My system is in, but I don't know how to play with the amp and HU settings.

[SPLV 10+ year member]

I'm running a passive Rainbow front stage powered by a bridged Kicker zx350.4 and a set of 8" subs powered by a Kicker zx750.1. The HU of choice is the Eclipse CD7000.

My question is, what am I suppose to do with the settings on the amps and the HU? Both amps have knobs for "Gain", "Bass Boost", and "Xover Frequency". Do I need to set the bass boost and xover frequency because the HU also has these settings? Which one do I need play with, the HU or amp settings?

Also, the zx350.4 has two switches on the side labeled "xover - hi/lo" which I am assuming are simply filters. If the zx350.4 is set to the hi pass filter, do I need to also set the xover frequency?

Lastly, if I am to change the settings, how will I know at what frequencies to be setting the xovers? Can I blow the speakers by sending them extremely low frequencies or blow the subs by sending them some highs?

Sorry if these questions are extremely noobish or if they have been covered before. I've searched, but found nothing to satisfy my questions. I just want to make sure that I don't trash my system with improper settings.

Thanks for any advice.

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[shortyg83 10+ year member]

bass boost=0

gain use a dmm to set the gain to the correct voltage if you have no dmm do not set it higher then 50%.

filter should be built in to the crossover on those comps is there an option besides hi / low

like full?

 

[60ndown 10+ year member]

http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/ISEO-rgbtcspd/reviews/20030623/tune_your_system.html

 

[XanderMoser 10+ year member]

I just posted this in another thread, so I'm copying and pasting here...

Are you using the passive crossovers for the speakers?

If so, all you need to worry about is high passing (letting frequencies higher than the crossover frequency pass) the component set as a whole and low passing (letting frequencies lower than the crossover frequency pass) the subwoofer.

I assume you are running one RCA pair to the amps for the component set, and one RCA pair to the sub amp?

If so, then you can use the HU to set your crossovers. If you do this, then set the highpass frequency on your component amp as low as possible and set your lowpass frequency on the sub amp as high as possible.

Now set the subwoofer lowpass frequency on the HU to about 60-80 hz, wherever you think sounds best. Adjust the slope to what you think sounds best as well.

Now set the component set highpass frequency on the HU to about 60-80 hz, wherever you think sounds best, and also play with the slope here. I would suggest not going below 12 db/oct, especially at lower highpass frequencies.

Make sure to play with the phase adjustment on the sub if you have that ability. You'll find you can gain a few DB of apparent output by adjusting the phase.

If you have any more specific questions, just ask

 

[SPLV 10+ year member]

What I don't understand is if I use the HU to set the Xover point for the components and the subs, then why do I need to set the highpass/lowpass frequences or xovers on the amps? Shouldn't I just need to set one? And if so, which one should I set, the HU or the amps.

Also, Can I blow the speakers by sending them extremely low frequencies or blow the subs by sending them some highs?

 

[XanderMoser 10+ year member]

What I don't understand is if I use the HU to set the Xover point for the components and the subs, then why do I need to set the highpass/lowpass frequences or xovers on the amps? Shouldn't I just need to set one? And if so, which one should I set, the HU or the amps.

I already answered this specifically:

I assume you are running one RCA pair to the amps for the component set, and one RCA pair to the sub amp?
If so, then you can use the HU to set your crossovers. If you do this, then set the highpass frequency on your component amp as low as possible and set your lowpass frequency on the sub amp as high as possible.

Also, Can I blow the speakers by sending them extremely low frequencies or blow the subs by sending them some highs?

You can't blow subs with high frequencies. But if smaller speakers are sent low frequencies at normal levels, it can blow them by exceeding xmech. That is the whole point of a high pass filter. It lets the highs pass and it blocks the lows. Make sure to use a relatively steep slope (18 db/oct or 24db/oct) on the high pass filter on the comp set to block the lower frequencies.

 

[SPLV 10+ year member]

XanderMoser-thanks for the reply.

So I do need to set the xover point on both the HU and the amps and NOT one or the other. This is what I was trying to get at.

 

[jblayz1 10+ year member]

if you're going active from the HU you don't need the passive x-overs or the x-overs on the amps.

 

[SPLV 10+ year member]

Not going active. Just passive. Read post 1.