So ive been reading alot about line drivers, but...

FyreDaug · 10-13-2006, 12:31 AM

So ive read over and over how to tune your systems sound.

I will have a 2.8v output, which I will then want to get a good line driver (probably not now, but later) so I can then crank the gains DOWN on my system. I know to tune it to <0.05V at the max volume you would listen to, but if I had it so the output from computer had 0.00VDC, then raise the line voltage to somewhere around 8v from a line driver that goes up to 8v, would I set the line driver to max? Where abouts would I put the output from the driver to go to the amps? Or do I do the same test with the DC voltage on the line driver too?

EDIT: Also, the master volume on the computer is like the output gain right? What about the wave out volume, does it really matter? I usually put my wave out to about 80% and the master gets as high as 70%, is that a decent way of doing it? Or can it be 100% wave and ~60% master to be better?

Shadow · 10-13-2006, 08:17 AM

You're limited by what voltages your amp can take on its inputs.

FyreDaug · 10-13-2006, 05:13 PM

so if its 8v and the amp can only take 5 will it blow up? Or just throw away the other volts and cause more distortion? Is there a typical rating for amp inputs? I never really thought about it

durwood · 10-13-2006, 05:26 PM

It will not blow up. You will just be overdriving the input stage of the amp. It will just "clip" the input. Picture a nice smooth wave and then chop the top and bottom of the wave off. It then becomes more of a square wave instead of a sinusoidal wave (for 1 pure frequency). In other words the music will sound distorted. This would be called input gain clipping. You can correct it by adjusting the output level of the line driver...if it has a level control and most usually do.

FyreDaug · 10-13-2006, 05:30 PM

ohh I get it, ok well thats cool, but how do you know what the max is of your amp? Is that trial and error?

If its getting input gain clipping, then that would instantly be travelled to the speaker outputs right? So you can check when your amp is overinputgained with the dc voltage you can pick up from the speaker outputs?

Makes sense to me, did I miss something?

durwood · 10-13-2006, 05:37 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by FyreDaug

ohh I get it, ok well thats cool, but how do you know what the max is of your amp? Is that trial and error?

If its getting input gain clipping, then that would instantly be travelled to the speaker outputs right? So you can check when your amp is overinputgained with the dc voltage you can pick up from the speaker outputs?

Makes sense to me, did I miss something?

Nope you got it. If you had a pure test tone @ 0 dB on a CD, you could play that frequency and measure it with an osciliscope to see if it is clipping on the outputs. If you want to see if your amp is clipping you would measure it at the loudest volume you would play your stereo at. I hope this makes sense.

FyreDaug · 10-13-2006, 10:48 PM

yeah man, cleared it up. thanks

Shadow · 10-14-2006, 08:09 AM

Or you could RTFM and read the specs section.

durwood · 10-14-2006, 11:59 AM

For another note, line drivers are designed to reduce the ammount of noise that could be picked up by RCA cables running the length of the car. If your source voltage is low going into the line driver, the line driver will ALSO increase the noise. As you increase the voltage, the noise floor or induced noise decreases so it sounds cleaner. But the voltage varys with the volume level. It is not like the line driver puts a constant 8V perhaps. Just FYI.

FyreDaug · 10-14-2006, 02:45 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Shadow

Or you could RTFM and read the specs section.

How can I read the manual for something I do not own?

Yeah I know it goes up with volume, how do you think "volume" is made anyways? Increasing line voltage

XC-C30 · 10-14-2006, 05:26 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by FyreDaug

How can I read the manual for something I do not own?

Yeah I know it goes up with volume, how do you think "volume" is made anyways? Increasing line voltage

damn you're stupid..... download the manual on the manufacturer's website maybe?

and yes i'm back with comment, cause to me it seems you're just a lazy *** who sais he did research but did ****!

FyreDaug · 10-15-2006, 08:33 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by IC-C30

damn you're stupid..... download the manual on the manufacturer's website maybe?

and yes i'm back with comment, cause to me it seems you're just a lazy *** who sais he did research but did ****!

I dont know what brand, all I said was I was reading about line drivers. Where the hell did I specify what brand I was using? damn you're stupid.

Shadow · 10-15-2006, 08:59 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by you

how do you know what the max is of your amp?

Quote: Originally Posted by me

Or you could RTFM and read the specs section.

Calm down man.