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How do you fix car audio clipping?
My drive into work is the only time I can really blast my music how I want to, with no kids in the car. But for some reason, my car audio is clipping. How can I fix this?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
That’s super frustrating! Let’s help you get your car stereo issue sorted so you can enjoy that commute again.
There are a few different issues that can cause car audio clipping. Here’s a quick rundown of these problems, and how to address them.
The amplifier isn’t properly grounded: A great many DIYers have installed their own car stereo only to encounter clipping and distortion. And we’re not talking about the distortion pedal Jimmy Hendrix was using on his guitar, either. If you did this yourself, the first thing you should check is your ground point (which should be the car’s chassis).
The gain is too high: Simply put, if you’ve fiddled with the gain setting, fiddle it back! The gain does make the speakers louder, but gain is not the same thing as volume. If the gain is too high, you’ll get distortion and clipping.
Damaged (or blown) subwoofers: Your subwoofers are tasked with bringing the bass. If your volume is too high and the bass is cranked, the subwoofer can get damaged. If this happens, you’ll need to replace the damaged subwoofers, and match the RMA output power of the car’s amplifier with the subwoofers’ RMS power.
Weak amplifier: You need your amplifier to produce enough power for the speakers to work under a full load, but not more power than the speakers can handle. A weak amplifier can cause clipping, and nearly as much damage as overpowering the speakers, too!
Amplifier overheating: Like lots of other types of electronics, amplifiers get hot when they’re being used, especially at higher volumes. And if an amplifier’s components get too hot, they’ll stop working as intended. So make sure your amplifier has room to breathe. You want cool air to reach it, and hot air to escape it.
Jerry
is a company that helps people shop for car insurance
. We want you to drive safely and maximize your savings. So please, jam out in the car responsibly. Save the air drum solos and headbanging for red lights only.We hope this helped!
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- Gregory R.
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