18 amp putting out 2100 at 2 ohms. it's connected to 2 sdr 12s that take 650 each rms and 1200 peak. How am I getting clipping when my voltage doesn't dip below 13 and I have so much electrical going on.

[jeffreycattelino]

You buy a dd1 and comprehend what you read and do the procedure correctly.

[commonsenseisdeadin]

SOME amplifiers you can very distinctively hear the very beginning of it clipping the sine wave HOWEVER how will you know unless a clip light or Oscope (DD1 if only at 40Hz) is used to know which amplifier you can and can not. so I agree good luck. The reason clipping kills is because it causes excessive amperage, amperage equals more heat, and heat kills all. Clipping is a very specific form of distortion, , I wouldn't say they are one of the same.