Is it correct to...

[dleccord 5,000+ posts]

set your component amp's gain with 50hz test tone? I tried using 100,200,400,800,1khz but none of which can get close to the desired 18volts. The highest I have ever gotten was 3 volts, but when using the 50hz I can get voltage set correctly. Is this common?

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[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Sounds like you are doing something wrong.

What exactly were you measuring ? As in, where were the probes for the DMM touching?

You could always just set the gain by ear aswell.

 

[dleccord 5,000+ posts]

The probes are touching the speaker's +/-, I set my M301 and 500/1 with the 50hz fine but I cannot set it with the 100-1khz tones, don't know why though, but it seems to be really exact with the 50hz, that is clean *** sound when turned up to about 26/27, that's as far as I go for now

 

[bimma85 5,000+ posts]

The probes are touching the speaker's +/-, I set my M301 and 500/1 with the 50hz fine but I cannot set it with the 100-1khz tones, don't know why though, but it seems to be really exact with the 50hz, that is clean *** sound when turned up to about 26/27, that's as far as I go for now

the speakers? you're not even suppose to have them hooked up when setting the gain.

 

[El Ropo 10+ year member]

^

^

^ What he said, plus use a 1Khz 0db tone. It is very important that you use a 0 db test tone, not any of the -3 or -12 db tones floating around. Do not use NCH tone generator to make your own tones, as that program creates -12 db tones, which are so quiet you end up setting your gains way too high!

I always recommend the pre-made tones at realm of excursion.com

Here's a link to their 0db 1khz tone:

http://www.realmofexcursion.com/audio/1khz.mp3

Also, be sure your meter is set for AC voltage, some autosensing meters don't switch by themselves, and the default is usually DC.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

^^

^ What he said, plus use a 1Khz 0db tone. It is very important that you use a 0 db test tone, not any of the -3 or -12 db tones floating around. Do not use NCH tone generator to make your own tones, as that program creates -12 db tones, which are so quiet you end up setting your gains way too high!

I always recommend the pre-made tones at realm of excursion.com

Here's a link to their 0db 1khz tone:

http://www.realmofexcursion.com/audio/1khz.mp3

Also, be sure your meter is set for AC voltage, some autosensing meters don't switch by themselves, and the default is usually DC.

Just a minor nit to pick, but in some cases, setting gains with a -3dB or even -6dB test tone allow you to get the most out of your amp on music. Because you're never going to get to a 0dB reference level with music, David Navone, RC and others recommend setting them with a lower level tone.

Just FWIW.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Actually David Navone recommends setting the amplifier gain with a -10db test tone, and include some on their A2k discs.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

If you are using a 50hz tone, did you still have the highpass filter on?

If so, there is your reason.

 

[dleccord 5,000+ posts]

No my speaker connecters wasn't plugged in.

I disconnected my other amp's RCA, for what reason, I dont know why because the gain setting tutorial says so.

All of my filters were off, both amp and headunit.

Most of the one's I downloaded, 100hz-1khz, were 0db at ROE.

 

[dleccord 5,000+ posts]

i tested on both my alpine amps, the f340 and t320.

yes the 50hz worked for the sub amp the way it should but then again the 50hz also worked for the mids and highs, somehow

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

yes the 50hz worked for the sub amp the way it should but then again the 50hz also worked for the mids and highs, somehow

Because frequency isn't important to ohm's law, and should have little to no impact on the output of your amplifier //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif