Tuning an amp (NOT A, HOW TO?!)

[miker 5,000+ posts]

Alright, I was wondering a couple of things...

First off, is there any place I can bring my amp to get all the shit set straight? I could do a half *** job myself just to get by, but in the long run I would like it done really well

Also is there any way I can find the true power of my amp? I want to know exactly how many watts I get out of it.

Thanks.

Click to read more...

 

[BZA 10+ year member]

look at the birth sheet of your amp, those are pretty accurate. and go to an audio shop near you, they should be able to toon your stuff...maybe for free if theyre cool about it.

 

[miker 5,000+ posts]

look at the birth sheet of your amp, those are pretty accurate. and go to an audio shop near you, they should be able to toon your stuff...maybe for free if theyre cool about it.

Birth sheet?

Also not really sure of any audio shops near me... I mean there is Best Buy, Circuit City, and Ultimate Electronics.

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

either look at the birthsheet (came with amp) or get it bench tested. i dunno if i'd trust BB or CC with my amps.

 

[miker 5,000+ posts]

either look at the birthsheet (came with amp) or get it bench tested. i dunno if i'd trust BB or CC with my amps.

Yeah I know, but I have no clue where I would bring it other than there... I'll ask them about it

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

just buy a DMM. like 15-20 bux

 

[miker 5,000+ posts]

I have one already. Those are used in tuning the amp? How do I determine total wattage at the different impedances?

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

theres a sticky. square root of (watts times ohms) = voltage (AC) you need on your DMM to obtain said wattage at said ohms

 

[miker 5,000+ posts]

theres a sticky. square root of (watts times ohms) = voltage (AC) you need on your DMM to obtain said wattage

Alright got it! Thanks.

 

[tsenfw 10+ year member]

Yeah, but can an amp be putting out correct voltage but not enough wattage? I think you need more equipment than a DMM to get the correct reading of amps to derive the wattage.

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

edited.

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

Yeah, but can an amp be putting out correct voltage but not enough wattage? I think you need more equipment than a DMM to get the correct reading of amps to derive the wattage.

just go read the sticky. i'm not gonna re-explain this...

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63933

there ya go.

 

[tsenfw 10+ year member]

Ok, simmah down now

Ok, I read that like 5 million times. The sticky shows how to derive the needed voltage for a certain wattage output at a certain ohm load.

That does not neccessarily mean that your amp in reality will be outputing that actual wattage. My question is:

If you measure your amplifier voltage output with a DMM, is you amplifier definately putting out the calculated wattage or is there a chance it could be putting out the correct voltage but less wattage?

Unless you know electronics and the electrical laws well, you're not going to be able to answer my question. High voltage doesn't necessarily mean high amperage. It's the amps that'll kill you when you get electrocuted.

 

[miker 5,000+ posts]

I've read through, and have some questions...

Is this equation "SQRT(Power*Resistance)"

Square Root of watts (times) ohms???

"Set track to 60 Hz and set to repeat track"

How do I set my track to a certain hz level?

"Insert leads of multimeter into one of the channels and tighten slightly"

Negative or positive? Does not matter? Thats what it sounds like I just need to be clear.

Now that I read through it, it seems pretty simple...

EDIT: There is no way for me to figure my "actual" wattage? I just have to trust the manufacturer?