How can I fix clipping?

Matt_jones105

I recently bought 2 sets of db 651's and put in my boat. They sound good until I turn them up loud on a hard hitting song they sound horrible. Just a bad sound. How can I fix this problem.

Dennis Gardner

Glad to help! Make sure that you purchase an amp install kit with that amp. It will give you the needed power cables, fuses, connectors, instructions to make this work for you. Important to use adequate power cabling/fuses to protect your boat's electrical system. Let us know if you need any more help. I have installed system in my last three boats and it does make for a more enjoyable time on the water.

Matt_jones105

Did I wire it wrong??

polrbehr

What are you driving them with? If it's a stock 10wpc pioneer stereo (as an example, not to bash Pioneer), you are likely overdriving them to clipping.
Think about adding an external amp, until then keep the volume at reasonable levels before you fry something.

Matt_jones105

Clarion. What came with the boat. What kind of amp do I need? And how do I go about hooking it up

Matt_jones105

I thought the amp would fry them. Sorry if this is in the wrong section.

Dennis Gardner

The Polk speakers were made to handle solid power, more than factory models. You need to look at the back of your Clarion and see if it has connections for an amplifier. These would be RCA type red and white connections in the wiring harness. These will carry the signal to the amplifier and the speakers then hook into the amplifier. (Disregard the black connection in the photo as your Clarion won't have it.)

Matt_jones105

Yes it has the white and black

Matt_jones105

I mean white and red

Dennis Gardner

Matt_jones105 wrote: »

I mean white and red

With those connections, it is easy to add an separate amplifier. You do need to realize that loud music with lots of bass is very difficult to achieve in an open cabin area of a boat unless you add subwoofers and amps, so you need to understand that adding a single 2 channel amp will get you louder, cleaner sound, but to get real bump from it you whould need to add a sub/amp setup to handle just the bass and let the new Polks handle the mids and highs. Just understand that each addition is incremental.....

daddyjt

The only cure for signal clipping is an increase in clean power. Unless you exceed the mechanical limits of the drivers in your speakers, it is VERY difficult to damage a speaker from an excess of power....

Matt_jones105

Oh I know I'm not worried about bumpin. I just want clear sound. That's it. Do I need 2 or 4 channel amp

Matt_jones105

So y'all are saying an amp will fix my problems and won't blow anything up? Is it hard to rig an amp up? So all I have to do is unhook all four speakers from radio, hook radio up to amp, then run a power supply to the battery

F1nut

Isn't your motor enough noise?

Matt_jones105

Yeah it is. Why you think I need loud speakers

F1nut

Typical power boater.

polrbehr

F1nut wrote: »

Typical power boater.

Whattaya call a sailboater on a calm day?
Moored.

polrbehr

Matt_jones105 wrote: »

Oh I know I'm not worried about bumpin. I just want clear sound. That's it. Do I need 2 or 4 channel amp

If you have 4 speakers, get a decent 4-channel amp. I'm not a 12volt guy, so I can't
really recommend a maker or model or how many watts-per-channel you will need, I would guess minimum of 50 wpc though, that seems to be a good starting point?Maybe someone else can chime in for that.

tonyb

You don't really fix clipping, you simply try to avoid it.

Your turning the volume up too loud is the reason your clipping. Adding an amp will give some more headroom, a clearer and slightly louder sound, but you can still clip.

When your turning up the volume and the music starts to sound like crap, turn it down. You should also add a subwoofer to help with that bottom end and overcome the open area of the boat and motor noise.

Boat systems are much like car systems, only worse due to the noise factor and you don't have an enclosed cabin like a car for the sound to reflect back at you. Sound will dissipate quickly in that openness.

Try an amp first and see how it goes, then add a subwoofer if you still feel like that bottom end needs more.

Always good to hook up with other boaters and see what they are using while your out on the water, and get an idea of what it will take to get good sound. Hopefully your wallet doesn't squeak when it opens, because if the noise level is as you described, your gonna need some WD40 for the ol' wallet.

vmaxer

I have an amp that will handle it.

Matt_jones105

I'm not worried about any bass. That's not the problem and I don't have room for a sub anyway. So I think an amp is gonna be the only fix or Just turn it down!

notified

I know this is a no brainer suggestion so don't take it as being condescending but if your going to go the amplifier route either buy one intended for marine use or build some sort of compartment to house it in to keep it dry and out of the elements

Matt_jones105

Yeah I know I was going to buy a marine one. Do I need 2 or 4 channel for 4 speakers

Matt_jones105

And how many watts does it need to be?

Matt_jones105

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/mb-quart-nautic-series-class-ab-bridgeable-multichannel-amplifier-with-variable-crossovers-silver/4400247.p?id=1219098066406&skuId=4400247

This is what somebody else said I needed

Dennis Gardner

That amp would be just fine. 90 watts for 4 channels will work.

Matt_jones105

Okay thanks for the help!

Matt_jones105

One more quick question!! Do I have to run anything to my fuse box?

Dennis Gardner

Purchase an amp installation kit with that amp. It will have instructions and all the needed cabling for hookup of that amp. Basically it requires a fused line to your battery, a grounding cable and a turn on cable from your receiver along with the signal cables.

notified

Type- "wiring a marine amp" into the google search bar and you should find most of the answers you'll need to know

codycatalist

If you DO end up wanting some bump look into Polk's MM line of woofers. Low profile, marine grade and great sound. I have mine in a car and have loved it for the past 3 years.