tuning question

[frankiebones 10+ year member]

in the past, ive always tuned my amps using 3/4 volume and a 50 or 1000 Hz (for the sub and component amp respectively). then i use the JL DMM setting tutorial with sqrt(imped. x rms wattage). i always use the wattage that corresponds to the voltage i am actually getting at the amp (13.5)

using this method, i end up listening to my system of volume 38-40 out of 62. at that level, i'm lucky to get 1/2 a volt output from the HU.

just did some more testing with my DMM and with a 50Hz test tone at 0 dB, my HU (SUB output) doesnt clip til volume 61/62.

with a -3dB of the same frequency, it doesnt clip, the highest it gets is 3.09V (i have 5V preamp so anything up to that pt is clean).

with processing all turned on, it clips at volume 51/62. however, that with a 50Hz 0dB test tone. when playing the hardest hitting bass song i listen to, smack my ***** up by prodigy, the highest rating i got at 51/62 was 1.9. the HU didnt clip until 60/62.

my DMM holds and records the highest reading it gets until it gets a higher one so its accurate.

what HU volume should i tune my amps to? obviously the 3/4 volume rule doesnt apply to me bc mine doesnt clip until u turn the volume 98.3% of the way up.

i'm not interested in theoretical situations involving test tones recorded at 0 dB. i'm interested in getting my HU output to the highest possible point it can be at in the real world (i.e., with all my EQ settings on and the BBE and everything else) but make 100% sure that my amp doesnt get a clipped signal.

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[Immacomputer 10+ year member]

Use your ear.

 

[GrnEydDvl 10+ year member]

You are assuming it does not clip until 5 volts. I remember from another post you made today that a Pioneer rep had told you just that.

I would not take Pioneer at their word on this. You need an o-scope to determine if the signal is clipping.

Also, 3/4 volume would be fine to set your gains at. As long as the HU isn't clipping and you don't have to turn your gains up so far you hear noise - you are good to go. You won't gain anything by setting it with the volume higher but more clicks on the knob until Max. But you do risk the Head Unit beginning to clip the higher you set it as you don't have a scope so you don't know when it starts to clip.

 

[frankiebones 10+ year member]

previous reviews by car audio mag have said they used an oscope and got to 61/62 without it clipping, and the pioneer guy said "5 V non-clipping max."

isnt the idea to get the highest possible voltage output to your amp to reduce signal to noise ratio?

i just set my gains using a dmm and i did so at 56/62 volume (before it was set to 45/62. i have to mess around with my JL 500/1 amp some to get the bass sounding cleaner, but with the morel components, the diff in SQ is HUGE! i am listening to it at around 51/62, and before i was listening to it at 37-37 and getting such low voltage.

also,up to 56/62 i cant get higher than a 3.4 V on the DMM.

its a huge improvement, and will certainly suffice until i get an oscope in the next 1-4 weeks

 

[frankiebones 10+ year member]

i should add that those previous reviews were of older models of pioneer HU's

 

[frankiebones 10+ year member]

You won't gain anything by setting it with the volume higher but more clicks on the knob until Max.

now im getting 2.14V at 51/62.

when i was listening to it at 39/62, im getting 0.542V. you prob know a lot more about this sh*t than i do, but thats

 

[GrnEydDvl 10+ year member]

isnt the idea to get the highest possible voltage output to your amp to reduce signal to noise ratio?

Yes. You've got it 100% correct - well except you want to increase the ratio, not reduce. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

But if you can't hear the noise, increasing the signal to noise ratio doesn't matter, at least not to me.

its a huge improvement, and will certainly suffice until i get an oscope in the next 1-4 weeks

If it sounds better then by all means keep it that way! I have mine set to max out around 50/62 on my 880prs with low level material. Let us know what you find out when the o-scope comes in.