Am I Clipping too much ?

[Mission]

As mentioned in another thread I think I should of gone for a bigger speaker combination but ended up geeting a pair of 128 Class D's in a hurry a couple of months ago.

I find I am clipping (clip light flasing on and off with the music) trying to get a volume suitable for the venue. Is this too much clipping with the clip lights flashing ? Will I cause damage clipping like that.

The solution was to add a pair of Bass Bins but haven't got a large enough Vehicle at the moment.

Also the Amp (RMS) is 330W x 2 into 8ohm.

[colint]

Hi Tone! your amp shouldn't be clipping at all! clipping is the one thing you don't want, the signal distorts when your amp clips and apart from the damage it won't sound to good either!
what make is your amp?

[Excalibur]

As mentioned in another thread I think I should of gone for a bigger speaker combination but ended up geeting a pair of 128 Class D's in a hurry a couple of months ago.

I find I am clipping (clip light flasing on and off with the music) trying to get a volume suitable for the venue. Is this too much clipping with the clip lights flashing ? Will I cause damage clipping like that.

The solution was to add a pair of Bass Bins but haven't got a large enough Vehicle at the moment.

Also the Amp (RMS) is 330W x 2 into 8ohm.

If you are getting enough Bass, while it still doesn't address your space issues, adding another ( preferably identical ) pair of full range is usually the cheapest and easiest fix. You will gain drivers to move air, and you should get in the order of 4-500w at 4ohms, thus 200-250 per cab. A win-win situation, if you can fit them in the motor!:D

[Mission]

Hi Tone! your amp shouldn't be clipping at all! clipping is the one thing you don't want, the signal distorts when your amp clips and apart from the damage it won't sound to good either!
what make is your amp?

Amp is an Audiohead AH1000

It can be run in Stereo,Parellel or Bridged. Running in Stereo.

The same model is produced still but under a different make.

[Mission]

If you are getting enough Bass, while it still doesn't address your space issues, adding another ( preferably identical ) pair of full range is usually the cheapest and easiest fix. You will gain drivers to move air, and you should get in the order of 4-500w at 4ohms, thus 200-250 per cab. A win-win situation, if you can fit them in the motor!:D

If I could get a pair of extra speakers in, they would be same size as a pair of compact size Bass Bins. So no not enough room.

Is it the Amp or Speakers or Both I need to upgrade ?

As a thought what if I get a pair of 15" Full Range Class D's to take out for now ? And use the 12" ones as spares/small venue or add them on when I have a bigger vehicle ?

[Corabar Steve]

I can't praise the 15" Class Ds highly enough. I would've thought you'd be OK with them.

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

I had the smaller one of the same range. audiohead 600 i think it was. looked very simular to the one pictured but slimmer.

I had the same problem as you have got that it clips when you turn it up. My problem was that the amp wasn't powerful enough to drive my speakers so i had to get a more powerful amp now use the audiohead as i backup.

Please note: anybody using audiohead equipment should be aware that last year this company went bust which means any new equipment or parts you may require is no longer avaliable.

[Mission]

I can't praise the 15" Class Ds highly enough. I would've thought you'd be OK with them.

Steve

Was going to get a set of 158's with the horns as the 128's I have, have the three tweeters. Are the horns better ?

They are a little bit bigger in size to the 128's but should be able to make room in the motor.

Will order a pair in the morning, won't be here for this weekends gigs but I am in the same rooms again, so 128's will do this weekend. They haven't told me it's too quite anyway.

So does it look like as the 128's are only 250W, I am trying to drive too much power into them. Should the 158's at 350W give me some more power without clipping ?

[Corabar Steve]

We've got both & in my opinion they're pretty much of a muchness, although many prefer horns to piezos.

[Excalibur]

Steve

Was going to get a set of 158's with the horns as the 128's I have, have the three tweeters. Are the horns better ?

They are a little bit bigger in size to the 128's but should be able to make room in the motor.

Will order a pair in the morning, won't be here for this weekends gigs but I am in the same rooms again, so 128's will do this weekend. They haven't told me it's too quite anyway.

So does it look like as the 128's are only 250W, I am trying to drive too much power into them. Should the 158's at 350W give me some more power without clipping ?


No, no and no again. Meant to point this out last time. If the amp is clipping, you are overdriving it. Changing the speakers for others of the same impedance will make no difference at all, UNLESS as Rob is fond of pointing out, you get more efficient speakers. This is why I suggested an extra pair of speakers in parallel, it's effectively a free power upgrade. Your problem is that your amp is too small, and you are having to turn it up too far, a problem compounded by the fact that Class-D's are not as sensitive as some, usually requiring a bigger amp than you would often use. I have found conflicting figures for the AH1000 output, it's either 330w at 8ohms, or 300w at 4ohms( which is only 200w at 8ohms ) 330w at 8ohm seems favourite.
So to answer your query, it's amp and speakers for an upgrade, sorry. Look for something like Behringer 2500, C-Mark 2450, possibly KAM KXR 1500, likewise Numark Dimension 4.

PS Ask about these babies.

http://www.class-d.com/Product.aspx?PRO=739

[Corabar Steve]

PS Ask about these babies.

http://www.class-d.com/Product.aspx?PRO=739

Stop it Pete, you're upsetting mehttp://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/scorchio/ssad.gif

[Mission]

No, no and no again. Meant to point this out last time. If the amp is clipping, you are overdriving it. Changing the speakers for others of the same impedance will make no difference at all, UNLESS as Rob is fond of pointing out, you get more efficient speakers. This is why I suggested an extra pair of speakers in parallel, it's effectively a free power upgrade. Your problem is that your amp is too small, and you are having to turn it up too far, a problem compounded by the fact that Class-D's are not as sensitive as some, usually requiring a bigger amp than you would often use. I have found conflicting figures for the AH1000 output, it's either 330w at 8ohms, or 300w at 4ohms( which is only 200w at 8ohms ) 330w at 8ohm seems favourite.
So to answer your query, it's amp and speakers for an upgrade, sorry. Look for something like Behringer 2500, C-Mark 2450, possibly KAM KXR 1500, likewise Numark Dimension 4.

PS Ask about these babies.

http://www.class-d.com/Product.aspx?PRO=739

OK, what I'm going to do is hold off buying anything until next year and get a 2.5K Amp and maybe they will have an even better price on those speakers above :D . Need to check to see if they will fit though first.

Yes the spec sheet and manual I have for the AH1000 is wrong as they have the 8 ohm and 4 ohm figures the wrong way round. It says:

4 ohm Stereo Power (RMS) 330W x 2
8 ohm Stereo Power (RMS) 520W x 2
8 ohm Bridged Power (RMS) 700W

[Excalibur]

Stop it Pete, you're upsetting mehttp://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/scorchio/ssad.gif

Not as much as these upset me! I buy two pairs of the old model, then they uprate the drivers to 500w RMS from 350, and then they add insult to injury by bringing out these!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :bang:

http://www.class-d.com/Product.aspx?PRO=847 :D :D :D :D :D

PS, I have decided to get a pair of these, and another amp as soon as enough Xmas funds come in. All up, that will be a max possible 3kw rig, with twelve 15" drivers, six on sub, and six on tops!!


http://www.class-d.com/Product.aspx?PRO=739. I'll let you all know how they go, as soon as I get them. ;) :D


PPS Rob, I'm sorry, but you would fail the physical for the roadie on that rig, but thanks for offering! ;) :D :D :D

[Excalibur]

OK, what I'm going to do is hold off buying anything until next year and get a 2.5K Amp and maybe they will have an even better price on those speakers above :D . Need to check to see if they will fit though first.

Yes the spec sheet and manual I have for the AH1000 is wrong as they have the 8 ohm and 4 ohm figures the wrong way round. It says:

4 ohm Stereo Power (RMS) 330W x 2
8 ohm Stereo Power (RMS) 520W x 2
8 ohm Bridged Power (RMS) 700W

That's roughly what I found. 330w into the 128's is probably a little on the low side. I run a 1.5Kw amp into two pairs of 215's, and to be honest, while the sound quality is great( Especially Bass! ) it's not as loud as one might hope.

[Corabar Steve]

and then they add insult to injury by bringindg out these!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :bang:

http://www.class-d.com/Product.aspx?PRO=847 :D :D :D :D :D

Good News!

To clarify a bit of confusion (as brought up in another thread), the price for the CD215SP is £299 the pair. I've just spoken to Class D & they have confirmed the £399 is an error & will be removed from the site ASAP.

[Excalibur]

Good News!

To clarify a bit of confusion (as brought up in another thread), the price for the CD215SP is £299 the pair. I've just spoken to Class D & they have confirmed the £399 is an error & will be removed from the site ASAP.

Yippeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually it doesn't matter, they're not on my shopping list! ;)

[Tom]

Yippeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually it doesn't matter, they're not on my shopping list! ;)

well not yet. ;) :lol:

[Excalibur]

well not yet. ;) :lol:

Not at all! It's their little sister's I'm after, the 15SP's. Imagine trying to fly a five foot tall speaker!!:eek: :D