[ciento44]

Hey guys,

I wrapped up the stereo install in the Escort, only to have to take the amp out and just run the speakers off the headunit.

Everything worked fine at lower volumes, tripped protection mode once it got into middle of the road volumes.

Alternator is good on the car, battery is 2 months old, and has never drained. It's nothing special, just a Napa battery, but the system isn't high power or anything.

There are only two speakers in the car, a set of 6.5 Kickers in the front.

So, there are:

Kicker DS650s
Kenwood KDC-MP332
Kenwood KAC-943 4-channel amp

Now, i ran my power, ground, and remote to the amp, got it to power on like it should with no problems.

I then ran an RCA from the "front" outputs on the HU, to input set "A" on the amp. Then used speaker output set "A" on the amp. Set the amp for 4ohms, set both amp "A" and "B" to "stereo." Turned HPF/LPF off. Turned my gain all the way down on both halves.

I should clarify the amp "A" and "B" thing.... This is a 4-channel amp that actually consists of two separate 2-channel amps within one chassis. Rather strange for something made in 1993 i guess.

The frustrating thing about this amp is that even though i'm only taking input on the "A" side, the amp will output in both A and B even in stereo mode.

The right channel is effed up on one of the amps i think. I can run the left channel as loud as i want, and it sounds great, but once the right channel goes to about medium volume, the amp goes into protect mode and starts cutting out.

Now... that all being said, i never tried to run it while the car was actually running. This was all just off the battery, but that wouldn't explain why i could play the left channel so loud.

Here's the manual:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/3275919/Manua ... al-English

I need to figure out how to use just "B" inputs and "B" outputs, or if that's even possible. I tried a few other configurations, but couldn't really get anywhere.

Help anyone?

Thanks!

 

[neuspeedescort]

have you tried a jumper set of rca's? maybe something got knicked in the install?

does the channel produce any static?

are you sure its the amp and not the deck? old install knew it was amp then i don't know.

most the time ihave had an amp show up bad or go bad the amp is either DOA or the channel will produce gargled sound. like a damaged voice coil sounds. when i have had protection go on its been from start no half volume action.


NEUMAN

 

[ciento44]

What do you mean by jumper RCAs? I've tried two different pairs on it, with the same results, if that's what you mean.

The deck is fine. I took the amp out and it's running just off of deck power and sounds pretty good already.

The old install was the factory stuff that had bit the dust. I've replaced everything at this point.

I'm with you with amps going bad giving those symptoms.... i'm just a little lost here. It sounds perfect up until it goes into protect mode. No scratches, no garbles, no nothing. All my wiring is run correctly, i don't have anything grounding on anything else, no crossed wires.

I have the speaker wires run right... adjusting r/l balance on the HU still did that correctly.

The only thing that i couldn't check by listening was if the right channel was in phase or not, because it wouldn't get loud enough to be able to tell. But i don't think being out of phase would trip protection, anyways, correct?

But yeah.... no weird noises, just cuts out at about.... quarter volume even when set at min gain.

 

[neuspeedescort]

you understood everything i asked. i don't know what to tell you.

have you worked the x-over switch a few times slowly. i know my zapco ag150 has a tempremental switch. it will cut out and on until the amp warms up when its really cold out.

im going to vote the amp just has some internal issues. if that doesn't fix it.


NEUMAN

 

[ciento44]

you understood everything i asked. i don't know what to tell you.

I can has a cookie??!?!

have you worked the x-over switch a few times slowly. i know my zapco ag150 has a tempremental switch. it will cut out and on until the amp warms up when its really cold out.

im going to vote the amp just has some internal issues. if that doesn't fix it.

NEUMAN

I've got the crossover turned off. No subs in this system, just the 6.5s up front.

I'm afraid you're probably right, and that's what i was afraid of. You want to repair it for me?

I may drop it off at a place this week and see what they say. I like the amp, built like a tank (or so i thought) and it sounds great otherwise. Decent specs, too.

If it can't be saved, do you have anything lying around that you'd let go for cheap? 2 or 4-channel.

 

[neuspeedescort]

i don't repair amps. i have two amps right now in my garage that i need to bench test. but i need to get a 110w to 12v convertor still. all i have laying around is the system stuff for my copper car. im not giving that up!

if you like the amp so much have it repaired. nothign wrong with that.


NEUMAN

 

[pextor]

i use an older computer power supply to test my 12V items. it has to be an older AT style power supply, not an ATX.

 

[ciento44]

Ended up dropping it off to have it looked at.

BUT.....

Scored an old school Rockford P160x4 and an old school Eclipse PA4212 for $75.

Rockford has original box, manual, and even the birthsheet. In solid 9.5/10 condition. Very excited.

 

[neuspeedescort]

sounds to me like you cna ditch the kenwood!


NEUMAN

 

[ciento44]

sounds to me like you cna ditch the kenwood!

NEUMAN

We'll see. Still waiting to hear back from the repair guy with a price quote. I'd want to put it in my DD.

The Rockford sounds GREAT, by the way... but it really showed us that we really need to go with components. The sound stage is all kinds of effed up from blocking the driver's side speaker with your leg.

Maybe a birthday present? Crystal is very happy with the way it sounds now. It's the first time she's had a decent stereo in her cars.

 

[neuspeedescort]

yep staging is a huge factor! my passenger side sounds a littel weird do to the gauge cluster. i never noticed it since i never sat there. a buddy of mine pointed it out. but 90% of the time its just me in the car so it doesn't matter.

the copper car on the other hand will be staged primo!


NEUMAN

 

[Escort94GT]

ciento 44, i've got a set of components(Kenwood XRS 17P's) in my escort, i've got the tweeter placed right in front of the door handles, in that dead space sorta area.

And the mid it comes with easily fits right in where teh factory speakers are.

It really helps with the soundstaging, really a worthwhile effort. You will need to drill a hole, but there's lots of space behind it for the tweeter.

 

[ciento44]

^Thanks for the tip! I'm unsure if i'm going to try something like that, or mount it up on the dash, near the base of the A-pillar. The imaging is great in my Celica with stock locations, but it's got tweets at the door where it meets the A-pillar as well. I may just try to duplicate that.

We'll see.... that project would be a couple months down the road.

 

[Escort94GT]

if you check back in later this evening, i'll try to get some pics up for ya.

 

[neuspeedescort]

ciento 44, i've got a set of components(Kenwood XRS 17P's) in my escort, i've got the tweeter placed right in front of the door handles, in that dead space sorta area.

And the mid it comes with easily fits right in where teh factory speakers are.

It really helps with the soundstaging, really a worthwhile effort. You will need to drill a hole, but there's lots of space behind it for the tweeter.

if you put your tweet next to your woofer the way it is designed it would sound even better!

NEUMAN

 

[Escort94GT]

Thats true, and i looked into doing that, but the way the doors are designed on the 2nd gens theres no good place to put them. The door panel sits almost flush with the door, and the crank takes away some places to put it too.

I mean, if your going crazy custom ya you could figure something out, but this was the best way to go for what i was looking for.

 

[neuspeedescort]

i may look like the pot calling the kettle black but here are my doors. i had put my tweeter on the dash. when i swapped over everything from my 323. since then i built the below pods. if i had a dash top in good shape i would move my tweets asap. but i don't.

an here are some that i built for an mx3.

NEUMAN

 

[Escort94GT]

nice

 

[UnexplodedCow]

i use an older computer power supply to test my 12V items. it has to be an older AT style power supply, not an ATX.

ATX will work fine provided there is a small load on the 5 volt rail...a case fan pinned to run on 5 volts will work just fine. AT is just easier, although usually the power supplies aren't strong enough to withstand a 300 watt amp, let alone anything larger (I used to test that way myself), which is why I switched to ATX.