How to Gain match Strapped amps with meter?

[Bass911 10+ year member]

I called Mtx for help but they had no clue. They just told me to get a volt meter and gain match the amps or get it done by a pro. Can anyone tell me how to use this meter and what to set the dails at?

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[Kenneth10483 10+ year member]

well if they are strapped you wouldnt have to gain match them. Only time you need to gain match is if you wasnt strapping them.

 

[DBDRAGGUY 10+ year member]

This be true.

No need to worry about mixed output levels if both amps are strapped together.

 

[Bass911 10+ year member]

Are you guys sure? I'm not saying you're wrong. In the manual it says, Running two amplifiers strapped will require “gain matching.” This will require source material that includes test

tones and volt ohm/multi meter. Please see “Adjusting the Gain Controls” Check it (http://www.cartel.fr/IMG/pdf/Manual-TA81001.pdf) out and tell if Mtx is wrong?

 

[Bass911 10+ year member]

It also has this in the manual.

Note: When adjusting the gains for two amplifi ers strapped, you must adjust each amplifier’s gain, frequency, and EQ so you will be able to “match” the two amps and ensure both amplifi ers are sending the same ac voltage to the woofer. This will require source materials that include test tones and a volt ohm/multi meter.

a) Set the volume around half, play a fl at tone (60-80 Hz) through your head unit and hit repeat. Use this same frequency and volume for the entire process.

b) Set your multi meter on ac voltage and connect it to the Positive amplifi er’s positive and negative output terminals.

c) Switch the multi meter between the amps and make the necessary adjustments so that the flat tones

produced match. If you have access to two multi meters, simply place one on each amplifier’s terminals and make the adjustments.

 

[yunvme666 10+ year member]

i think i remember somethin about that, that sounds right. what are you confused with?

 

[djman37 5,000+ posts]

then those MTX amps aren't 'strappable' in common terms. That's just gain matching. A maxxsonics maxxlink would do the trick though.

Strapping bypasses the input section of amp B by using a 'linking' cable of some sort as well as changing the output signal.

 

[PaulD 10+ year member]

there's a much easier way ...... wire up everything just like it will be used, set the gains on both amps as close to the same as you can by sight, then reverse the polarity on one of amps speaker outputs. Play a bass tone at low volume and adjust one the amps gains until the speaker stops moving. Should only take a few seconds.

 

[Bass911 10+ year member]

PaulD, when one stops moving I'm just supposed to leave the amp set like that? What happens when I finish doing this and by sight they don't even look close? Is this just done for one amp or both? I ran two D-class before but never strapped. I did the Slave Master thing. I have 2 Ta81001. I know how to wire them together, but I was told that if the gains aren't matched exactly that I'll mess up the amp or ruin my sub(s). Will it be okay if the gains are a little off because I really don't want to use that meter?

 

[PaulD 10+ year member]

BOTH amps are connected to the sub, both amps are playing the SAME signal into the single sub - just that one amp has it's speaker outputs reversed. You only adjust one amp - typically the one that is wired up backwards. When the two gains are set equal, the sub cone will stop moving.

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

then those MTX amps aren't 'strappable' in common terms. That's just gain matching. A maxxsonics maxxlink would do the trick though. Strapping bypasses the input section of amp B by using a 'linking' cable of some sort as well as changing the output signal.

and you set master and slave switches on the amps

 

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

Even with a maxxlink you will need to gain match both amps.You have to do this with all strapped amps.

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

You do NOT have to gain match when strapping the SAZ-1500D's....the Master controls everything...

 

[djman37 5,000+ posts]

OP, you're in Dallas, there's guys on here that can help you, I can help you.

I just finished reading the MTX section on 'strapping' those amps.

To successfully link the two amplifiers together you will have to follow the steps below carefully. The following

information will explain how to configure each amplifier so one becomes the “positive” (Push) amplifier and

the other becomes the “negative” (Pull) amplifier. Just follow the steps below and you will be on your way to

massive amounts of power.

1) Label the first amplifier as the Positive amp. Then set the phase switch on this amp to the 0 degree setting.

Label the second amplifier as the Negative and set the phase switch on that amplifier to the 180 degree

setting.

2) The interconnects coming from the source unit need to be split into each of these two amplifiers. Using a “Y”

connector, split the “Left” side of the interconnect from the source so that it can go into the “Left” RCA input

receptacles on each amplifier. Using another “Y” connector, split the “Right” side of the interconnect into the

“Right” RCA input receptacles on the amplifiers in the same way.

3) Only the positive speaker terminals on each amplifier will be used as the connection points for the speaker. Connect

the positive side of the speaker wire to the positive terminal of the amplifier labeled Positive. Connect the negative

side of the speaker wire to the positive terminal of the amplifier labeled Negative. Make sure that the impedance of

the subwoofer is no lower than a 2 ohm load, this is important in order to avoid possible damage to the amplifier.

 

[Bass911 10+ year member]

Thanks for the help everybody. I'll play around with it until I get it right. FYI, the MTX amps don't have Slave/Master settings. If I run 3 1000 watt subs, will the power be distributed evenly with the amps strapped?