Help adjusting gain with my Hifonics......

[av8ter 10+ year member]

I just installed the bass level knob and took it off because it didn't do anything for me. I adjusted the gain on the amp along the way and now I think the amp is clipping its output. I pretty scared right now and just want to get is set back to a safe level.

I never properly set the amp to begin with but I want to now just to make sure I can get the most life out of my sub and amp.

I am running dual 4 ohm RE SE at 2ohms to the amp and the amp is getting signal from my Alpine 9883 deck. What hz should I play to the amp and what voltage should I look fom on my digital multi-meter?

Big thanks for the help,

Kevin

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[pjhabit 10+ year member]

Whats the RMS of the amp?

 

[av8ter 10+ year member]

It says 900 at 2 ohms but i would guess 800-850.

kevin

 

[pjhabit 10+ year member]

If your gonna use bass boost (not recommend) have it up all the way, if not turn it off (or all the way down. Also shut off all filters (or max em' out) & give the sub its full frequency range. Alpine hu's have a subwoofer level that should be maxed out also. I'm not gonna go through all the steps, as the rest is pretty much by the book. I'm only throwing those out there cuz they're easily overlooked by the first timer.

Anyway use a 50 Hz, 0 dB test tone & set it some where in the 35-40 volts range (600-800w).

 

[av8ter 10+ year member]

I never turned bass boost up and my phase is at zero. Should to low pass filter be maxed out too? Return my EQ settings on the alpine to all zeros? Set the sub level at 15?

Do I leave the low pass filter maxed after I am done setting gains?

Kevin

 

[pjhabit 10+ year member]

Yeah, let the widest frequency range possible pass to your sub. Then reset filters when your done.

If you set everything flat, excessive EQing shouldn't be done afterwards. It wouldn't hurt to leave those settings where they are.

Have the sub level @ 15. You'll never get the voltage your looking for w/ it @ 0 (w/ an Alpine anyway).

 

[av8ter 10+ year member]

Do I set the gain at full volume on my Alpine headunit(35 out of 35)?

 

[pjhabit 10+ year member]

The hu's internal amp will start to clip early, around 22ish (@ least w/ my Alpine). So if your using the hu to power anything I'd set it at 22 (you can use the fader to bring that # up if you like). Otherwise the rule of thumb is ~75% of the volume control ~28. If you never turn it up past this point (tho it'll be fine on quieter recordings), you'll never push the amp into clipping.

 

[av8ter 10+ year member]

So I need to look for 40 volts around volume 26-28?

Thanks bro.

 

[pjhabit 10+ year member]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsup.gif.3287b36ca96645a13a43aff531f37f02.gif

And just in case you don't know. Unhook your speakers from the amp! lol //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[av8ter 10+ year member]

Yeah, it turned the internal amp in the alpine off and unhooked my sub too.

Thanks for all the help man, I can hear the difference!

Kevin