Couple questions

[josh7311]

Hey all,

I've got a couple questions that may be stupid, but hey gotta start somewhere.
I've installed a amp and sub in my car. Skar amp 800w with a skar 18 1200w.
My first question is setting my gain. I don't have any fancy tools so it's gonna be set by ear. My question is how do I really dial that in? Let's say i use a specific song and i dial it in sounding good. Who's to say I play another song that has more or less bass so what do I really use to get that set??

Next question is can anyone tell me what my custom box is tuned to?? Or air space it is?
Dimensions
W-32
H-14
D-28

My speaker calls for 2.75 ft³ sealed @ 32HZ

Click to read more...

 

[huberoy123 10+ year member]

I generally set my gains using the following method. Read your Head Unit manual to see how much voltage the RCAs put out and set the gain for that in the amplifier.

Some of the more experienced folks use a multimeter, or some other method.

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

Here's a decent video how to do it by ear

 

[josh7311]

Here's a decent video how to do it by ear

So basically where I'm going wrong is instead of a song just play a test tone, at the volume I like to listen to. But instead of 40HZ like he did, I would do whatever mine is.

I need to find what my box is tuned too and play that tone?

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

So basically where I'm going wrong is instead of a song just play a test tone, at the volume I like to listen to. But instead of 40HZ like he did, I would do whatever mine is.

I need to find what my box is tuned too and play that tone?

I've never done a second tone for the box tuning. I use a -3db 40hz tone personally

I've done it with a song before back in the day but you really need to know what the song should sound like and what you're hearing from the subs...and ultimately there a bigger risk doing it that way

 

[josh7311]

I've never done a second tone for the box tuning. I use a -3db 40hz tone personally

So why 40hz, and are you saying no matter what box or sub you would use that?

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

So why 40hz, and are you saying no matter what box or sub you would use that?

That's just the sweet spot and about where most amps are rated

 

[josh7311]

That's just the sweet spot and about where most amps are rated

Gotcha!
You think if I do that 40hz and tune it max before distortion then I should not, have to think about blowing the sub if I never go over the volume that I did the 40hz test at.
Or I'm assuming I would still have to do little adjustments from songs to song like I'm doing now.

 

[josh7311]

Oh also does it matter that I make my adjustments with the trunk open or closed? Reason I think of that is how bass is louder with windows open would the air make a difference

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

Gotcha!
You think if I do that 40hz and tune it max before distortion then I should not, have to think about blowing the sub if I never go over the volume that I did the 40hz test at.
Or I'm assuming I would still have to do little adjustments from songs to song like I'm doing now.

Different songs are recorded at different levels...so you'll probably need to adjust your bass knob occasionally for different songs...as for blowing you sub, if you smell the coil or it sounds distorted back off the bass knob

And be really really careful turning up the hu volume past where it was when you set the gain...

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

Oh also does it matter that I make my adjustments with the trunk open or closed? Reason I think of that is how bass is louder with windows open would the air make a difference

You'd probably need to set it with the trunk open unless that's not where the amp and sub are

 

[josh7311]

Different songs are recorded at different levels...so you'll probably need to adjust your bass knob occasionally for different songs...as for blowing you sub, if you smell the coil or it sounds distorted back off the bass knob

And be really really careful turning up the hu volume past where it was when you set the gain...

Cool I appreciate all the info! Like I said probably some dumb questions but

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

Cool I appreciate all the info! Like I said probably some dumb questions but

No such thing as a dumb question