Lee
07-16-2002, 05:45 AM
5.6 How do I set the gains on my amp? [JSC]The best way to do this is with a test tone and an oscilloscope (See section 5.18 How can I use an oscilloscope to set the gains in my system? [AO].) Since most people have neither item, the following will work approximately as well.
Disconnect all signal inputs to the amp
Turn all sensitivity adjustments as low as possible
Turn head unit on to around 90% volume (not 100% or else you'll have head unit distortion in there - unless you've got a good head unit) with some music with which you're familiar, and with EQ controls set to normal listening positions
Plug in one channel's input to the amp
Slowly turn that channel's gain up until you just start to notice distortion on the output
Turn it down just a wee little bit
Disconnect current input
Repeat steps 4-7 with each input on your amp
Turn off head unit
Plug in all amp inputs, and you're done
If by some chance you do have an oscilloscope (and preferably a test disc), you do essentially the same thing as above, except that you stop turning the gains up when you see clipping on the outputs of the amplifier.
Note that if you are paralleling multiple speakers on a single amp output, you need to set the gains with all of the speakers in place, since they will be affecting the power and distortion characteristics of the channel as a whole.
Disconnect all signal inputs to the amp
Turn all sensitivity adjustments as low as possible
Turn head unit on to around 90% volume (not 100% or else you'll have head unit distortion in there - unless you've got a good head unit) with some music with which you're familiar, and with EQ controls set to normal listening positions
Plug in one channel's input to the amp
Slowly turn that channel's gain up until you just start to notice distortion on the output
Turn it down just a wee little bit
Disconnect current input
Repeat steps 4-7 with each input on your amp
Turn off head unit
Plug in all amp inputs, and you're done
If by some chance you do have an oscilloscope (and preferably a test disc), you do essentially the same thing as above, except that you stop turning the gains up when you see clipping on the outputs of the amplifier.
Note that if you are paralleling multiple speakers on a single amp output, you need to set the gains with all of the speakers in place, since they will be affecting the power and distortion characteristics of the channel as a whole.