Setting gains...yes I searched the stickies...

[websterbud 10+ year member]

I went to set my gains with a dmm. With the car running and the gains to 0 my dmm was reading 6.1volts. The amp is a US Amps Merlin MD41 and channels 1&2 and 3&4 are bridged for my front components.

Can someone explain to me why this is happening, whether it's right or wrong? From there I just turned up the voltage to my target of 24.5, but since doing so I feel like I'm getting less kick-bass than I was before so I thought this voltage reading might have something to do with that. Does this mean my gains are low?

I searched for the answer but couldn't find anything similar. Thanks in advance dudes.

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[websterbud 10+ year member]

bump

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

it says that due to your preout voltages. the higher the preout voltage the higher the voltage will be with gain set to minimum. dont worry about it. i should read 0 when you have the volume off only. other wise it will read something if you have even a little bit of preout voltage

as far as output...what kind of test tone did you use? i suggest using a 50hz -6db test tone to set your subwoofers.

 

[websterbud 10+ year member]

To set my sub I used a 50Hz test tone @ 0dB. I'm debating going through again and setting them all at -3dB. Why do you say to set it at -6dB?

It's a 12" Fi Q in a sealed enclosure getting about ~1000 watts.

 

[luvinthebass 5,000+ posts]

To set my sub I used a 50Hz test tone @ 0dB. I'm debating going through again and setting them all at -3dB. Why do you say to set it at -6dB?
It's a 12" Fi Q in a sealed enclosure getting about ~1000 watts.

If you set them with say a -3 test tone, you'd turn the gain up just a tad bit more and if ya used a -6 test tone a lil bit more as well.

-6 for bass is good cuz most of the peaks in rap songs hit right at that, if ya used -3 you'd have some headroom left over and if you stuck with 0db no clippin at all.

 

[websterbud 10+ year member]

I listen to pretty much everything BUT rap. Think I should use -6dB test tone? I'm not sure how comfortable I feel about going any lower.

 

[jacka 10+ year member]

A lot of rap songs will clip at 'full tilt' if you used a -6dB. Use it only if you can sense clipping and know when to turn it down.