setting my amps gain

I just installed a new head unit in my car as the old one went bad. I know I need to reset the gain but,  What is the correct way to set the gain on my amps?

ok the way i do a sound test is hook up the amps front speakers RCA's, and only the fronts, i set the deck's volume halfway. and turn the gain all the way down for the front speakers. then i slowly turn the gain up so the speakers distort, then i turn it down so its to the point where its loud and clear and not distorting. i disonnect the front speakers RCA's, then i hook up the rears. and do the same thing again. unhook the rear RCA's and then hook the sub amp RCA's and do the same thing again. garantee you'll have a rocken stereo. to be safe i would have someone else in the car, to lend another ear. you would ahve to have a good ear to hear distortion and such and your judgement could be off.xTimx

xTimx, your process will work if you never intend to turn the volume on your head up past half-way.  In general, to set the gain levels using the distortion by ear method, you want your head to be at about it's 75% to 80% level as this is where clipping begins in most head units.  Some are much cleaner, some not....Support the12volt.com

really? ok..so hmmm well my HU goes up to 50, and i set it at 35. and did all the gain settings that way. is that good or no? should i turn down the gain settings turn up the volume on the HU to about 40? and then tweak it out that way!?xTimx

What you did is fine so long as you never turn the HU up past 35.  If it was me, I'd turn the amp gains all the way down and turn up the HU until you hear distortion.  This will indicate where the HU pre-amps are clipping.  Then turn it down until the distortion clears.  This should be your new maximum volume setting.  Adjust your gains with the HU in this position, and never turn the HU up past this point of distortion.Support the12volt.com

Try setting your gain at volume level 39. This would be at 78%.