Tuning Help

[Tyler.Rochester 10+ year member]

when i looked up info on how to tune my amp with a multi meter it said to unplug the speaker and play a test tone of 45 hz and to adjust the gain until the voltage matched that of the formula sqrt(watts*resistance) which i came up with 34.64. Amp is sax1200 so I entered 1200 for watts and 1 for resistance. After doing all this and matching the voltage reading I hooked my sa12 back up to the amp. The thing i was wondering about is that with where the gain was set (a little under half way) the sub was barely moving and not very loud. Did I do something wrong because i know it can get louder. Thanks, Tyler.

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[chillin 10+ year member]

what level was your test tone? most music wont even hit -6 db, so if you used a 0 db test tone your music will seem much quieter, but your speaker will be safer

 

[Tyler.Rochester 10+ year member]

good question. i cant remember anymore where i got the tone but idk what level its at. could i just put the tone on audacity and amplify it or something? or does anyone know where i could get a tone at a better level?

 

[duanebro 10+ year member]

You can use a program to make tones. Here is a free one:NaTCH Engineering - SigJenny an Audio Signal Generator for Free

 

[neonblack 10+ year member]

If you're speaker(s) is lower than 1200 W you're going to blow the speaker(s). You need to match the speaker load. If you're running 2 channels with 150W RMS x 4 ohm speaker in each channel your output voltage needs to be (150x4)**1/2 or sqrt(150x4) = 24.5V output per channel.

Test tones can be misleading. You're never going to reach the level of a test tone from a retail CD. The test tones are very loud - even the ones at 192 KB/s (+/- 0 dB). I find that the tones are not indicative of CD levels. Grab a CD that is recorded at a very high level and use that to adjust the amp output voltage for your mids and your subs. Set your head unit to 75% volume (and bass/treble levels +/- 0 dB) then adjust your amp's output voltage.

 

[Gregulate 10+ year member]

I use the Focal Tools CD #2 and use 50hz and 1kz for sub and comps, respectively. I'd recommend doing that and for matching the voltage with the speaker rather than the amp's capability.

 

[MANTI5 10+ year member]

500Hz for sub? You mean 50?

 

[chillin 10+ year member]

If you haven't yet, give this a read. Keep hope alove knows his shit. 75% volume is not always the best.

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/car-audio-reference-database/534215-how-set-gains-dmm.html

 

[Gregulate 10+ year member]

500Hz for sub? You mean 50?

You're right. Typo!

 

[Tyler.Rochester 10+ year member]

thank you, i will check those things out.