questions about setting gain with MM

[godisanatheist 10+ year member]

when you set gain with a MM you are basically making sure the amp doesn't try to put out more power than its rated for correct? Im pushing 500rms at 4ohms. so 500x4 sqrt = 44.7. so when the ac voltage is 44.7 the amp puts out 500rms correct? ok so we do this with a 50hz testtone. isn't just being on the safe side because if you play some loud music at 3/4 volume then check the voltage it won't even go as high as 44.7. am i missing something here? most music isn't like a testtone so setting gains with one would be ultra-conservative, same goes for using an o-scope as the shape would change with different music. and what about underrated amps how do you take those into account? I still think setting gains while playing most bass heavy/loudest song on your library/playlist is better, since you kinda know nothing else is as loud as that and if you need louder bass on other songs you can always change the pre-amp level on the headunit.

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[theMessenjah44 10+ year member]

V^2/R = power. I take it you are using this for highs, so probably 4 ohm speakers. so it would be the square root of power x resistance or 2000

just did the math and it comes out the same anyway...oops

In theory.

I gave up on the DMM setting and set by ear. Turn it up until you hear a little distortion then back it down. just use some common sense, if it starts sounding like shiz, turn it down

 

[-01limited- 10+ year member]

another one of these?

 

[godisanatheist 10+ year member]

I mean.. i know its the safe side and all. but **** i wanna get the most outta my amp. i don't listen to test tones on my system. I find even the distortion thing varies upon song so I just pick a song which is really bass heavy. i go bit lower than the distortion level. i find that my gain level is still somewhat higher than if i had set it with a MM. (right now its is halfway on my jl 500/1, bass boost less than +3). its rare that a song is too loud or i feel as if its pushing my sub too hard if it is then I turn down sub output from the HU.

btw does it matter wehter you use an analog or digital multimeter. ive been using an analog one.. shouldnt matter right?