Setting gains by ear for subwoofer

[MellowHype 10+ year member]

Whats the first sign of distortion from a sub when setting gains? My DMM is playing up, and i want to set my gains. Is it best to use a test tone? What kind of distortion would i hear? Bottoming out?

Thanks

HU - CDA 117ri

Sub - Type r 12" dual 4 ohm -@ 2ohm ---- Ported box 2cbft @32hz

Amp - Kicker ex1000.1 700wrms @2ohm

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[murph 10+ year member]

Good luck

 

[chillin 10+ year member]

Depends on the sub. If you're not sure what distortion sounds like, i wouldn't set your gains by ear.

 

[Phoenix Risen 10+ year member]

if you havent experienced it before there is really no way we can tell you what to listen for.

distortion is just that, and if you know your equipment you can hear it clip.

 

[MellowHype 10+ year member]

Good luck

lol, guess i shouldnt even try?

 

[murph 10+ year member]

lol, guess i shouldnt even try?

No it takes a lot of experience to set gains by ear. Even when an "Expert" does it most likely the amp will either be slightly clipping or not putting out its full potential. 20 dollars and you have a cheap dmm which will do the job.

 

[goingdef 10+ year member]

By ear is sssooooo 1980's now a days we set by SMELL when you smell smoke your up too high!

J/K get a DMM

 

[snyderd758 10+ year member]

Where is he gonna get a 20 dollar oscope? Post a link please i would like one.

 

[BrownVanMan 10+ year member]

Where is he gonna get a 20 dollar oscope? Post a link please i would like one.

yeah i second this

 

[MellowHype 10+ year member]

Just tried my DMM again one of the wires was loose, the gains are set at 700wrms still, using a -3db 60hz tone. I just played the tone at my max undistorted vol, and it shook my whole car and my rear view mirror moved all the way down. However when im actually listening to music, its no where near as loud. Is it safe to go with a -6db tone?

 

[murph 10+ year member]

Where is he gonna get a 20 dollar oscope? Post a link please i would like one.

My bad I meant dmm but, you can get an o scope for 78 bucks http://www.amazon.com/SainSmart-Pocket-Sized-Digital-Oscilloscope-VERSION/dp/B004Y3QHZ6/ref=sr_1_4?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1341352745&sr=1-4

 

[snyderd758 10+ year member]

78 bucks isnt bad either. I got all excited when you said 20 though. Thanks for that link too.

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

Just tried my DMM again one of the wires was loose, the gains are set at 700wrms still, using a -3db 60hz tone. I just played the tone at my max undistorted vol, and it shook my whole car and my rear view mirror moved all the way down. However when im actually listening to music, its no where near as loud. Is it safe to go with a -6db tone?

Should use a 0db 50Hz test tone and set it to play that tone at the volume you listen to or the highest volume you listen too. There is a huge tutorial on it.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

the Autosound 2000 Disc 102 has test tones that purposely clip for a few seconds - so you hear what clipping sounds like in the recording, which lets you set gains by ear.

Autosound 2000 Disc Two Image/Placement Test CD at Crutchfield.com

another disc for setting amplifier levels:

Autosound 2000 Disc Four Amplifier Optimizer Test CD at Crutchfield.com

setting gains by ear for $20

Disc 101 has tones from 10Hz-98Hz in 1Hz increments, as well as sweeps and noise.

 

[imp4pdabest 10+ year member]

Clipping coming soon!