Amp tuning
09-14-2010, 10:40 AM
#1
0 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 21
Amp tuning
Hey guys . So im tuning my amp and sub today and just have a few issues. Now i have alpine pdx 1.000 amp and alpine type x 10 inch subwoofer. I know to match the input gain with my headunits output of 2.5 volts but when i set it to this i get nothing but when i set it to the .1-1 volt setting it works??? Also what should i be setting the low pass lp filter too. My subs range is 26-200hz.
Thanks
Wes
Thanks
Wes
09-14-2010, 11:08 AM
#2
simple gain setting:
1. turn your amps gains down (highest voltage input meaning the amp is least sensitive)
2. get your favourite cd with the type of music you listen to the most with ample bass response.
3. turn your head unit volume up to about 80-90% of max volume.
4. turn the gain control towards a lower voltage setting until you hear distortion (it should get very loud) and then turn the gain back slightly
5. your gains for that amp are set and good for daily listening.
Don't worry about where the dial on the amp ends up as head unit output and amp input are not always measured the same way and don't necessarily correlate to equivalent numbers. Use your ears to tell you what sounds right.
what you don't want to do is to set the gains really high (low voltage setting) so that you get max volume at 1/3-1/2 of your volume control as this will eventually lead to you turning it up further and clipping your amp and potentially damaging your equipment.
cross over setting:
start at 100hz lp at 6db/oct slope and adjust slope (if available) up from there and the frequency down from there. This setting can take some time and listening to finally get where you want it as all cars are different (you may have a bass hump or dip at a certain freq. range), your components or front speakers may be able or less able to blend at lower settings etc...so this one will require patience.
1. turn your amps gains down (highest voltage input meaning the amp is least sensitive)
2. get your favourite cd with the type of music you listen to the most with ample bass response.
3. turn your head unit volume up to about 80-90% of max volume.
4. turn the gain control towards a lower voltage setting until you hear distortion (it should get very loud) and then turn the gain back slightly
5. your gains for that amp are set and good for daily listening.
Don't worry about where the dial on the amp ends up as head unit output and amp input are not always measured the same way and don't necessarily correlate to equivalent numbers. Use your ears to tell you what sounds right.
what you don't want to do is to set the gains really high (low voltage setting) so that you get max volume at 1/3-1/2 of your volume control as this will eventually lead to you turning it up further and clipping your amp and potentially damaging your equipment.
cross over setting:
start at 100hz lp at 6db/oct slope and adjust slope (if available) up from there and the frequency down from there. This setting can take some time and listening to finally get where you want it as all cars are different (you may have a bass hump or dip at a certain freq. range), your components or front speakers may be able or less able to blend at lower settings etc...so this one will require patience.
Last edited by veeman; 09-14-2010 at 11:16 AM.
09-14-2010, 12:49 PM
#3
simple gain setting:
1. turn your amps gains down (highest voltage input meaning the amp is least sensitive)
2. get your favourite cd with the type of music you listen to the most with ample bass response.
3. turn your head unit volume up to about 80-90% of max volume.
4. turn the gain control towards a lower voltage setting until you hear distortion (it should get very loud) and then turn the gain back slightly
5. your gains for that amp are set and good for daily listening.
Don't worry about where the dial on the amp ends up as head unit output and amp input are not always measured the same way and don't necessarily correlate to equivalent numbers. Use your ears to tell you what sounds right.
what you don't want to do is to set the gains really high (low voltage setting) so that you get max volume at 1/3-1/2 of your volume control as this will eventually lead to you turning it up further and clipping your amp and potentially damaging your equipment.
cross over setting:
start at 100hz lp at 6db/oct slope and adjust slope (if available) up from there and the frequency down from there. This setting can take some time and listening to finally get where you want it as all cars are different (you may have a bass hump or dip at a certain freq. range), your components or front speakers may be able or less able to blend at lower settings etc...so this one will require patience.
1. turn your amps gains down (highest voltage input meaning the amp is least sensitive)
2. get your favourite cd with the type of music you listen to the most with ample bass response.
3. turn your head unit volume up to about 80-90% of max volume.
4. turn the gain control towards a lower voltage setting until you hear distortion (it should get very loud) and then turn the gain back slightly
5. your gains for that amp are set and good for daily listening.
Don't worry about where the dial on the amp ends up as head unit output and amp input are not always measured the same way and don't necessarily correlate to equivalent numbers. Use your ears to tell you what sounds right.
what you don't want to do is to set the gains really high (low voltage setting) so that you get max volume at 1/3-1/2 of your volume control as this will eventually lead to you turning it up further and clipping your amp and potentially damaging your equipment.
cross over setting:
start at 100hz lp at 6db/oct slope and adjust slope (if available) up from there and the frequency down from there. This setting can take some time and listening to finally get where you want it as all cars are different (you may have a bass hump or dip at a certain freq. range), your components or front speakers may be able or less able to blend at lower settings etc...so this one will require patience.
Nick
09-25-2010, 06:22 PM
#6
09-25-2010, 07:50 PM
#8
0 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 8
its not right
ask any professional installer, it's either it's distorting, possibly the rca out from the deck is at too low of a voltage meaning the amp is probably not pumping to it's fullest or you have a way under-powered amp. you should have room for improvement.
think of it as redlining your engine every time you hit the gas, im not saying its always loud, it might gradually go up as you turn up the volume, but it's just not effecient that way, but w/e tickles your ears..
think of it as redlining your engine every time you hit the gas, im not saying its always loud, it might gradually go up as you turn up the volume, but it's just not effecient that way, but w/e tickles your ears..
09-27-2010, 02:50 PM
#10
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 730
OP, veeman's approach (with BigRedGuy's added note) is what I would have posted. I'll also mention something Dukk said a while ago that makes this even easier... See if you can locate a 1000Hz tone (sine wave). You'll hear the tone go flat when either the deck or the amp "clips". It is much easier to tell when the tone is distorted than music, and makes the gain setting more accurate. Unless you have access to an oscilloscope and know how to use it, the prementioned method is best
EDIT: Also, I should add that your deck's output voltage is NOT constant. In fact, 2.5 volts is a mathematical answer to what the deck can produce. It is literally what the deck could put out if there were no losses between the battery and output stage, and the deck was forced to constantly run directly off it's voltage rails. This is of course impossible and very destructive. The .1-1 is most likely the accurate setting, as a result
Last edited by RomanticMoments; 09-27-2010 at 02:53 PM.
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