Amp Settings

[Fenix 10+ year member]

I'm new to the site so I'm sorry if this has been asked many times before, but I like to ask sites like this their opinion on this subject.

How do you feel about setting gains on amps? Are you all believers in using the gain setting by ear as more of an output volume control, or more using dmm's and other tools to set them?

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[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

I do both, I set with gains at about 90% of what the amp is suppose to put out, than I lower the gains on which ever every amp's speakers are over powering the other speakers. But I am really conservative with my equipment now cause I'm not risking anything anymore.

 

[XanderMoser 10+ year member]

I always measure by ear. Because you can't trust amp or speaker manufacturer ratings.

Turn your gain all the way down.

Turn your HU volume to about 3/4 of max (find max by pausing cd and turning up volume. turn down before unpausing! haha)

Slowly raise the gain until you hear distortion, back it down a tad.

If you aren't good at listening for distortion yet, then listen to a WELL RECORDED song on a decent pair of home speakers or headphones over and over. Listen to how the bass, guitars, and vocals sound. Now when setting your gains, listen again. At lower volumes, it should all sound smooth. As you turn the gain up you'll eventually hear fluctuations and inconsistencies in sound. That should tip you off. Or if you bottom out your speakers you'll definitely hear that.

Remember that if you have more power than your speakers can handle, your speakers will distort before your amp clips. If your speakers can handle more than your amp can push, you will clip your amp first. That's really bad for both the amp and your speakers, so be careful.

 

[NewToTheGrounds 10+ year member]

why cant you trust amp or speaker manufacturer rms ratings?

 

[XanderMoser 10+ year member]

why cant you trust amp or speaker manufacturer rms ratings?

Because they just want to sell their crap. There are not nearly enough rules in place for rating car audio equipment. RMS ratings do not come with statements of frequency or duration, which can make a huge difference. Heck, THD ratings rarely state frequency or power applied. Companies can make up almost anything. I'm not saying they always do. I use ratings when buying equipment, but use my own judgement. Many amps are either over or underrated, as are speakers.