Another gain question.

[Tripn88]

I set my gain with a 50hz 0db test tone. Is this the proper one I should use or go to a -3 and lower frequency?

This is where I set it before it started clipping. HU was at 28 out of 40. The tick mark is where the shop that installed it had it set. They also had the bass boost turned up a little. Just wondering if this seems about right being this low on the gain setting. Before I was only able to turn it up to about 17 before the bass was stupid loud and over powering everything now it seems to be blended better. Bass is lacking at lower levels though.

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[Tripn88]

I ended up using 40hz and -5db and its much better. I can also go up to volume 34 out of 40. I'm still getting the yang of the velleman oscilliscope hps140I

 

[wew lad 5,000+ posts]

find out what your hu's max is without clipping, and set your gains to that point so you get as much dynamic range as possible. ive done countless hours of research on this in the last couple weeks and most audiophiles follow what was set forth by the top tier engineers and that's a 3:1 ratio, which essentially means to set it with a -10db tone. not really necessary in some cases but setting your gain anywhere from -10db to 0db is fine. the most important part is to back off the gain when you know it's past where it should be.

clipping is inevitable unless you want a lack of output, and really isn't this end all to problems with distortion and blown equipment

keep bass boost off and use only gain to adjust loudness. just because a shop does it, doesn't mean it's right.

 

[Tripn88]

I could have been looking at the oscope wrong. It's very blocky so I was just going off there being more than 2 blocks next to each other.

The max on the HU was 28 out of 40 volume with a 50hz 0db test tone.

The max on the HU was 34 out of 40 volume with a 40hz -5db test tone.

There has been 1 or 2 songs where my speakers have sound distorted. I rarely listen to it that loud but I think it's fairly good right now.

 

[fly_marlin]

Where is the sub level at those volumes? You want to have the sub level on the higher end, this makes the HU put out more voltage, which is what you want. Also, keep in mind that voltage also changes with frequencies and what may hold true for a 50Hz tone, won't hold true elsewhere. Generally, setting it to match your deck's max output voltage gets you where you want to be.

 

[Tripn88]

EQ is flat. Sub level is 0. SLA (source level adjustment) is 0. All bass boost is off. I assumed with the sub level up it would clip sooner meaning a lower gain.

 

[fly_marlin]

EQ is flat. Sub level is 0. SLA (source level adjustment) is 0. All bass boost is off. I assumed with the sub level up it would clip sooner meaning a lower gain.

It would clip faster if you don't turn the gain down. The higher the volume and the higher the sub level, the higher voltage the deck puts out, meaning the lower you have to set the gain (which is better).