Sould speakers be connected when setting gain with a scope?

[Storis 10+ year member]

Should the speakers be connected when setting amp gain using a scope? I would assume it would be better if they were because you would be measuring the amp under actual load.

To hook up ths scope with the speakers connected I assume you just go postive lead of scope to psitive speaker terminal and negative lead to negative terminal?

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[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

no, unconnected

 

[Storis 10+ year member]

Can you tell me why?

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

I've done it both ways, and it still clips @ the same spot. So unless you like loud noises or have a set of ear plugs, leave them unconnected.

 

[2kchevy06civic 5,000+ posts]

because you don't want to damage the speaker during the process. The purpose of setting the amp via a scope is to see when the amp beings to clip. You don't want to sit there playing test tones, with your speakers hooked up, messing around with the gain. It's just a precaution really. I'm not saying you could damage the speaker but I don't want to find out really....

 

[Storis 10+ year member]

ok, thanks I had heard it was rough on the speakers also.

 

[2kchevy06civic 5,000+ posts]

I've done it both ways, and it still clips @ the same spot. So unless you like loud noises or have a set of ear plugs, leave them unconnected.

that too.......I'm sure your ears would love the sound of a 1khz test tone being played higher than your normal listening volumes.