amp tuning

[dafobbishon3 10+ year member]

when tuning amps, im aware that gains have to be set on the lowest, along with bass boost, but im wondering how to determine how to set your gains and bass boost by ear without using a DMM?

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[ric flair 10+ year member]

you will know when your sub is distorting, and don't use bass boost at all.

 

[dafobbishon3 10+ year member]

you will know when your sub is distorting, and don't use bass boost at all.

soo just leave the bass boost dB knob at 0? and just keep turning that gain knob till i hear the distort? what about the freq knob?

 

[atlbraves]

describe distorting like when the sub bottoms out or what

and if you use a 50hz test tone and dmm to set gains how accurate is that, and setting by ear will that allow it to be louder since the dmm may not be giving the right wattage

 

[KyleBechtold 5,000+ posts]

describe distorting like when the sub bottoms out or what
and if you use a 50hz test tone and dmm to set gains how accurate is that, and setting by ear will that allow it to be louder since the dmm may not be giving the right wattage

an electrical measuring device might not give the right watts??? but your ear will????

 

[dafobbishon3 10+ year member]

describe distorting like when the sub bottoms out or what
and if you use a 50hz test tone and dmm to set gains how accurate is that, and setting by ear will that allow it to be louder since the dmm may not be giving the right wattage

so are you sayin to not use the dmm and just tune it by ear?

 

[ric flair 10+ year member]

don't use a dmm, it will just leave you unsatisfied with your output most likely. I would set the gain by ear and just make sure that the sub isn't distorting, and while doing this, turn the bass level all the way up to your desired level on the head unit so you never have to go past that mark.

Yes, keep the bass boost at 0 on the HU and amp

 

[dafobbishon3 10+ year member]

don't use a dmm, it will just leave you unsatisfied with your output most likely. I would set the gain by ear and just make sure that the sub isn't distorting, and while doing this, turn the bass level all the way up to your desired level on the head unit so you never have to go past that mark.
Yes, keep the bass boost at 0 on the HU and amp

all right cool thanks, so gain, on low, and my volume on my deck maxes out on what, 50? so 75% would be 35-40ish? and start turning up the gain from there? what does distortion sound like? like i wont hear bass anymore, it'll just rumble? or what?

 

[atlbraves]

ok i am worried about setting by ear and being way off

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

don't use a dmm, it will just leave you unsatisfied with your output most likely. I would set the gain by ear and just make sure that the sub isn't distorting, and while doing this, turn the bass level all the way up to your desired level on the head unit so you never have to go past that mark.
Yes, keep the bass boost at 0 on the HU and amp

This is a dispute that will never end

and thus is why I set gains with a dmm and bassy music. My reasoning is that I will never play a tone and when set with the heaviest bass I will ever listen to, I still have the hu settings to increase power when the balance is off and remove it when needed.

I know that the heaviest of bass notes in music will be at the upper limits of my amplifier's output

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

all right cool thanks, so gain, on low, and my volume on my deck maxes out on what, 50? so 75% would be 35-40ish? and start turning up the gain from there? what does distortion sound like? like i wont hear bass anymore, it'll just rumble? or what?

the sound will become "dirty"....very hard to describe. the sound in the vehicle will discontinue elevating in volume.

 

[dafobbishon3 10+ year member]

This is a dispute that will never end

and thus is why I set gains with a dmm and bassy music. My reasoning is that I will never play a tone and when set with the heaviest bass I will ever listen to, I still have the hu settings to increase power when the balance is off and remove it when needed.

I know that the heaviest of bass notes in music will be at the upper limits of my amplifier's output

x2 thats very good logical reasoning, i shall try that. what song has a good variety of bassy music, i can try maybe 'put on for my city'? or 'a millie' or some old lil jon tracks? or maybe chamillionaire?

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

x2 thats very good logical reasoning, i shall try that. what song has a good variety of bassy music, i can try maybe 'put on for my city'? or 'a millie' or some old lil jon tracks? or maybe chamillionaire?

let me find the name of the song I used for tuning

 

[dafobbishon3 10+ year member]

all right cool thanks man

 

[ric flair 10+ year member]

just use put on by jeezy, it hits all the lows.