explain my amp settings

Hey guys, I have all my new car audio parts almost delivered and most likely this weekend I could install them, however I'm lost on setting up amps. I read some sticky's and explanations but it's just hard for a novice. I understood that gain will set the power to my speakers, and I will use the dmm method for now, I figured that subsonic fitler is used to filter out the frequencies to not damage the subs in ported box and should be set few hz lower than the box is tuned to, however I still can't find info on how to set subsonic for regular speakers. Then I got from reading, that bass boost shuld be left alone as it may damage speakers, so I guess I should not worry about it. So I'm lost on all the other setting on the amp, I understand they're used to filter out frequencies that should go to given speaker, but I need someone to explain me how to use them. I attached the picture of my amp, and those are the things I don't understand, pls help me out, I've been at it for 4 days now and I feel beat :( [url]http://www......com/item_6822_Pioneer+Premier+DEH-P880PRS.html[/url] - head unit [url]http://www.sundownaudio.com/index.php/products/discontinued/sax-504.html[/url] - for the speakers [url]http://www.sundownaudio.com/index.php/products/amplifiers/sax-1252.html[/url] - for the subs [url]http://www.imagedynamicsusa.com/products.php?Family_Id=1&Product_Id=7[/url] - components up front [url]http://www.imagedynamicsusa.com/products.php?Family_Id=1&Product_Id=3[/url] - coaxials for back [url]http://www.imagedynamicsusa.com/products.php?Family_Id=2&Product_Id=10[/url] - 2 of those subs run at 2ohm each

We understand it can be confusing... It was for all of us in the beginning, as well! I thnik you've come to the right place, though, we'll get you straightened out! Is your intention to run the amp(s) to ONLY the subs? Vented cabinet or sealed for the subs? Do you have a additional amplifier for the highs or are you planning deck power for them? Fill us in with those small details, and it'll be easier! :)It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

I mentioned that with the links, just they did not work that well. Under the picture you have links on what I run and how I run them. Basically pioneer 880prs as hu, sundown 50.4 4-chan amp for components and coaxials(back) and sundown 125.2 for two 8''subs. I found info on other site that I should use the crossovers on the hu instead of amps, since it'll be easier ?

it doesnt really make sense, but i use the crossover settings on both the head unit and the amp, it seems to work better,it shouldnt but it does. gain is the amount in which the amp amplifies the signal it is given, while it acts as a "volume" knob, it really isnt. you will notice it is labeled 6v to .2v. it should be set to match the voltage of the preouts of your head unit. if you go higher you get clipping. most head units are either 2 or 4 volt preouts so it should probably be turned a little less that top center. LPF is low pass filter, it cuts out frequencies above what you have it set at. you can hear 20 to 20000 hertz, a subwoofer should be playing as low as it can go up to somewhere in the 100's depending on the sub. so if your sub can go to lets say 25hz and you set the LPF to 120, then the sub will only play frequencies between 25-120. this is used to keep higher pitches like voices coming out of your subs. HPF or high pass filter is the exact opposite, it is used to keep low bass from going to your interior speakers, lets say you have 4" speakers up front, they have no business trying to play frequencies near the 20hz mark. this is where im a little lost though, so im gonna pull a number out of air, i think a 4" shouldnt play frequencies under 500hz. so if you set the knob at 500hz then the speaker would play the sounds between 500-20000 or as high as it could go. those x1 - x10 switches next to them just change those knobs from 50hz - 500hz to 500hz - 5000hz, most of your full range speakers can play 500hz pretty well except tweeters, so id say leave it on 1x. i wouldnt say stay away from bass boost entirely, but do use it sparingly, some of your tougher subs like kicker, and surprisingly sony can take a beating and would probably be fine. subsonic im not really clear on, but from what ive read, its just kinda like a high pass filter, but for a very low and narrow band of frequencies, so lets say you set your LPF as 120hz, so your sub is limited to 120 and down, and the lower end is only limited by what the sub can and cant actually produce. sub sonic would actually put a cap on the lower end to like the hpf, but only to somewhere in the neighborhood of 20-30 hz, the idea is if the sub cant play down to 20 hz then sending the signal to and and making it try to could damage it. ive never felt a reason to turn it on, so id just have it set as low as it can go. but if your using 8" subs you may want to set it up to what the lower freq the subs are rated for. hope this helps