-3db ?

[YourNameHere 10+ year member]

so after doin some reading i see that some people set their gains using a -3db 50hz test tone instead of 0db.... i understand that in real time music it isnt very common to get 0db tones, so being that i listen to mainly rock music would this be a better setting for me , i have done the 0db setting and my rock music just seems to lack output .... and i know that its what ever i find sounds best but just curious what everyones preference is and have had better luck with

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[king ranch 5,000+ posts]

i downloaded a -6, -3 and 0db and using a dmm they all read the same wattages so idk if the test tones i got were wrong or wat haha

 

[Immacomputer 10+ year member]

If you're going to use a lower recorded test tone, you might as well use your eyes and ears as you're guessing even more at how much power you're supplying (the dmm method is not as accurate as many people think it is).

If you mainly listen to rock, definitely set the sub gains to output levels of your liking using your ears.

 

[YourNameHere 10+ year member]

yeah i usually always trust my ears but just recently came across the DMM method, but how inaccurate is the dmm method and why?

 

[Immacomputer 10+ year member]

My DMM tells me that I'm getting 16.5v on a stock honda battery and alternator. Hmm.... sounds accurate to me, right and that's just a DC measurement. Cheap meters (under $100) are not going to be very accurate at reading AC and especially if it's not a tone near 60hz. I'm only a couple classes away from being an electrical engineer and I would never use a DMM to set my gains unless I was gain matching two identical amps and even then, I would use a scope and not a DMM.

Also, your amp isn't always going to see a purely resistive load like you're setting it for.

 

[dipitydoo 10+ year member]

its normal to have some overlap in gain, especially if your amp is not very powerful. a small amount of clipping could potentially get you a bit higher volume levels without being audible with music. i just set them by ear.

 

[YourNameHere 10+ year member]

hmmm... yes u are wise

 

[YourNameHere 10+ year member]

so pretty much set to ear until distortion and turn down is the best and safest method

 

[Immacomputer 10+ year member]

its normal to have some overlap in gain, especially if your amp is not very powerful. a small amount of clipping could potentially get you a bit higher volume levels without being audible with music. i just set them by ear.

The only chance of clipping would be if there was an already really hot signal put into the system and with rock music, that's very doubtful and unlikely.

so pretty much set to ear until distortion and turn down is the best and safest method

If you're going for maximum output. Use music that seems a bit bass heavy and that you're familiar with so it's easier to see about how far you need to go to get the sound you want. If you run out of output but still want more, then you should think about upgrading either your enclosure, amp, sub, or any combination.

 

[king ranch 5,000+ posts]

how much do shops usually charge to set gains with a o-scope

 

[YourNameHere 10+ year member]

yeah i was thinkin about upgrading to a bigger amp...... but shit i dont wanna spend more money i should have not gotten back into caraudio too addicting always want more!!! haaa

 

[dipitydoo 10+ year member]

so pretty much set to ear until distortion and turn down is the best and safest method

if you are looking for the 'safest method', go look into the gain setting sticky on this forum. if you like to abuse your system, you would need a way to limit the power available to your speakers. clean power will blow speakers just like clipped power, if you give enough of it. imo, there is no one 'right' way to set gains. like i said above, if you have a small amp, you can get a little more audibly clean power even with a little measurable clipping.

 

[YourNameHere 10+ year member]

well i dont have a small amp so....... i prolly need to set by ear cause i want my shit to last awhile