Gains setting?

Hello,

Need some help understanding and setting my gains correctly.  My HU has 2Volt amp preouts for front, rear and subwoofer.  I have these connected directly to my amps.  Both amps have a 3 voltage setting and a gain control.  The ranges on the volt selector are:

• 0.2 to 0.6
• 0.6 to 2.0V
• 2.0V to 8.0V

I have my amps set on 0.6V to 2.0V and my gain is almost at full MAX.  The question that I have is if it isOK to have gain so high on the amps?  From what I have heard the lower the gain setting the better the sound, and clarity, however my set up sound very, very clean, and clear with no distortion.  I also would like for it to play louder, If I switch the voltage selector to 0.2V to 0.6V it increses the volume big time but that does not match the 2.0V pre outs from the HU, it that still OK thing to do?  Lastly my speakers are rated 80Watts nominal, and 150Watts max,but my amp is rated at 4 x 90, am I overpowering my speakers with gain set so high?  AS mentioned before they sound relly good and clear, I just don;t want to blow these.

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2006 Jetta
Clarion MAX675VD HU
Clarion APX4360 & DPX1800 AMP
Focal Polyglass all around
2.5 Farad CAP

id keep it where its at but turn it down a smidgeon.

Unless your amp is clipping, you won't blow your speakers if the specs. you wrote are rms. Sounds like those settings are for gain range. The best thing to do is to meter your rca from hu at aprox. 3/4 volume. then set your setting, and then set your gains below clipping level.

If you aren't getting the output from that amp that you should - meaning if it ain't clipping at max gain now, switch the input selector to .2-.6v, then adjust your gains up from there. Don't worry about your HU being 2v etc, it doesn't mean much. The important thing is to keep the amps out of clip. As long as you don't clip you can largely disregard the max power ratings on most speakers.

Read the sticky on adjusting gains first.

boulderguy wrote:

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Read the sticky on adjusting gains first.

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Uh, clue...nobody has written a tutorial on the subject yet for this forum, thus no approval for a sticky.

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

Oh, clueless. Could have sworn I saw that somewhere.

Write a good tutorial and post it for review.  If it is appropriate it'll get stickied.  :)

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Not sure I'm qualified, certainly not as qualified as some others around here. I may work something up & submit it.

yes no need you are correct to an extent, unless ofcourse you are using an o-scope!

It doesn't matter what the pre-out V from the HU is, it doesn't change the process. You're still going to need to find the amp's clip point. If you don't get it at the .6-2v setting, as it sounds like you haven't, then go to the next most sensitive setting & try again.

The 3-position sensitivity switch chooses what range your gains will be in but is only an approximation, which is why the 2v out doesn't really matter.

It boils down to whether you trust your ears or the little markings on an amp switch.

Besides, setting gains by ear takes all of 5 minutes.

noneedforaname wrote:

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if you know the HU voltage, it makes it alot easier to get the amp close to where it needs to be, in most cases close enough for the average everyday listener.

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This forum doesn't want the average everyday listener, after he becomes a member, to stay "average".  The forum contributors have learned how to properly set gain and its importance, and drill that importance into every member seeking to learn how to set gains.  Part of the process is to first learn how to ignore the voltage markings around the amp's gain and to pay less attention to the spec'd voltage output of the deck.  The gain-setting process can't be 2-6-8'd;  it has to proceed start to finish with no shortcuts...and so virtually any combination of audio gear can be level-matched for finest performance the gear will allow.

noneed, I'm singling your quote out but don't consider this a challenge to your knowledge or professional integrity.  It's just another of many, many similar responses when the term "close enough" is used in this forum when referring to gain setting.

To the original poster, search this forum (see the icon above) for 'gain' in the subject.  You will find several threads detailing the steps and links to downloadable test tones that must be used.  No special equipment is needed for finding proper gain levels using the hearing method.  (...but it does take me longer than 5 minutes  ;)  When you hear that tone change at the point of clipping, post back and let us know if you said "aha!!"

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

noneedforaname wrote:

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that's the whole point of knowing the head units preout voltage, eliminates all the guessing and testing. if you know the HU voltage, it makes it alot easier to get the amp close to where it needs to be, in most cases close enough for the average everyday listener. you're right, it doesn't change the process, but i wouldn't say HU voltage doesn't matter and shouldn't be considered in tuning, IMO.

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I completely disagree and think this is bad advice.  Head unit preout voltage changes constantly with program material.  What the manufacturer rates this voltage at is generally at peak or max.  It is almost never correct for adjusting gains, and the markings on even the best amplifiers are also almost never correct.  Anyone who thinks setting gain means matching the markings on the amp to the printed data on the box of a head unit is not a professional in my book, and "close enough" is never good enough, and if this is your company's policy you should no longer wonder why many of us are down on big-box store installations.

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I just wanna ask...noneedforaname, did you copy off of NOUSEFORNAME??

Question is: How Do You Close This Topic?

mike12volt wrote:

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Question is: How Do You Close This Topic?

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...and you want to know this because...?

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

The point was already made that you still need to set your amp gains according to your speakers. No matter how advanced your amp is you need to find a clipping point and set it right below it.