Questions regarding Gain settings for 4-channel

[bikinpunk 10+ year member]

I've looked through and searched the tutorial but couldn't find a specific thread on my question:

First off, my amp is rated at 40w rms x4 @ 4 ohms. My slc's can take 100 @ 4ohms. If it's possible to boost my output by setting the gains a little higher I'd like to. I'm wanting to run active 2-way and I want to give them about 50w each (50w for mid1, mid2, tweeter1, tweeter2) and not stress my amp too much.

I understand that if I were setting gains for one speaker the gain voltage should be approximately:

SqRt(50*4)=20v.

My question, is since I am actually pushing two speakers off each set of channels (front set off channel 1 & 2, rear set off channel 3 & 4) should I be doubling my output power to account for this since I have one gain control for each set of channels (once again, gain for channel 1 & 2, gain for 3 & 4)?

Ie: SqRt(100*4)=40v.

If this is correct, then each channel should be showing 50w each after all is said and done, correct?

I'm sorry if this is confusing... I tried not to make it that way.

If I'm completely wrong here, please explain to me how to set this. Thanks guys.

Edit: I think I made this much harder than it is. I can set one gain while checking voltage at one channel instead of worrying about both, since it should be the same on the other channel.

 

Still, I need advice on whether or not I should try to push my amp at 10w more than what it was rated. It may not be a major difference, but Rainbow's site says "minimum amplifier power 50w".

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[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Setting higher gain doesn't allow the amp to make more usable power than it would with properly set gains.

 

[bikinpunk 10+ year member]

Setting higher gain doesn't allow the amp to make more usable power than it would with properly set gains.

Thanks for the info.

I hated to be one of those "turn the gain all the way up", but I thought it might be a viable solution. Now I know better.