What exactly does the gain do?

[slideking 10+ year member]

Now I've read the sticky about how to set your gain knob. Now what exactly does it do? For example, when you turn your gain up does this mean that you are increasing the wattage delivered to your speakers, or does the wattage stay the same.

Click to read more...

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Matches the head unit's preout voltage to the input voltage of the amplifier...

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Allows you to adjust the "input" of the amplifier so that you can extract full output from the amplifier, without clipping, from a wide range of input signal voltages.

 

[slideking 10+ year member]

For example. My head unit is probably the cheapest Pioneer out there. I have heard that the output is about 1-2volts, now if the gain is set at about one-quarter the way up. is this correct?

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

For example. My head unit is probably the cheapest Pioneer out there. I have heard that the output is about 1-2volts, now if the gain is set at about one-quarter the way up. is this correct?

Depends on the amp.

 

[slideking 10+ year member]

Depends on the amp.

2500D

 

[bimma85 5,000+ posts]

For example. My head unit is probably the cheapest Pioneer out there. I have heard that the output is about 1-2volts, now if the gain is set at about one-quarter the way up. is this correct?

Preamp voltage is rated in max, its also not a constant. You can't just say, ok this amp has a 4v max input and my deck it has a 4v output....so the gain must need to go all the way up. There is a gain setting tutorial in the amp section.

 

[slideking 10+ year member]

Preamp voltage is rated in max, its also not a constant. You can't just say, ok this amp has a 4v max input and my deck it has a 4v output....so the gain must need to go all the way up. There is a gain setting tutorial in the amp section.

Awsome.. Thanks

 

[Saint211 10+ year member]

Ahhh gain, she can treat you very well, or she can cut your throat out... if you abuse her