Why you need an oscilloscope

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Originally Posted by maylar

The point of my post wasn't to compare a 'scope against a DMM. I wanted to show the kind of information that you just can't get from anything else. Look at the 2nd waveform in my first post - a DMM won't tell you something's wrong with that signal.

I don't have DMM data because I don't use one. The 'scope gives me voltage and much more. If I had tried to set my sub amp gain with a DMM the output would have been badly clipped. My amp doesn't make rated power at less than 14.4V and my car doesn't get up that high.

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Thats my point. You dont know it would be badly clipped. You have no evidence to support it and havent even tried that method.

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Originally Posted by whitedragon551

Thats my point. You dont know it would be badly clipped. You have no evidence to support it and havent even tried that method.

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The amp starts to clip at 208 watts with engine running and a 4 ohm dummy load. If I had tried to set it to the rated 250 watts with a DMM it would most certainly have been badly clipped.

Using a DMM requires making assumptions. You assume that the amp makes whatever power you're adjusting for cleanly, and that the source is also clean. A scope will tell you if your assumptions are valid.

JUST got mine in and set everything up.wow is it louder and clearer than ever. Can't wait to deaden and upgrade to PHD now