How to level match new components

[tooshort_128 10+ year member]

This is my first time doing an oem integration and I'm trying to figure out the best way to match levels. I set my amp gains with a DMM but am wondering about the other components.. I have my LOC gains set at 3/4 but how should I set levels on my mx-3 bass controller? There is an input level and an output level. Help!

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[tooshort_128 10+ year member]

Is this a dumb question? Wrong section?

 

[zako 10+ year member]

That's why I don't like the idea of using DMM to set gains of the subwoofer. In my view, you should always set the gains of the subwoofer channel to blend it with the mains, not the other way around. First, turn off subwoofer and set the gains of your components. One rule of thumb is to set the component gains so that the "normal" daily driver listening volume is achieved when the stereo's volume knob is at its 75% position. Next, set the gains of the subwoofer. Set all equalizer and bass boost functions to flat. Set the subwoofer amplifier gain to minimum, and then keep increasing it until you feel like you have achieved a good blend (e.g. subwoofer does not "over play" the components and viceversa). Note that the DMM method is still useful to find what's the maximum _safe_ gain level on the amplifier you can use. However, in my experience, this setting is usually higher than what I need to blend with the fronts.

 

[tooshort_128 10+ year member]

What I really need help with is setting the input gain on the MX-3 bass controller. The good thing about this piece is that is has a clipping indicator for the output but I'm not sure how to match the input sensitivity of the MX-3 to the RCA output of my LOC.