How Do I Set Amp Gain Properly?

[Jer510 10+ year member]

How do I set the gain on my amp properly without any tools?

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[99grandprixGT 5,000+ posts]

do you ears count as a tool?

 

[James Bang 5,000+ posts]

do you ears count as a tool?

it can be a great tool, but some people's ears work like tools from Harbor Freight.

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

Crank the gains up until it sounds or smells funny, then turn it down a bit

 

[hornedfrog1985 5,000+ posts]

Crank the gains up until it sounds or smells funny, then turn it down a bit

This^, or you can buy a dmm and do it right.

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4350457

 

[Undisputed King 10+ year member]

it can be a great tool, but some people's ears work like tools from Harbor Freight.

lmao

Most people just turn up the gain slowly until there is barely an audible distortion, then turn it down a little to where the distortion is not audible anymore.

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

This^, or you can buy a dmm and do it right.
http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4350457

dmm's are for *******

 

[goodguy8705 10+ year member]

You don't need a DMM to set the gain properly. Gain is adjusting the rate at which the volume on the head unit changes the volume at the amp. You want to set it so that it gets decently loud and sounds good at about 2/3 the max volume on the head unit. That's how I'd do it at least.

 

[Undisputed King 10+ year member]

Oh thats right I forgot, before you set your gains. turn your HU up to 2/3 volume, and then set the gains from there, so your amp wont get a clipped signal. Then if you have an amp for your mids and highs set the gain at that voume aswell.

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

Oh thats right I forgot, before you set your gains. turn your HU up to 2/3 volume, and then set the gains from there, so your amp wont get a clipped signal. Then if you have an amp for your mids and highs set the gain at that voume aswell.

it might be better to put the volume to the max that you would normally listen to it at. That is, if you don't turn it all the way up all the time