What Causes Clipping?
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 745
Likes: 28
From: MN. USA
What Causes Clipping?
I had my bike up on the bench for some cleaning and lite maintenance (just installed White vintage rubber grips and boards). I had the stereo on and a trickle charger going. But when I turned it up to almost max the amp/speakers started to clip. I assume that it was because the battery was not putting out enough amps as the meter showed it was not at full charge and I had run The stereo for a few hours.
Any thoughts?
Any thoughts?
Road Captain
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 682
Likes: 197
From: Raleigh, NC
What Causes Clipping?
Clipping is the result of overdriving the power amp. With a normal sine wave, amplifying the signal increases the hills and valleys of that signal. As the amplifier reaches its limits, the heights of the hills and the depths of the valleys get "clipped" off, resulting in a distortion of the amplified signal.
This is one of the big differences between tube amps and solid state amps, in that as they are overdriven, the resulting distortion takes on different characteristics. Tube amps tend to narrow the highs and lows, rather than lopping them off, and the resulting distortion tends to be less harsh. Solid state amps (like the one on your bike) produce a brutal distortion that is almost as hard on your ears as it is to your speakers.
Try to avoid overdriving that amp.
GM
This is one of the big differences between tube amps and solid state amps, in that as they are overdriven, the resulting distortion takes on different characteristics. Tube amps tend to narrow the highs and lows, rather than lopping them off, and the resulting distortion tends to be less harsh. Solid state amps (like the one on your bike) produce a brutal distortion that is almost as hard on your ears as it is to your speakers.
Try to avoid overdriving that amp.
GM
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,789
Likes: 277
From: Hawkeye state
A big factor missing here is the head unit. If you send a clipped signal to amp no matter the gain you get a clipped output . You need to know the head units clipping point to have the amps gain set accordingly. Either use 3/4 volume rule or find the clipping point with a scope or dd1.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,518
Likes: 59
From: Port Neches Texas
A big factor missing here is the head unit. If you send a clipped signal to amp no matter the gain you get a clipped output . You need to know the head units clipping point to have the amps gain set accordingly. Either use 3/4 volume rule or find the clipping point with a scope or dd1.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,789
Likes: 277
From: Hawkeye state
Its more along the line of the volume adjustment level that they would clip. Not really that one clips worse than others. Clipping is clipping.Some don't at full and some do at 1/2 to 3/4. Using the low level outputs and buying a quality known name brand is the safe bet. Downside is unless someone has an oscilloscope or a distortion detector you really don't know without user feedback who has done so. Always do your homework before pulling the trigger.
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Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 745
Likes: 28
From: MN. USA
That was my first thought. It had never done this before. First thing is I added a new amp and another set of speakers. Since I blew a set with my last set up I held back on the gains a tad in hopes of not stressing the new speakers. Also I had been running the stereo for a few hours with a tender hooked up. Thinking the tender did not keep up.