question about gain

[beginner]

My gains were set with a dmm. Is it normal that I had to actually turn my gains higher when I replaced my headunit with a higher voltage unit? Old one was 2v and new one is 5v , it just seems like sincen I have more voltage going to rca I'd need to turn it down

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[boxpunch]

My gains were set with a dmm. Is it normal that I had to actually turn my gains higher when I replaced my headunit with a higher voltage unit? Old one was 2v and new one is 5v , it just seems like sincen I have more voltage going to rca I'd need to turn it down

The RCA input voltage also depends on the resistance of the RCA's used. Generally headunits are tested at 100hz to get their pre-out voltage, no oscope testing is done when they do the test either. So depending upon the brand name it could be better or worse than the original unit.

You can check your preout voltage with the multimeter and determine if you're adjustment of the gain matches the ac voltage coming in.

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

My gains were set with a dmm. Is it normal that I had to actually turn my gains higher when I replaced my headunit with a higher voltage unit? Old one was 2v and new one is 5v , it just seems like sincen I have more voltage going to rca I'd need to turn it down

Yes, that seems odd. All other things being equal you should have more signal from the new HU. But you'd have to had used exactly the same signal source, same volume setting, same equalization (preferably flat) etc to compare apples to apples.