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SMD Steve Meade Designs

SMD Distortion Detector DD-1

    • Based on 358 reviews
Condition: New
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$189.89 Why this price?

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Availability: In Stock.
Fulfilled by SkyHighCarAudio
Arrives Dec 1 – Dec 6
Order within 21 hours and 12 minutes
Available payment plans shown during checkout

Features

  • Distortion detector/analyzer (dd1)
  • Distortion detector's circuitry is 100% analog
  • Distortion detection trigger level > 1.0% harmonic distortion
  • Operating range of input signal is 1.2 vrms a" 125 vrms, (15, 000 watts at 1 ohm)
  • Signal present LED trigger voltage 750 mvrms

Description

The purpose of this tool is to enable the installer to set the gain of an audio amplifier (or any processors) to match the source unit's output level, accurately and quickly. It can also be useful for detecting distortion in the audio signal caused by poorly designed or malfunctioning audio equipment.

Brand: SMD Steve Meade Designs


Color: （25.6)/Sj.211


Item Weight: 0.6 Pounds


Item Dimensions LxWxH: 10 x 6.25 x 2 inches


Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.25 x 2 inches


Item Weight: 9.6 ounces


Item model number: DD-1


Batteries: 1 D batteries required. (included)


Is Discontinued By Manufacturer: No


Other display features: Wireless


Color: （25.6)/Sj.211


Manufacturer: SMD / D'amore Engineering


Date First Available: May 3, 2012


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Dec 1 – Dec 6

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

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Top Amazon Reviews

    • It works great
Great looking artifact
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2023 by juan cardenas
    • Really worth it if you don't trust your ears.
I can't tell you how many times I've adjusted the gains on my 2 amps in the past 2 years. Just always second guessing what my ears are hearing, or not trusting the Digital Multi-Meter method. I wanted to finally set them right, be done with it, and move on to other aspects of the system. The DD-1 allowed me to do that. What I found to always be the issue was that I thought I had more room on my head unit's volume knob. It all starts at the signal. Since I thought I had that room, my amps were always off. The bad domino affected the rest of the system. Now I know exactly how far I can turn up the stereo, and where to set the max amp gains from there. No more guess work. The process is simple and quick. It may take you longer to access your amps, than it takes to set them. The directions are easy to follow and clearly laid out. Tons of videos out there to choose from to quickly learn how to use this tool correctly as well. Bottom line, my stereo sounds better than it ever has, and I fidget with the DSP settings frequently. Getting those gains right made the most impact in a post install tuning process. I could have gotten this months ago, instead of wasting all that time adjusting other settings. Getting gains right proved to be an important and crucial step. If that's not done right, the rest is going to be off. Now that I'm done with it, I can help my friends with their systems too. Sure I could sell it and try to recoup the cost, but it's something I'd like to keep around. I don't think I'm done with mobile audio just yet. I figure I'll need it again sometime. That leads me to the overall value of this product at it's price point. How much use you get out of it, is one of two main justifications of it's price. For an installer, this seems like a must have tool. Something that would be used time and time again. Definitely worth it without question. If you have a group of car stereo buddies that can maybe pitch in and get use, again, it's worth it without question. As a DIY'er that's just using it for one stereo, it's seems kind of steep. That's when justification 2 really shines. It does a good job at what it does, and a job that's crucial. How much is your peace of mind worth? It was worth it to me. No regrets. No more second guessing. Happy with the results. TIP: If you use multiple sources for your media, or a source other than CD, test with that media. If your stereo has a form of Source Level Adjust control, it's a bonus. For example I mostly listen to music via a USB flash drive connected to the head unit. So I obtained the test track files for the DD-1, and used the USB as the source. In addition of using the CD. Per the CD I could safely turn the volume up the 29. Switching sources, and adjusting the Source Level Adjust on my Pioneer HU, I could bump it up to +3 before distortion was detected. This way I know my limit is still 29, and yet I'm not holding back anything when using USB. Similarly do the same if you stream with BT as your main source. Do the CD first. Get your magic #. Then stream the tracks from your phone and make adjustments to your source level. For reference details, this was used on a Pioneer 6100 Nex head unit. 2 amps were also dialed in. A 4 channel (JL XD400/4) amp powering aftermarket front passive components, and rear co-ax's. As well as a mono sub amp (JL Slash 600/1) powering a 10" ported sub (JL 10w3). ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2018 by Farley
    • A very good way to find your system limits
It does the job just as described on the sight - it's an excellent product, don't get me wrong. For the untrained this can be a listening experience saver, a speaker saver and as well ear saver! But on real life, at most analog systems I've tuned, hiss an noises arrive way before THD and clipping does so to get the system quiet at most systems you will have to run the gains lower than the 1% THD point at 0db attenuation anyways... Found my self not using it eventually and just trust my ears. When I do use it, it is only to find out what are the system limits - still, a very good product that gives you a very good starting point for system tuning. Recommended for beginners and in conjuction for strict professionals ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2018 by Eddie G.
    • 7 Years of Ownership Review
Review Image by Valor X Valor X
Yes I've owned this SMD DD-1 since 2017 (7yrs at the time of this review) Besides the occasional battery change it is still working flawlessly all these years. If you want to consider yourself an audiophile this is a must have because you can use it for EVERYTHING. This is NOT just for car audio. You can set your volume/gain on ANY amp and find the max clean volume on any source. Home audio amp/receivers, subwoofer amps, small amps, pro audio amps, even home audio subwoofers, and of course car audio head units and amps. I've tuned EVERYTHING with it. My living room set up, Restroom set up, Garage set up, Car Audio, etc. and anytime I upgrade it takes a minute to re-tune with the DD-1. The longer you own it, the more value it provides. And for those wondering how to tune a home subwoofer (with the built in amps) all you need to do is remove the speaker (sub) itself so you can access the speaker leads, then voila you can set your gain correctly with the DD-1. This would also apply to any speaker/sub with a built in amplifier including Car Audio 'Powered' Subwoofers. The SMD DD-1 has been my prized audiophile tool even though you only use it once per 'set up'. Like I said before the longer you own it the more value it provides. I've lost count how many things I've tuned with it. Knowing you have the cleanest possible sound quality is PRICELESS. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2024 by Valor X Valor X
    • It's a good product, set my gains in the way I ...
It's a good product,set my gains in the way I wanted them,at the volume I wanted. Sounds clean and this tool verifies that for me,yes it's a little expensive but I had a tune done at a audio store that costed $100 so now I'm able to do it myself if I change it again or not. And if friends or anyone else needs it done I can charge and get money back for using it ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2017 by Mr.Wrench
    • Amazing tool!
Makes tuning your amplifiers a breeze! it may seem pricey at first but when you realize you will no longer have to take your car to a shop again, and wont have to worry about clipping your sub to death like so many unexperienced car audio beginners do. you will be saving a lot more in the long run than having to replace a subwoofer, or door speakers because of them being clipped into oblivion. This product comes highly recommended by me and many others and will last a lifetime of builds! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2020 by David
    • $2700 system sounds twice as good after $150 on a dd-1
System clearer. Gains lower. Same volume output. Got rid of whine due to gains being too high. Bass is much clearer. Still hitting deep but I can tell it has less distortion due to less rattling in the car (higher frequency distortion was rattling things more). Bass feeling on my seat is stronger and I was able to keep the system cranked for an hour last night at volumes that I would previously smell my sub coils burning at. I thought my kenwood x399 only went to about 30 before distortion (that's what I've heard most of them do). I was keeping it on 28 to be safe. It goes all the way to 35 without distortion. Massive difference. I have spent about 2700$ on my system and it didn't sound or feel like a real system until I set it up properly with this. This thing made it super easy. I used a 0dB test tone so that I would never get distortion even with the loudest bass on some tracks. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2018 by Maxwell

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