Hello everyone... been thinking of this for a while but finally got fed up with it when I was last home!!!
My PDX-1.1000 is an awesome amp... when it works! When i first got it it was awesome but a few days later it blew all 4 fuses. Thinking it was just a minor error I had made, I replaced em and it worked fine for about 2 months. Then it happened again!!!THINK
Unable to locate an error on my install I took it to my local shop where I had my new car fitted with some recently purchased eq to have them check it out. They said they could'nt find any errors in myt install, replaced the fuses, and sent me on my way. Low and behold only a month later POP!
Now im thinking defect! I ordered the amp from Crutchfield but I haven't called them yet cuz I wanted an opinion from you guys cuz your awesome! Any suggestions?
P.S. If i send it back for a warranty exchange do you think they'll send me back the same series amp or is it possible to get credited for it?THINK Cuz i was looking at ditching my other car and just upgrade my new one and I wanted the eq to match.
Replies (6)
newB on 04/29/2008 17:18:53
without having a car to run the DMM in i dont know what to tell you over the net- although swez is the wiring and troubleshooting guru he may have some wisdom i have not acquired yet
-Drew
swez on 04/29/2008 17:33:18
T-Ray
A few guys have reported problems with their Alpine PDX series amps and your's may be one on that list. I would contact Crutch and explain your scenario and see what they suggest.
It could be a Mfging/lot issue or your gains and setup parameters are in need of tweaking. Either way, let Crutch direct you as they are the vendor that you bought from and should know/have some history on them by now.
Swez
SQLThump on 04/29/2008 19:28:49
The 1.1000 ia actually at the top of that (PDX amp failure) list.
I can think of several who had had the same gripes, and CplKittle and UKinstaller actually started a thread detailing many problems with Alpine's reliablilty as of late, namely on the PDX series and DOA nav units.
Although I doubt this has anything to do with your setup, i would check over gains and the like one extra time to make sure of this.
In my expirence, I have seen amp fuses blow only when something the protect circuit can't catch, and these two reasons are:
1. A MELTED voice coil on a sub. Melted as in burnt to a crisp, with power and ground loops of the coil now one piece.....
2. Extreme overcurrent. As in ohm load too low, in combination with really high gains and bass boost. Basically an amp trying to make waaaay more power than it can, without going into protect either thermally or voltagewise.
I doubt either of the above is the case, if your subs work fine. Generally, a short in the power line before the amp blows the fuse on the amp lead close to the battery, not the amp fuses, and a short in the speaker line must be extremely severe to do anything more than go into protect mode.
My suspect: a reputed product brand trying hard to make state of the art products with advanced technology, and not doing enough homework to make it work properly. I know digital and Class-T operate close to and sometimes at 100% efficiency, perhaps it is too soon to be marketing this technology to the average joe, instead of a selected few with tons of money, and little bearing on what a faild product can do to a consumer's fun. Or whoever is in charge of quality control for the protect circuits really needs a boot in the hindquarters.
I feel for you man, but doubt that much can be done to credit you to a different line of amps. I am not personally expeirenced in doing business with Crutch, but what I have heard has always been great. Hopefully they can get you in a different amp.
SQLThump
T-RAY on 05/2/2008 06:38:37
Like I said in my other post I chekd everything after the first blown fuses and the second time I had my local shop do a check and they said they couldn't find anyhthing wrong... replaced em and a month later POP. But I will give crutchfield a call to see what they can do for me. Like u said SQ... they have always been great and Im sure this wont be an issue for them!!!
P.S. I know it's not my sub cuz I had it taken out of my old car and put in my new one with a new MRP-M1000 alpine and its totally awesome! I've had no issues with my current one. Thats why I was wondering if they would credit me for another alpine that I have now!
SQLThump on 05/2/2008 15:15:14
And as I said, I doubted it was your sub. Some amps just recieve the ultimate stamp that no piece of gear ever wants to recieve. And that stamp is:
FAKIN' THE FUNK!
Have you called Crutch or anything yet to se if you can get this amp replaced with something that will logically work for you?
ttocs on 05/3/2008 18:08:35
I too have been hearing of these issues with the pdx line. I have not heard of a fix for it other then replacing the fuses. IT is not you or your sub...
My PDX-1.1000 is an awesome amp... when it works! When i first got it it was awesome but a few days later it blew all 4 fuses. Thinking it was just a minor error I had made, I replaced em and it worked fine for about 2 months. Then it happened again!!!THINK
Unable to locate an error on my install I took it to my local shop where I had my new car fitted with some recently purchased eq to have them check it out. They said they could'nt find any errors in myt install, replaced the fuses, and sent me on my way. Low and behold only a month later POP!
Now im thinking defect! I ordered the amp from Crutchfield but I haven't called them yet cuz I wanted an opinion from you guys cuz your awesome! Any suggestions?
P.S. If i send it back for a warranty exchange do you think they'll send me back the same series amp or is it possible to get credited for it?THINK Cuz i was looking at ditching my other car and just upgrade my new one and I wanted the eq to match.
Replies (6)
newB on 04/29/2008 17:18:53
without having a car to run the DMM in i dont know what to tell you over the net- although swez is the wiring and troubleshooting guru he may have some wisdom i have not acquired yet
-Drew
swez on 04/29/2008 17:33:18
T-Ray
A few guys have reported problems with their Alpine PDX series amps and your's may be one on that list. I would contact Crutch and explain your scenario and see what they suggest.
It could be a Mfging/lot issue or your gains and setup parameters are in need of tweaking. Either way, let Crutch direct you as they are the vendor that you bought from and should know/have some history on them by now.
Swez
SQLThump on 04/29/2008 19:28:49
The 1.1000 ia actually at the top of that (PDX amp failure) list.
I can think of several who had had the same gripes, and CplKittle and UKinstaller actually started a thread detailing many problems with Alpine's reliablilty as of late, namely on the PDX series and DOA nav units.
Although I doubt this has anything to do with your setup, i would check over gains and the like one extra time to make sure of this.
In my expirence, I have seen amp fuses blow only when something the protect circuit can't catch, and these two reasons are:
1. A MELTED voice coil on a sub. Melted as in burnt to a crisp, with power and ground loops of the coil now one piece.....
2. Extreme overcurrent. As in ohm load too low, in combination with really high gains and bass boost. Basically an amp trying to make waaaay more power than it can, without going into protect either thermally or voltagewise.
I doubt either of the above is the case, if your subs work fine. Generally, a short in the power line before the amp blows the fuse on the amp lead close to the battery, not the amp fuses, and a short in the speaker line must be extremely severe to do anything more than go into protect mode.
My suspect: a reputed product brand trying hard to make state of the art products with advanced technology, and not doing enough homework to make it work properly. I know digital and Class-T operate close to and sometimes at 100% efficiency, perhaps it is too soon to be marketing this technology to the average joe, instead of a selected few with tons of money, and little bearing on what a faild product can do to a consumer's fun. Or whoever is in charge of quality control for the protect circuits really needs a boot in the hindquarters.
I feel for you man, but doubt that much can be done to credit you to a different line of amps. I am not personally expeirenced in doing business with Crutch, but what I have heard has always been great. Hopefully they can get you in a different amp.
SQLThump
T-RAY on 05/2/2008 06:38:37
Like I said in my other post I chekd everything after the first blown fuses and the second time I had my local shop do a check and they said they couldn't find anyhthing wrong... replaced em and a month later POP. But I will give crutchfield a call to see what they can do for me. Like u said SQ... they have always been great and Im sure this wont be an issue for them!!!
P.S. I know it's not my sub cuz I had it taken out of my old car and put in my new one with a new MRP-M1000 alpine and its totally awesome! I've had no issues with my current one. Thats why I was wondering if they would credit me for another alpine that I have now!
SQLThump on 05/2/2008 15:15:14
And as I said, I doubted it was your sub. Some amps just recieve the ultimate stamp that no piece of gear ever wants to recieve. And that stamp is:
FAKIN' THE FUNK!
Have you called Crutch or anything yet to se if you can get this amp replaced with something that will logically work for you?
ttocs on 05/3/2008 18:08:35
I too have been hearing of these issues with the pdx line. I have not heard of a fix for it other then replacing the fuses. IT is not you or your sub...
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