Confused: set gains w/Sub setting at "0" or "+15"?

[Weeznur32 10+ year member]

I have heard many people say to set gains with DMM with the sub setting on headunit at "0".

Have also heard people say to set it to "+15" before setting gains.

Which is the proper way to do it?

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[Imtjnotu 5,000+ posts]

I was. Always told to get the full pre volt output to set it to the highest

---------- Post added at 01:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:15 AM ----------

@keep_hope_alive

 

[Mitch86 5,000+ posts]

From what I understand it depends on the HU you're using. Some headunit the "sub level" simply increases the pre-out voltage. So maxing it out gives you the max voltage your headunit is rated for. My suuggestion is to try to set the gains with it at 0 and if you get an extremely low reading even with the gains maxed, you need to turn up the sub setting. Now that's what I understand of it. I have never had that problem myself.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

Alpine head units - sub level is attenuation only. set gains at preferred listening level. i like shooting for sub level 6-8 for gains. then you can increase or decrease based on the recording or personal tastes.

i usually adjust sub level with each album.

 

[Boomsday 10+ year member]

Alpine head units - sub level is attenuation only. set gains at preferred listening level. i like shooting for sub level 6-8 for gains. then you can increase or decrease based on the recording or personal tastes.
i usually adjust sub level with each album.

Is this just on alpine units, or have you heard of any others that are like this??

I always set my 9887 to +15 then set the gains accordingly..

 

[40oz 10+ year member]

My Kenwood has sub level that goes from -15 to +15. I set my gains with it at 0, with no problems. I only use the sub level to turn down the bass, never turn it up.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

it's relative. review the owner's manual for your specific hu's function.

in general, get some output then give yourself headroom.

 

[av83 10+ year member]

Alpine head units - sub level is attenuation only. set gains at preferred listening level. i like shooting for sub level 6-8 for gains. then you can increase or decrease based on the recording or personal tastes.
i usually adjust sub level with each album.

I'd like to know about the sub level on the excelon models. I set my amp with it at +15db to try and get the best possible voltage out of the rca's.... Am I wrong?

 

[40oz 10+ year member]

I'd like to know about the sub level on the excelon models. I set my amp with it at +15db to try and get the best possible voltage out of the rca's.... Am I wrong?

Isn't there a possibility of a clipped signal or at least distorted if you turn the sub level all the way to +15 to set your gains? Isn't it sort of the same thing as setting your gains with the head unit volume on max?

 

[av83 10+ year member]

Isn't there a possibility of a clipped signal or at least distorted if you turn the sub level all the way to +15 to set your gains? Isn't it sort of the same thing as setting your gains with the head unit volume on max?

That's what I'm trying to find out.

 

[40oz 10+ year member]

That's what I'm trying to find out.

I would just compromise and set the gains with the sub level at +10, that way you can still get higher voltage and eliminate any possibility of distortion/clipping. I might do it this way once I switch up my system and have to reset my gains.

 

[av83 10+ year member]

I would just compromise and set the gains with the sub level at +10, that way you can still get higher voltage and eliminate any possibility of distortion/clipping. I might do it this way once I switch up my system and have to reset my gains.

I've been thinking about doing exactly that.

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

You folks are confusing bass level with attenuation. Some headunits have a bass attenuation setting that allows you to alter preout voltages. All headunits have a bass level. Alpines for example have the attenuation setting. That should be set at 15 to get the max preout voltage from the headunit. The bass level hower is different and should be set at 0. Altering the attenuation setting does nothing to introduce clipping, altering the bass level does.

 

[Weeznur32 10+ year member]

exactly what i was looking for. Thank you

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

You folks are confusing bass level with attenuation. Some headunits have a bass attenuation setting that allows you to alter preout voltages. All headunits have a bass level. Alpines for example have the attenuation setting. That should be set at 15 to get the max preout voltage from the headunit. The bass level hower is different and should be set at 0. Altering the attenuation setting does nothing to introduce clipping, altering the bass level does.

agreed. the head unit manual should say if the adjustment is an EQ boost and it should tell at what frequency the boost is at.

Alpine has a bass level and a subwoofer level. bass level is an EQ (at 100Hz typically, unless parametric "bass engine pro"). subwoofer level is signal strength on that preout. this should be universal terminology but some companies do strange things. it is important to know what your HU is actually doing.