Setting gains best with or without a load?

[akillj 10+ year member]

When setting my gains for my subs, is it best to set them with the subs connected? (Presenting a load to the amp) or unplugging them?

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[T3mpest 10+ year member]

Unhook them. Impedence is going to be wonky no matter how you do it so just use a nominal impedence for your calculations and hope for the best. For all the exactness that people think they get from a DMM, it's really still a crapshoot at best.

 

[jockhater2 10+ year member]

oscillioscope...

 

[PapaGeno21 10+ year member]

I set my sub amp with a scope under load doing a burp. I want to have the gains set so when the voltage is pulled down to its lowest point that the wave is clean. From that point on it comes down to what music I play as far as clipping. I feel that is the safest way to do it. Granted when I do this the truck is at idle, so it pulls the voltage maybe half a volt past where it should go but that is even safer.

I know I am leaving a little on the table doing it that way, but with my setup it is already wayyyyy too much for me so I really don't care.