Alternative to an oscilloscope?

[Nevalite 10+ year member]

Hey,

I'll have my new (first) setup here within a week or so and I want to make sure I set the gains properly. I've read many tutorials and they all mention that I need an oscilloscope to determine if the signal is clipping or not. Now when I want to find the max volume settings on my HU, without clipping, they say to use an oscilloscope... I don't have an oscilloscope so I was wondering if I could use a DMM somehow or is there any alternative way to see if my signal is clipping?

If the answer is no, where could I buy an oscilloscope and how much are they generally?

Thanks.

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[Atimm693 10+ year member]

Your ear, but IMO it wouldnt be the best gauge. If you cant get a hold of one and your HU is decent just set your gains with a dmm, ~-6 db test (?) tone with your HU at 75% volume. if its a good unit it shouldnt clip.

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

Your ear, but IMO it wouldnt be the best gauge. If you cant get a hold of one and your HU is decent just set your gains with a dmm, ~-6 db test (?) tone with your HU at 75% volume. if its a good unit it shouldnt clip.

for subs i have always used -6 db, for speakers i have always used -3db. 50hz and 1000hz respectively.

only beef i have with the statement is turn HU volume to the max you will listen to it WHILE making sure you dont go above about 75% of max HU volume.

my cd5000 starts to clip at 78/80 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

 

[luvinthebass 5,000+ posts]

or put in ear plugs and play a 0 db 1000 hz tone and turn ur head unit up till the sound changes(clipping), then back the volume down a notch or 2, then do the same for the amp with that tone, increasin the gain slowly while listening for the same clipped sound then back it off, ur done //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

Your ear, but IMO it wouldnt be the best gauge. If you cant get a hold of one and your HU is decent just set your gains with a dmm, ~-6 db test (?) tone with your HU at 75% volume. if its a good unit it shouldnt clip.

The human ear will begin to detect distortion somewhere around 3% thd iirc. Distortion is especially hard to hear in the lower frequencies unless it's really bad.

 

[Immacomputer 10+ year member]

If the answer is no, where could I buy an oscilloscope and how much are they generally?
Thanks.

From like $80 to $70K+ generally.

 

[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

Find somebody with a termlab and set your gains according to its o-scope.

 

[luvinthebass 5,000+ posts]

The human ear will begin to detect distortion somewhere around 3% thd iirc. Distortion is especially hard to hear in the lower frequencies unless it's really bad.

i never knew that mayne

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

i never knew that mayne

all i know is that the last thing lakota says is true for me at least.

i cant pick up distortion in the subs unless its real bad. hence why i used an oscilloscope when i had that option, and now use a dmm since now i dont.