Setting Gains?

I have read the posts here about setting amplifier gains with a dmm, but I see some say to turn all your bass, trebble, MX, loud, bass boost, etc. off or to flat? I also read that some say to do it with them set to your liking. What is the better way?

Set all EQ to flat and all processing to off.

-------------
Support the12volt.com

thanks dood!

ps.

wat about the amp's bass boost?

The DIY version of setting gains allows you the flexiblilty and time of adjusting after listening.  Set the gains with all controls flat or off to start with.  Try to get used to listening to your music sources with these controls left as they are, and this may be hard to do for those of you who are accustomed to immediately boosting bass and treble and cutting the mids.  After some time you might, and usually will, find a compromise between what you thought was appropriate EQ settings and what really makes the music sound complete.  It is after these listening sessions that you go ahead and make minor tweaks in the processing and boost.

After you have established some EQ and are happy with the results, spend some time setting the gain again.  This time, instead of using the DMM use the other (and I think more accurate) method:  listening.  Test tones (again) and ear muffs are used for this, and you will have found sources of info on this method in your earlier searches.  You will be listening for the clipped sine signal.  This will qualify your system to be accurate and have the highest signal-to-noise ratio, and most importantly, rule out the possibility of amplifier clipping.  You can then verify the results if you like using the DMM method, but as I have noted in other threads, that method relies on published ratings that typically can't be quantified.

-------------
Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.

thanks for the info. ya i kno those manufacs lie about the ratings. Nominal I think they call it. I plan on doing an ear test but wanted to set it to the "specs" first and work from there since i dont have a oscope.

Sounds like you know what you're doing.   

-------------
Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.

i try i try :) okay i am kind stumped at the moment. I set my amp's gains the dmm way with 50hz for the subs and 1khz for the mids and highs a couple of days ago. I had the sub amps bass boost on and the lp filter set to about 50hz. I ended up with the gains set about half way thru their spectrum. but today i reset the gains with out the bassboost and the lp filter set to about 80hz. I ended up with the gains being set around 3/4 of the way thru the spectrum on all amps. I guess my question would be, could the bassboost and lp filter of my sub amp affect my mids amp and my highs amp?

p.s.

deff sound sway better now tho

I don't think that the sub amp would affect the others.  I'm thinking you might have had to turn up your gain on the mids and highs to keep up with the sub when you turned that up and adjusted it correctly.

thanks for the reply! sounds logical.