gain matching amps

whats the best way to truly set your gains for a amp if you don't have a Oscilloscope. 

This is a popular link for Setting Gains And here's an exceprt from Crutchfield's Auto Advisor... Q: How do I fine-tune my amplifier's gain and bass boost settings? A: Setting the "gain" or input sensitivity control is an important adjustment common to all amplifier installations. Proper gain setting helps reduce noise and distortion and allows for the widest possible dynamic range. Here's how to do it: 1) Turn your amplifier's input level controls all the way down. 2) Put in a tape or CD or tune in a radio station. Turn up your receiver's volume control. You'll begin to hear music at faint levels. (Audiophiles and sound competitors may want to use a dedicated test disc. 3) When you start hearing distortion, lower your receiver's volume control until the distortion disappears. At this point, you have as much signal as possible passing from your receiver into your amp. (This gives you maximum signal-to-noise ratio, so you'll enjoy clean sound and your system will be less prone to engine noise problems). 4) Now begin adjusting your amp's input gain. Turn the input level controls up until the system is as loud as you can stand it or until you begin hearing distortion — whichever comes first. If you hear distortion, decrease the gain settings slightly. By following this procedure, you'll optimize your amp's performance at the receiver's maximum volume level, so you can crank your system almost all the way up without amplifying any distortion, or damaging your speakers. Keep in mind that this adjustment does not affect the power output of the amp — you're simply setting the amount of input signal needed for optimum sound quality from your system. Car stereo competitors sometimes employ a technique called "gain overlap" to wring some more dBs out of their rigs while keeping distortion out of the audible range. Many amplifiers have a bass boost function. In most cases, it is a variable control — you simply dial in the amount of boost you'd like to hear. Bass boost levels can range from +6dB to +18dB, depending on the amplifier. As you experiment with this adjustment, you'll notice that the boost is centered at a given frequency, so you'll still experience some bass boosting at frequencies above and below that point. Make sure that your system is turned off or operating at low volumes when you engage or turn up your bass boost control — boosting bass at high volumes can damage your speakers. The amount of bass boost you use, if any, depends on your system and your listening tastes. If you have a subwoofer rig, you may find that you have plenty of bass without boosting low frequencies. Of course, if you want truly massive, booming bass with a subwoofer, this control can help you achieve that too. Keep in mind that a heavy bass boost puts a tremendous strain on your amplifiers and speakers. It's important to avoid distortion, so use your ears to determine the most effective application of bass boost in your system.Squirrel

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