need help setting my gain..

[stanza 10+ year member]

hey guys, i know there is probably tons of threads about this but i looked for stickys and was unsuccessful at finding an answer to my question...

OK so i have a JL Audio JX500/1 amp and i want to make sure my gain is right. Every tutorial I read talks about using a test tone when doing this..

My questions are...

1) What is the pourpose of a test tone when doing this?

2) Why do i need to use a test tone?

3) What is a good test tone for tuning your subs for SQ?

4) What is a good test tone for tuning Mids?/High?

So can someone please explain the whole test tune thing to me and how/why you use the test tone. Also if anyone could give me a link to a good tutorial on setting ur amps gain id appreciate it.

Click to read more...

 

[05trailblazer 10+ year member]

if you go to jl's website and go to tutorials it'll tell you how to set your gains with the dmm dont have a link but go there

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

JL Audio - Car Audio Systems

your welcome

 

[stanza 10+ year member]

thanks guys.. didnt even think to look at JLs site.. smh.. but it doesnt say ne thing about using test tones while doing it.. i know you can do it without test tones but what are the advantages to using them while setting gain and what are the reasons why people use them during this process?

EDIT: i see where it talks about the test tones.. but can someone fill me in on why you should use test tones when doing this? I have yet to read anywhere what the point of using them is while setting the gain.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

It does say to use a tone, i think it says 50hz

 

[05trailblazer 10+ year member]

i have a 50herts tst tone pm ur email and when i get home ill email to you

thanks guys.. didnt even think to look at JLs site.. smh.. but it doesnt say ne thing about using test tones while doing it.. i know you can do it without test tones but what are the advantages to using them while setting gain and what are the reasons why people use them during this process?
EDIT: i see where it talks about the test tones.. but can someone fill me in on why you should use test tones when doing this? I have yet to read anywhere what the point of using them is while setting the gain.

 

[stanza 10+ year member]

yea it does say to use 50hz @ 0db for subs and 1Khz @ 0db for mids.. but what is the reason for doing this? lol the answer is probably pointless but its bugging the shat outta me

 

[stanza 10+ year member]

Trailblazer: thanks man, i have a test tone cd but ive just never seen the point in using it.. basically this is what im trying to figure out lol

 

[05trailblazer 10+ year member]

so you wont distort your subs/overpowering them

 

[stanza 10+ year member]

ok thanks.. so if i was planning on having my amp/subs tuned at around 70-80 Hz would it be better to use a test tone around 70-80Hz @0db? this answer is probably yes but i just want to make sure im thinking right.

 

[05trailblazer 10+ year member]

yes what kind of music u listen too

 

[stanza 10+ year member]

Rap.. nothing else.. but i like my bass to be more on the crisp, hardhitting side.. rather then loud bass. 70/30 - SQ/SPL is wat i prefer

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

so you wont distort your subs/overpowering them

please do not give advice on subjects you dont know about.

the reason you use a test tone is because its a constant tone for gain setting. constant means no variable means there is no change in anything in the system the whole time you are dialing it in. that for the most part is why they recommend to use a test tone. music has too many changes which cause too many changed to be able to set your gain on music. hope that helps

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

ok thanks.. so if i was planning on having my amp/subs tuned at around 70-80 Hz would it be better to use a test tone around 70-80Hz @0db? this answer is probably yes but i just want to make sure im thinking right.

Rap.. nothing else.. but i like my bass to be more on the crisp, hardhitting side.. rather then loud bass. 70/30 - SQ/SPL is wat i prefer

you say rap and you want to tune to 70-80 hz? rap music is usually pretty consistent in the 30-40hz range. most spl boxes dont tune as high as 70hz. nominal tuning would be good around 36-37hz for music.

 

[stanza 10+ year member]

you say rap and you want to tune to 70-80 hz? rap music is usually pretty consistent in the 30-40hz range. most spl boxes dont tune as high as 70hz. nominal tuning would be good around 36-37hz for music.

Thanks for the info sacsking.. i have my head unti set at 80hz for my subs and 100hz for my mids.. so i was gonna tune it to 70 hz becuase of that.. if i tuned my gain to 30-40hz would having my head unit tuned at 80hz sound bad?

Im having custom boxes made in the next two weeks so this is just a temporary tune until then.. and i also just want to make sure my amp is at the right voltage becuase i had it in the shop and its always good to be safe u know.