tuning with a dmm?

Hey guys. I'm just trying to understand how this concept works. I'm playing around with the idea. Before you say "don't do that" or any variation, please just answer :-) then you can say whatever!

I'm trying to set my aplifier gain. I have a LPF on the amp, gain, and then bass boost, subsonic filter etc. I just use the LPF and the gain (obviously). When using a DMM, my amp would be tuned to 31.62v. Now my question is, if i have the LPF down at 40hz (i use 80hz) and tune to 31.62 with equalizer off, LPF on the HU off, etc. like i have read many places, when i turn all this back on, the voltage will rise. I also use a 50hz test tone and use 20/30 for volume. So what i'm not understanding is, if i'm supposed to have all settings off or at minumum, when i turn it all back on and the voltage goes up, it won't be at the 31.62... so wouldn't you tune it all up, then set the gains? If someone can shed some light and explain the procedure a bit more, i'd be very greatful!

That was an exceptional hard post to try and follow. To set gains you need to find distortion. First from the head unit then the amp. So I take my Oscope and play a test tone and whatever overlap I am using, then read what the voltage is when I see a distorted signal. Then I note what volume my head unit is at. This is with the eq flat. Sub control up to max, I use max because that will give me the most and where I will see distortion. Next I go to the amp and start with everything at zero, set my crossover, subsonic and start the process over. I can see where I am getting a distorted signal and that I know is the best the amp can do.
Now if I really want to get into it I will start at the head unit and do multiple freq, and see where it all lies at. Music is dynamic unless you are going for a one note wonder. then just use that one freq.

Check the Car Audio Hot Topics forum and read the thread titled "how to set your gain."

Tuning, by the way, is a commonly used but incorrect term.

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