2 SA-8's vs Single 12" type R

[AStovall 10+ year member]

Right and wrong here.
Yes its always a good idea to use an oscope to detect clipping. Unfortunately this is not feasible with most people's budget. To get around this you just set the gain at a safe volume around 80-90% of what your headunit will go to. This will set your gain at a conservative level where you won't have to worry about clipping. One thing to consider here is that clipping is not always audible.

With test tones its pretty noticeable most of the time. There are really cheap o scopes out there that are than good enough for the task, even still i understand its not in everyone budget but that doesn't make it ok to use a DMM. As said before when a sub is being excited its impedance changes ,which is why its called impedance and not Resistance. Also you would have to do this at every frequency you plan to use the amp and then i guess you have to find some sort of equilibrium between all the test points to set the gain. That ohms law formula that everyone uses is completely useless for this application unless you are using an x value resistor that can handle the power, but then that value is still useless because it would mean nothing in the world.

I guess the point i'm trying to make is that people should really stop telling other people that this is the "best/right/only" way to set your gain, because in reality all it dose is create a false sense of security that could lead to a greater likelihoods of blowing something up.

 

[THATpurpleKUSH 5,000+ posts]

I guess the point i'm trying to make is that people should really stop telling other people that this is the "best/right/only" way to set your gain, because in reality all it dose is create a false sense of security that could lead to a greater likelihoods of blowing something up.

The reason its done is because most people on here don't go around listening to test tones all the time. Setting the gain with a 0db test tone on a setup that plays music with the h/u volume not maxed out gives you a safe setting so the only clipping you should have to worry about is the actual file being played. This is how I have set my stuff up. I have always done it this way without a oscope and have never had a problem.

 

[SourDeez 10+ year member]

I think people should just do what they want.

So when they fux their **** up, it's a lesson well learned.

If you never fux your **** up, how u finna dun learn dat dat dun don dat?

 

[AStovall 10+ year member]

The reason its done is because most people on here don't go around listening to test tones all the time. Setting the gain with a 0db test tone on a setup that plays music with the h/u volume not maxed out gives you a safe setting so the only clipping you should have to worry about is the actual file being played. This is how I have set my stuff up. I have always done it this way without a oscope and have never had a problem.

Exactly this. Iv never used a meter or a scope. Iv always used the method you described to set a do not exceed point,

Then the tuning is done by ear.