How to set the gains with a multimeter.

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09-28-2006, 07:56 AM

#21

zoomer

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Haunz

^maybe not bad advice... most ppl just set gains by ear/common sense...

'if it sounds distorted turn it down...'

if you think you have a clean signal but are still worried that you might overpower the speakers thermally.... then worry about checking voltage...

when setting up, I would assume a 2h power rating... so if your speakers are 30watts RMS don't give them 50 for more then an hour or so.... get the idea ?

um and what science is that based on? how are you measuring 50w? is this continuous, peak? etc.

09-28-2006, 11:21 AM

#22

Sassmaster

Merry Christmass from CCA

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Actually, an analog multimeter uses a coil to move the needle, and an analog meter will always be true RMS, even moreso than a good DMM. there should be no circuit boards or circuitry in an analog meter, if there is, it is a digital meter with an analog display.

09-28-2006, 05:18 PM

#23

Haunz

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Quote:

Originally Posted by zoomer

um and what science is that based on? how are you measuring 50w? is this continuous, peak? etc.

The whole point of this excercise was to make sure that he wasn't overpowering his speakers thermally.....

I was trying to suggest that if he sets the level at 30w for a 30w speaker I would assume they will be fine for at least a couple hours (knowing rf -which I think is what he has- sounds right to me)

but if he sets the level at 50 or even 60 watts he may still be fine provided he dosen't push them for long periods of time..... (especially if they are high passed a bit)..... also worth mentioning is that even with 30watts you may still run into problems on a 6hr road trip listening to compressed music.....

I think measuring the amp's output can be very usefull, provided you have reasonably accurate #s and know what they mean.....

09-28-2006, 10:56 PM

#24

Lspade69

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I am pretty sure that I know what distortion sounds like if I had to set it by ear but this is at 3/4 volume and I am guessing that I hit close to 140db with my two 15's and I heard that even for a split second sound is very harmful at those volumes.