setting gains with dmm question?

[ItsAJeepThing 10+ year member]

So I have set my previous mono amps with a dmm without a problem. I recently bought a 2 chanell amp for my speakers and was wondering what the equation would look like since its 2 chanells. My amp does 50rms x 2 @ 4 ohms. So would the equation be voltage=sqrt(100x4)?

Thanks for the help.

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[Crapalier 10+ year member]

voltage = sqrt(watts x ohms)

so sqrt(50x4) = 14.14

 

[JoshC 10+ year member]

So would the voltage read the same arcoss both channels? Or would u measure them individually

 

[fish1234 10+ year member]

Do each channel seperately, measure @ 14.14 for each channel.

 

[wenn_du_weinst 10+ year member]

you have a 2 channel amp with 2 gains?

 

[fish1234 10+ year member]

Sorry, I thought you had a four channel. Set your gain @ 14.14 for the two channel.

 

[ItsAJeepThing 10+ year member]

I believe its just one gain knob that's why I thought the equation was voltage = sqrt(100x4)

 

[BnGRacing 10+ year member]

Are you using a DMM for an unregulated amp? That's a bad idea...and a not-so-great idea with a lot of regulated amps too as many will make more power with greater voltage. In addition, some amps act weird when there isn't a load present.

IMO, you're better off using test tones and junk speakers (in case they blow) instead of a DMM.

 

[i2ain2thunder 10+ year member]

use your ears.....kids these days, distortion is very audible.

 

[BnGRacing 10+ year member]

use your ears.....kids these days, distortion is very audible.

Some amps hide it better than others and most music today, if you can even call it that, are recorded pretty hot which makes hearing amplifier clipping even more difficult. You gotta remember; most subwoofers will have mechanical distortion well in excess of amplifier distortion. I have a pretty good ear and I don't even trust myself with gain setting using only music.

There's a few places where you can DL test tones, load 'em on your iPod/burn them, and you're set.