Subwoofer Crown amp - Red Light significance

[Sylar]

I have an crown XLS 1500 to go with my DIY subs.
Occasionally I come across one source where the sub has more work to be done, and some movie scene which is more taxing on the amp. And the light indication goes to red (at which point i reduce the sub amps volume. I normally set it at 50%)

The amp documentation says the light comes on when the channel is being overdriven.

1. What does it mean by overdriven? Does it mean Heavier load and hence more current/power draw?
2. Does the redlight also mean there is inbuilt protection in amp, or have I been plain lucky...so far? (I think there is some protection since I have heard some kind of switching noise from amp on some occasions when it goes red)

From what i understand of my sub-amp design (the design I use was provided to me by jinjuku), the amp's power out matches the sub designs requirements perfectly.
3. What if the power capacity of amp was more than what was required? What should one watch out for and why?
4. What if the power capacity of amp was less than what was required? What should one watch out for and why?

 

[fuzz092888]

1. What does it mean by overdriven? Does it mean Heavier load and hence more current/power draw?

It means the subwoofer requires X amount of power/current from the amplifier channel and the amplifier channel only deliver (X minus Y) watts. The sub is asking for more than the amplifier can give without blowing a fuse or going into protection mode.

2. Does the redlight also mean there is inbuilt protection in amp, or have I been plain lucky...so far? (I think there is some protection since I have heard some kind of switching noise from amp on some occasions when it goes red)
From what i understand of my sub-amp design (the design I use was provided to me by jinjuku), the amp's power out matches the sub designs requirements perfectly.

The amplifier will protect itself to a point, but continually driving into clipping or overdriving like that will shorten the life of the amplifier or kill it depending on how serious it is. Pretty much, you never want to consistently see the red light coming on.

3. What if the power capacity of amp was more than what was required? What should one watch out for and why?

If the amplifier has more power than the sub would ever require, then all you have to worry about is melting a voice coil or exceeding the excursion limits of the driver. With a DIY sub this is easy to check out and

4. What if the power capacity of amp was less than what was required? What should one watch out for and why?

Well that's pretty much your situation and all the worry is on the amplifier.

If the sub is level matched so to the speakers and you're not running it hot, then you're under powered. However, you have to be careful about adding a more power amplifier because then you might be running into situations where you could kill the driver. You'll have to check with jin about what exactly to see what that sub can handle exactly.

 

[Jeff R.]

I encounter this from time to time. My rule of thumb is some occasional red blinking is tolerable. Once you get past that you are at risk.


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