CLEAN, DISTORTION FREE SOUND! Set Amp Gains like a PRO! Its Easy! SMD DD-1

AVAILABLE ONLY AT www.wcCarAudio.com *** Ever wonder how to set your amp gains properly? We now have a hassle free solution and anyone can set them like a pro! The SMD Distortion Detector DD-1 is the answer! This is not just an alternative to an Oscilloscope. It does not just detect clipping, it detects DISTORTION. Even a clean, unclipped signal can contain distortion. This device will sniff it out. Once you have set your gains with proper "overlap", you will notice your system sounds better then ever and may even be louder! Remember, the gain setting is NOT a volume knob, it is there to match the signal input to the head units output so you can reach maximum clean power as the deck is reaching its own maximum output.
Use tracks ranging from 0db to -15 db (included on the disc) to set your gain overlaps according to the way you play your system. Detailed instructions will be included of course and i promise you this is EASY. EVERY serious installer should have one of these. Search youtube to see what the first "beta" testers are saying about this product.
They are now on sale at www.wcCarAudio.com with an expected ship date of early August 2011. Visit the site and download the installation manual today, it is good readin' if you are interested in this product and want to know more before you buy.
Follow my tweet at / meade916 - i will for sure tweet the message when we get more!
Check out my website www.SteveMeadeD... and join today!!
also, hit up the new facebook page @ / 185904678129665 hit the "like" button!

[@maxfmfdm]

This thing is the real deal. Just set up my system with it. Found out I could go way higher on my headunit without distortion. Getting more power from my amps now. Everything sounds perfectly clean and I know I can turn up my volume to max without making my sub amp clip and damaging my stuff.

[@jms2878]

Did you use the cd

[@elijahhena3143]

I just bought one and used it yesterday I've never had my stereo sound so clean before

[@tonycervantes4816]

Hey bro that thing is good or not good ?? Work good

[@elijahhena3143]

@@tonycervantes4816 good

[@chadbrown7648]

@@tonycervantes4816 had mine for 10 years now makes setting ur gains so easy

[@RandoManFPV]

How much was yours? I was expecting 70-125$ But 180$+ is way too much for a little tester thing for me

[@tonycervantes4816]

@@RandoManFPV yeah of price is 160 to 180.. I want to find somewhere a used .

[@meade916]

@MrHasse94 email my assistant jason at jason.wcCarAudio dotttt commm (had to spell it that way lol - he is officially helping with intl orders. Call him at 916-877-4513 to ask him direct intl. shipping questions....

[@meade916]

@rfofmiscellania yes because we can actually test the deck directly through the amp. When the gain is down and the freq is up all the way, it allows you to read it as if there is nothing amplifying at all.

[@REDMANKLAN]

Just ordered a dd1 can't wait to get it! Been following you for a few years and decided to pull the trigger

[@meade916]

if you owned one and you had a basic idea of how to set a gain, you would know that there is a thing called gain overlap. If your speakers have too big of an amp for their rated power handling, then you can either use a different track on the disc like 0db or you can simply turn the gain down a little.

[@carlitot5388]

Just ordered my DD+1 ! Can’t wait 💪🏾🔊🔉

[@meade916]

@andrewfontenot452 i recommend you dont get a cap and you get an XS power battery instead. If not XS then some other brand but your better off with a battery. Hit up wccaraudio dottttt commmm for info on those if you go that route

[@junkyardhemi]

Just ordered mine. I have an oscilloscope, multimeter and amp clamp meter. This tool is so much easier to use.

[@meade916]

@yzf7steve if you want it to be a little louder use the - tracks....

[@meade916]

@teethead exatly, amen to those that choose to keep guessing. This is not for people who want to guess. Its for people that want to KNOW.

[@wshultz74]

That is a cool tool. I've always done gain adjustment by digital meter and ear. That makes doing this task much easier. How awesome!

[@meade916]

in other words you have been doing it wrong. It's not just easier it is actually correct. :)

[@lilsolo68]

correct me if im wrong...1)connect neg to ground 2)connect pos to pos output 3)turn gain til it distorts 4)repeat on 4chnl...so when setting the amp(mono or 4chnnl) where should the frequency be at first and when setting 4chnl should you do each chnl or run jumper to all pos outputs....i have access to one of these and would like to try it myself before purchasing...thanks for replying.

[@meade916]

@aerosport91 possibly, i dont see why not, they are just tones.

[@DeVilleL13]

Love how analog the lights are on this it really lets you know how close you are to the point of clipping, Bravo guys ya knocked it out the park on this one

[@REDMANKLAN]

Just got my dd1 in the mail and properly found where my factory deck clips and set gains on my sub amp and mids and high amp this shit was super easy and my shit hits so much harder know!! Love this p.s did this shit in the snow in 25 degree weather can't feel my fingers haha but total worth it! Thanks Steve

[@qettyz]

I did that 11 years ago with an oscilloscope, played cd with 45Hz and tuned my amp to the max. I hope that thing is more expensive than hand held oscilloscopes =)

[@meade916]

@2000ninjazx12r read the instruction manual, available on the wc ca website. Its normal.

[@wesleybingham8461]

What?! Everyone seems upset they didn't gain (lol) 10-20 years of professional experience in car audio from a 6min video. There are a few good questions but most all of them could be answered by watching any of Steve's 37 other video's on gain setup. believe me I've watched them all while yrying to find setup videos for tools i have. SMD, Great products and great videos. Once I'm back to work ill be a steady customer!!f n

[@4711kingofhearts]

This is a must buy for me when I get my system started want my shit to sound clean

[@meade916]

@rickyfromthe407 the led's on the top of the T2500 dont indicate clipping just output.....

[@meade916]

@blistic3000 set up deck, set up eq, set up xover, then set amp...start at the front and work your way back. Its simple :)

[@meade916]

@fatasdat dont worry man i think we can find a better way. We are working on a solution now. I think USPS is the answer and it is like less then $30.

[@meade916]

@esevw001 thanks man!! we will have yours ready for you on ship date!!

[@briankeith1007]

Can I use the disc for a DD+1 with a DD1 unit?

[@meade916]

@Jayrod4113 the ear comment? removed for stupidity. Its like saying "i dont pack my parachute the right way, i just eyeball it"........just because 15 dumbasses also eyeball their parachute doesnt make it right lol. You keep guessing, i prefer to do it right. ESPECIALLY now that there is an easy way to do so.

[@kennywaco254]

my problem is clipping light on bass knob lights up when I go to my max not distorted (38 out of 40) on 40hrz. Volume on my double din Pioneer. I used the DD-1 on everything. I used track 3 to set the gain on my Crescendo BC2000. when I set it everything is flat and Bass knob is halfway. I followed everything by the book but when I listen to music I can only go to volume 32-34 then the red clipping light come on the knob. I am pushing 2 18 Fi BL. they are both wired at 1ohm so at the amp they are reading .5ohm. I trust the DD-1 should I disregard the knob and enjoy it or am I missing something.

[@daryl9112]

I order a smd dd1 and it's work fine but this product on Amazon doesn't give the buyer the option to buy from a cd or USB. But this guy told me that I can buy it on his website which cost 14 plus shipping.

[@porcomezerio]

I got the dd1 and cc1 a couple weeks ago. First thing I tried the dd1 on my friend's system, a basic jvc hu and alpine amp and type g sub (mids running trough deck power, Alpine V-Power Class D 700w Amplifier for sub with low level inputs) but something weird happens: sometimes, while looking for distortion coming out of the hu, max clean volume seems to be 40, but if the car is running the distortion point changes sometimes to 46, 48, or even shows no distortion at full volume even if I hear crazy clipping at that point on door speakers.. How could this affect the distortion point? I disabled every eq/crossover/loudness setting on hu and amp and tried both methods measuring trough the amp and directly with hu rcas. The car is a 2000 bmw 320d cat touring. Thanks in advance and sorry for my bad english.

[@maywestj39kr14]

I got the DD1 & CC1 great product looking forward to have the SMD AMM-1

[@esevw001]

Man i was waiting for these to be for sale, about to go buy one RIGHT NOW! Good work Steve.

[@ist0ria78]

i have now conf my system. wow the dd-1 and cc-1 make the job in 10 min :)

[@feedinc2735]

Kick ass Steve! The wait is over. Good job man.

[@meade916]

the CC-1 does not do anything for distortion bro. I'm not sure how you got that idea. DD-1 stands for Distortion Detector.

[@meade916]

@christopay ya? right on!!! thanks!

[@mpimonster]

Steve just wanted to let you know I been watching you from the very beginning I have purchased SMD DD-1 and I will make a review for you thanks mate

[@meade916]

@DynamikT i think we can i just dont really know how....i need my assistant to look into it.

[@meade916]

@Jayrod4113 cool, keep doing it wrong, i will do mine right. While your at it, turn the gain all the way up for "extra volume". lol

[@reecieboii]

pretty dope tool the audio world needs :P now to save up for one

[@supakamario]

Where can I get test tones digitally. My media player doesn't play cds. Just bought 1 waiting on amazon

[@tonycarver3801]

What if my head unit doesn’t have a CD player? Do I just play a 40hz 0db test tone?

[@Cypriotkiller]

Steve just made fixing clipping sooo easy

[@rashodbrooks1542]

I bought the smd dd-1 but my stereo doesn't play cd's can I download it on my phone or jump drive?

[@214deleon4]

I need help, what does the track set on when doing the bass amp? 0db? 5db? 10db? Whats the difference

[@bric7244]

How can you set the radio distortion, if you have a factory radio ran with a loc audio control 7i !?

[@jpagan1993]

Preordered mine a few weeks ago from Ray, can't wait for these to start shipping :)

[@wassupBGHS]

What if my head unit doesn't take CD's? How would I set the gains?

[@numinous4789]

So where exactly does the positive/negative leads connect to set the deck (and do you you 40hz or 1khz)? Where do they connect set the sub amp (I know you use the 40hz)? And where do they connect to set the full-range amp (I know you use the 1khz track). If you have a mono sub amp, this should be simple. But what about a 4-channel full-range amp. Do you have to do it twice? Once for each gain knob? Like for gain knob 1 for channel 1 and 2; and gain knob 2 for channel 3 and 4?

[@TheRadiastral]

+Numinous Yes, each gain knob needs to be set up separately.

[@Xpress_audio]

Very nice Steve. I hope to grab up one of these here pretty soon.

[@datboi101truth5]

Anyone knows where i can get another cd or download the test tracks from?

[@alanwong928]

I just bought one of these from Blade ICE in the UK. I can't wait to try it out!

[@johnbayliss7124]

How ya finding it dude just bought one my self

[@alanwong928]

@@johnbayliss7124 I don’t use it anymore, that was 7 years ago 😂 I gave it to my mate who’s an installer at a car audio shop. So they use it now.

[@johnbayliss7124]

@@alanwong928 did ya set it with speakers connected or disconnected

[@WNCAINTLOUD]

I set my gains with track 7 for louder system. When I'm playing full tilt, my gain knob says I'm clipping? Why is this? The highest my gain knob will go is where I set my gain on the amp.

[@Channel0002]

Does the black wire go to ground?? Or does it go to negative speaker??

[@davidmontalvo1942]

I have a link6 LOC with gains on all sets of RCA’s out. Do I start there? Or just use the DD1 on the two amps I have?

[@Bobbystilz43]

What if I am using a factory head unit with no CD? Should I just rip the CD to a thumb drive like I do my music? Also I am using an Audiocontrol LC7i. Any tips?

[@Carnage488]

Which track and frequency to use on the disk go set the gain on an amp for mids and highs?

[@IanHoltzhauzen]

How can I get one in South Africa?

[@twistedchild420]

Great vid bro! Love my DD1! And so do about 40 other people i hooked up...lol

[@Ribbon118]

Do i really need the disc? Because my stereo does not use discs

[@Rctrue420]

@andrewfontenot452 As stated before, the Big 3 Upgrade should help you a little depending on how much power your running. Im running 1500w and i have the Big 3 done, there are no problem with headlights dimming at heavy hits or running the battery down. Where as before i did the big 3, my headlights would dim pretty bad. But if your running over 1000w, and if your battery is getting older, i would replace it with an Optima Yellow top or an XS like Meade said.

[@JohnLee-ye4lr]

when using this what should you have your head unit settings set at? and how do you set all your other settings on your amp?

[@DanielRichards644]

as I understand it, ideally you would have it set flat across the board, but in practice, wherever you would normally have the EQ set at is where you want to leave it, just to be sure you aren't introducing distortion from boosting certain frequencies.

[@meade916]

@mayyay1232 you only need 40 and 1000hz.

[@fatasdat]

Went to buy one of the SMD Distortion Detectors and was DEVISTATED when I seen the freight to Australia was $118.. Surely there must be another way to get one of these puppies!!

[@meade916]

@alexkills4fun yes

[@vlexecturbo]

this is a crazy little tool im so going to get one makes it so much easier to do gonna buy the combo next week for sure mad design i remember watching your early vids and f@#k me look where you are now well done man you've done awesome things with car audio stuff and more your tahoe is the hole reason i use RF stuff now apart from amps maybe one day day ill afford one lol just ordered my new T2 12" cant wait to get it and put it in should be hittin fairly good i hope

[@noly927]

How can you set the frequency for the subwoofers I have a gain knob any frequency knob

[@Rocket..Dr..]

Question will the sound go threw my mids and highs ? And also what about the other settings like what ever else is on the amp.. i just bought one and I'm concerned

[@dexwatkins1745]

I have a DD1. What if I never distorted measuring a head unit through an amplifier?

[@meade916]

@irvinbullet yes :)

[@MrRafmank]

my bass mid and treble on my radio comes about half way factory default. should i turn it down all the way to 0 or half? also i get the same issue and another guy on here when i set my bass mids and treble where i want it i get the distortion light. Is there also a number i can call for tech support? i get a voicemail every time i call.

[@KarlMassiaDemers]

@rfofmiscellania the deck distorted at 56 so he put it back down at 55 and then he raised the gain on the amps

[@debug_duck]

I use my Scope for that but awesome product Steve!

[@meade916]

@240sxser yes sir.....wait, i think its a punch hx2

[@n2lsu1]

When using the DD1,should I turn my Audiocontrol 6XS knobs down & Audiocontrol indash Epicenter off when setting my amp gains?

[@meade916]

@twistedchild420 good shit Twisted!!! love hearing that!! so far thats all ive heard from all 9 i sent out. Im feeling good about this one!

[@MrJulioramirez13]

What happens if you connect the negative lead to the negative from the speaker negative input instead of the ground

[@meade916]

@iwazerein07 no prob as long as he sends me the money :)

[@justin0943]

what about the other nobs like the hertz and bass do i turn them all up or what

[@rikkidiesel]

Yea we tried fixing it but nothing worked. It didn't make that sound before he did it. Do u think its the rca cables cuz i took them out and the noise stops. Any input?

[@Bizaun123]

hi steve meade, i`m from brasil and i buy one DD1. Using the 0db track i will get total power of the amp? when should i use the other tracks? (-5db -10...) I used de 0db track and i look that the total power of my system get down, shoud i use another track? thanks

[@hustlr23]

@andrewfontenot452 caps arent good. They try to take some of the stress off the battery current draw but its pretty common in the car audio community that they arent worth it. I forgot why. Im sure if you google it you can find some info.

[@MegaFloridaSurfer]

I purchase one and recieve it few days ago. I'm abit confused on the deck part does the EQ need to be flat? And does the punch knob on the amp need to be turned down also? I think you should make another video from scratch and start by showing how to set EQ on deck and every knob not just gain and hi freq.

[@sao68053]

got a rookie question, so when i properly set my gains and the use a bass knob wouldn't that mess up the max gain setting or the max i can turn the knob is the max the amp is set up for

[@thegotoguy3044]

sorry I'm a noob but I am serious about buying this but this is used for the amp and head unit.

[@ansonx10]

@the by-ear gain setter: Would you listen to 1000 khz at maximum amplifier amplitude? I can see 40 hz, but nothing above 80 hz for me. Anything loud above 80 hertz, hurts.

[@gateway113]

I have one question. When your done setting your amp gains and your head unit has a flat eq like your booklet says to do. You can set your headunits eq and bass and everything up again right? like without worrying about be distorted?

[@Tannerbsimpson123]

If the amp has a bass boost knob should that just be all the way down (always) or is there a way to sets gains and bass boost knob?

[@OlafurArons]

Tanner simpson You don't set the bass boost. at all.

[@36chevyboy]

steve, i was down at the audio store by my house and was looking at a new rockford fosgate 12 inch subwoofer in the rockerford fosgate box with a 2500 amp they said that it woulnt hit as hard as the 10 inch p3 rock ford both in a truck box? i dont know?

[@vinylrockerz]

Steve, Please read this and reply.. Next time you give us a demo of ur speakers.. Can u please play dubstep!? :=)

[@TheQuadfather1976]

Steve...I should receive mine that I ordered any day...obviously I use it on my head unit and amps...do I also use it on my line driver, eq and xover?

[@ItsComplicatedAF]

Do i set the sub gain bridged or just the left channel?

[@vyraz]

@meade916 i agree... where i come from, ice isnt cheap, would rather set it up properly and blast then to risk frying expensive stuff... some ppl tune their ice to the max for short bursts, but whats the point? set it up like they do in SMD and you can have an ice "marathon"

[@ricanboul215]

steve, I'm running 2000w in subs an just under 2500w in mids and highs and I want to put a battery for the subs but I dont know what to look for any recommendations

[@FU-Utube]

I was looking into purchasing a DD.1. I was reading through the owners manual on your site and had a question about tuning. It said to set all the bass, treble and any EQ's to zero on the head unit. Then it said after tuning the amplifier you can turn these back to wear you would use them. Well how would you know how high you could turn them after everything is tuned? Would you just keep the CD play and at the maximum un-distorted volume and change the settings until the distortion light appear?

[@scootbmx01]

i would get this and a few xs batteries but to get one of these, and one 12v Group 31 battery is 1100+ inc postage :(, its over 600 just in postage alone :(

[@2000ninjazx12r]

why does the distortion light flash befor it is clippin 3:10?

[@ByrneBeatsInc]

Question: I'm new to the car audio world and was wondering what my gain and db settings should be set to on the amp. Thanks.

[@boristheblade209]

I dont get how this can work when the subwoofer/speaker is unhooked If the target voltages are going to be different for each different impedance the amp is stable at, how will it be accurate?

[@qjuanwhite8285]

I had the same thought I'm guessing it's best to match your speakers and amp or have a speaker with a higher RMS to handle the power I have 2 12" Memphis wired to 2 omhs for 500 RMS my amp is a mtx 801d putting out 800 at 2 ohms it scares the shit out of me 😂

[@meade916]

@atomdragon4 not just clipping...distortion ;)

[@phtorres45]

I've hear the term a 1000 times... What the hell does DB overlap mean?

[@michael6692]

you know bud i have looked at this for some time iam a normal bloke know some electrical things i know about crossover ,, can any one explain to me and phillip what the HELL IS DB 12 & 24 ,,,,, IDIOT PROOF,,,,,,, INSTRUCTIONS PLEASE