bad sound after setting gains?

[eckz]

I want to set the gains on my subwoofer amp so that it sounds right, but I did the method I've read everywhere about turning off EQ completely (loudness, bass boost, preset EQ curves) and putting the volume up 3/4, then testing the speaker terminals on the amp with a DMM while playing a 50hz test tone.

I did that and now it sounds like shit. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eek.gif.771b7a90cf45cabdc554ff1121c21c4a.gif There's not enough bass!! I usually have the volume about 1/3 way up (20-22 out of 60) with the loudness on at the Mid setting (Off - Low - Mid - High), the subwoofer controller at full +6 (scale -6 to +6 with increments of 1) and the equalizer curve on "Powerful" (peaks at left and right, valley in the middle). It sounds great this way! The mids and highs are tamed while the bass kicks the seats. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

Now, the reason I want to set my gains by DMM is because I don't want to damage anything and I can't tell if a subwoofer is clipping by simply "listening."

Should I try doing the DMM test and aiming for 31.6 V while the settings are at the settings I normally listen to (with volume maybe at 25 or something just to be safe)? Maybe another, better idea? Anything? thanks ahead

btw, i have the following:

HU: Pioneer Premier DEH-P740MP

Amp: Kenwood KAC-8103D (that i want putting out 500W @ 2ohms)

Sub: Alpine 10" 4ohm DVC Type-R

Click to read more...

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Use a -3 or -6 dB test tone. That will give you your bass back with music.

 

[luvinthebass 5,000+ posts]

reset everything with Eq curve on 'Spr-Bass' you'll get deeper lows. 'powerful' never made the bass really drop, it made it sound smoother and the q factor at that setting is 80 hz, i hvae a pioneer hu as well sir

 

[eckz]

I'll try the -6 dB tone tomorrow - thank you!

To luvinthebass, I know what you mean about the smoothness with "Powerful" and that is exactly what I am looking for - I listen to a lot of electronic music where the hits come frequently. "Super Bass" to me sounds a bit distorted and I find it can't catch up with the music. To get a bit stronger bass, I set both the HPF and the LPF to 80hz and it works for me.

Loudness (at least the middle setting) seems to be a must! I like the intense bass while everything else stays the same.

 

[luvinthebass 5,000+ posts]

I'll try the -6 dB tone tomorrow - thank you!
To luvinthebass, I know what you mean about the smoothness with "Powerful" and that is exactly what I am looking for - I listen to a lot of electronic music where the hits come frequently. "Super Bass" to me sounds a bit distorted and I find it can't catch up with the music. To get a bit stronger bass, I set both the HPF and the LPF to 80hz and it works for me.

Loudness (at least the middle setting) seems to be a must! I like the intense bass while everything else stays the same.

yeah i've had it on "Powerful" before it was okay for rock, the eq FLAT is just horrible.

yeah the loudness is real nice, hope u set ur gain with that on

my pioneer goes up to vol 30

Does your hu have that SLA (source level adjustment) option?

 

[eckz]

Does your hu have that SLA (source level adjustment) option?

You know, I've skipped past that screen so many times and I never messed with it because I had no idea what it did or what the letters stood for lol

There's separate bars for FM, AM, and CD I think (makes sense I guess)

It's freezing cold out but I'm too impatient to just do all of this tomorrow.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif

btw, the FLAT EQ does **** - its kind of disappointing since its suppposed to be the most unbiased one (the one I would choose to stay closest to the original recording) but it sounds like they lowered ALL of the dB levels across the band

 

[Propimp 10+ year member]

when your eq is on flat it shouldnt really sound that bad, it should sound ok.

 

[luvinthebass 5,000+ posts]

You know, I've skipped past that screen so many times and I never messed with it because I had no idea what it did or what the letters stood for lolThere's separate bars for FM, AM, and CD I think (makes sense I guess)

It's freezing cold out but I'm too impatient to just do all of this tomorrow.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif

btw, the FLAT EQ does **** - its kind of disappointing since its suppposed to be the most unbiased one (the one I would choose to stay closest to the original recording) but it sounds like they lowered ALL of the dB levels across the band

yeah it's best to leave it at 0, it just makes the cd volume louder i noticed.

yeah, ya have to raise the highs up to +4 to get life to the music.

 

[jimrockford]

The purpose of the Source Level Adjustment is to normalize the output level of the different sources. For instance, if you switch from FM to CD and the CD plays a lot louder than FM at the same volume setting, you would want to either increase the SLA setting for FM, or lower the CD setting. I don't have a Pioneer head unit, but my Kenwood has the same feature. I have to crank up the output of my Sirius tuner to normalize the volume level with the other sources.

 

[Besbro 10+ year member]

I also have a Pioneer HU, I keep my loudness on low with the eq on powerful also. Love that powerful setting //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

 

[luvinthebass 5,000+ posts]

I also have a Pioneer HU, I keep my loudness on low with the eq on powerful also. Love that powerful setting //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

indeed sir, that's what i have mine on now. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

 

[ThatChevyGuy 5,000+ posts]

everybody i know including me run pioneers at 45/62 for best sound

 

[skateboardkid 10+ year member]

Set your gains for the voltage you want with the volume where you normally listen to it. Setting your gains with the volume at 3/4 and then listening at 1/3 is not gonna work out for you because your setting your sub amp up for out put that your volume is never gonna be turned up to. Turn off all the loud and crap and set your gains with the volume at 22 and you should be set.

 

[andrewmoore13 10+ year member]

everybody i know including me run pioneers at 45/62 for best sound

my pioneer HU kills my ears at anything above 20...

 

[Tramatized 10+ year member]

was just wondering.......you say you listen to your stuff at 22 or 25.....well if your pioneer is like mine thats not no where close to 3/4 volume......like 99 olds said.......38-47........thats about where i keep mine........gets plenty loud