but no consensus appears to have been reached regarding the correct method of setting up amplifiers.
And you won't, frankly. There are 100 methods for setting a gain.
Involving the gain setting: I've got 2 amps one which says to dial up the gain until distortion is noted than backing off 1 step. I want to be careful with this amp, because I noted that my subs tended to bottom out (make that horrendous popping noise at low frequency, high volume) if the gain was set improperly. However, to allow for equal loading of each sub, I found it necessary to increase the gain on one channel compared to the other (bridged). The other amp said to set the gain to correspond to the HU's output. My Alpine 9853 has 2V preamp outs, so I set the digital gain on the MRV F345 to 2amps. I must admit, I'm tempted to boost this gain for volume (realizing it's my alter ego talking).
I would advise you to read the gain setting tutorial sticky'd at the top of this section:
http://forums.caraudio.com/vb/showthread.php?t=63933
If you wish, you may use a -6db test tone instead of a 0db test tone. It will result in more amplifier power being utilized over the entire volume range.
Involving the frequency setting: Oddly enough, compared to my old system, adjusting the frequency on this amp doesn't appear to make an appreciable difference to the sound generated (even when isolating each speaker). Anyway, my theory was that the frequency should be set to correspond to the frequency range for which the speakers are rated. However, it is a frequency range with a low and high parameter, but the amp only allows you to set one frequency.
The "rated" frequency range of a driver is, for all intents and purposes.....useless. Ignore it. Pretend it doesn't even exist. For speakers (co-axials or components) you only need to highpass the speakers. For subwoofers, you only need to lowpass them (unless you are using a ported enclosure...then a subsonic filter may be necessary aswell).
There is no right or wrong when setting the actual frequency.....it's just whatever sounds best. You'll typically want to highpass your speakers around 50hz to 100hz, and lowpass your sub around 50hz to 85hz.
And the frequency you highpass your speakers at and lowpass your subs at do not need to "match". If you highpass your speakers at 75hz, you do not need to lowpass your sub at 75hz. Just set them both to whatever sounds best.
Some of you have noted the following:1. That popping noise one hears if from inaccurate setting of one's amps creating distortion and clipping, leading bottoming out the subs.
It's possible, yes. Or, the amp may simply be too powerful for the subs.
2. That the amps gain should be set to match the HU output.
You can, if no other means are available to you.
But following the gain setting tutorial, I think, is a little better than the above method you noted.
3. That the gain can be set arbitrarily
Whoever said that is totally incorrect. You can NOT arbitrarily set the gain. There are, however, multiple methods for gain setting....which can make it a challenge chosing the "best" method.
Please peruse the preceeding the thread and inform me of your opinions on setting up an amplifier.
Very nice. Very nice indeed.
Much better conclusion than the typical "yo dawg, is dis shit str8 or what? Holla at me nukka"
