Question about amp gains
08-04-2010, 06:57 PM
#1
Question about amp gains
Just installed an mtx 250x amp for my front channels, The amp is pretty much perfectly matched for my fronts.
When I was setting the gains, I had the HU volume at about 75% and kept turning up the gains until I got distortion, except there wasn't any. So I turned my HU up to 100% and it sounded fine, just a lot louder.
The audio level seems to match where I have my subs at (really loud) and I'm not hearing any distortion and the speakers don't seem to be stressing, even on the low notes (HPF Set @ 50hz)
Is this an issue, or are there any problems with running my gains maxed?
When I was setting the gains, I had the HU volume at about 75% and kept turning up the gains until I got distortion, except there wasn't any. So I turned my HU up to 100% and it sounded fine, just a lot louder.
The audio level seems to match where I have my subs at (really loud) and I'm not hearing any distortion and the speakers don't seem to be stressing, even on the low notes (HPF Set @ 50hz)
Is this an issue, or are there any problems with running my gains maxed?
08-04-2010, 11:52 PM
#4
Guest
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 270
What are you using for a source - CD, ipod etc & what kind of music
What is your headunit make & model
If you want to know if it's clipping - go stop in at a good stereo shop and get them to hook an oscilloscope up to your headunit and amp - then you can tell for sure.
While it is possible to have no distortion like your saying - it is HIGHLY unlikely as the other poster mentioned.
If your not sure - back the gain off to 75% or less.
Also - remember that you only need to set the gains to play as loud as you want the system to play... granted for alot of people louder is their first option...
What is your headunit make & model
If you want to know if it's clipping - go stop in at a good stereo shop and get them to hook an oscilloscope up to your headunit and amp - then you can tell for sure.
While it is possible to have no distortion like your saying - it is HIGHLY unlikely as the other poster mentioned.
If your not sure - back the gain off to 75% or less.
Also - remember that you only need to set the gains to play as loud as you want the system to play... granted for alot of people louder is their first option...
08-05-2010, 03:50 AM
#5
I tested with a CD playing classical music, heavy on the strings then played some electronica/dubstep off my iphone, source was FLAC converted to a high bitrate AAC which the iphone supports.
Gains weren't set as high as I thought, but I backed them off some more and it's plenty loud. They're set somewhere between 60-75%
Gains weren't set as high as I thought, but I backed them off some more and it's plenty loud. They're set somewhere between 60-75%
08-05-2010, 04:28 AM
#6
Yankee
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,599
I set my gains to where my system wont damage my hearing if I crank it, and where I can hear clearly while driving a quiet or highly dynamic CD (chesky, mapleshade) .... and I always like to listen loud as my car lets in a lot of road noise.
08-05-2010, 02:49 PM
#7
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 16,855
Buy, borrow, beg, steal, or download a 1000hz tone. Turn your amp gain down, put in the CD and turn up the CD player until the tone goes "flat". Trust me, you'll hear it. Turn the deck back down to where the tone sounds normal. Turn up the amp gain until the tone again goes 'flat', back it off until it sounds normal.
Done. You have now set your amp gain to where it audibly clips at the same time the deck does. Do this process fairly quickly though as the mids can heat up a fair bit when you ramp up the power.
Done. You have now set your amp gain to where it audibly clips at the same time the deck does. Do this process fairly quickly though as the mids can heat up a fair bit when you ramp up the power.
08-06-2010, 08:11 AM
#10
go here and download the tone generator...you can choose specific freqs and duration and save them for free...and thanks Dukk, that's one of the easiest and best gain setting tutorials I've seen...maybe you should sticky it.
Tone Generator Software - Audio Test Tone Generator Download
Tone Generator Software - Audio Test Tone Generator Download
