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Setting gains without an Osciloscope


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Hello everyone

I'm pretty new to car audio so I would like to learn. Thank you very much for your time reading this and helping if you can :)

 

I have read a lot of forums about setting the gains and a lot of them says to tune by ear , but I don't feel like I can tell the difference and I'm afraid to not damage the speakers if set incorrectly.

I don't have an o-scope , only a DMM . I know how to set the gains with a DMM but I've heard this is not the right way...

So I have a 5 channel amp , 1 ch to each door , and a sub. 

The speakers are 100w rms, 4 ohm each , and the amp can put out the same power for each ch. The sub is 500w rms 4ohm , again the amp can do the same.

So I have set the gains using a DMM , HU on 75% then adjust the gain until I've reached the correct voltage (20v for each ch and 44v for sub ) . I set them with test tones of 0db... now i've read that this is not right...( AGAIN ) , and should use a -5db or even -10db test tone. 

I've been running this setup for 1 year , and I feel like it's not powerful enough , i think even my small pc subwoofer of 60watts sounds louder .

So I started raising question marks and found this forum , read some old threads , and found out I'm doing everything wrong..

Can someone please shed some light.. 

I appreciate it 

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The problem with using 0dB is consumer audio equipment is built around a -10dB reference.  Whereas for an alternate example Pro Audio gear is based on -4dBv = Zero reference.  Some ppl go with -5dB or -7dB as a safety buffer.  But at 0dB your definitely leaving a lot of gain potential on the table. 

 

As for your methods they're spot on.  Lookup the DD-1.  That's a tool sold on SMD's store (on this website) that can tell you exactly how high you can take both your HU and speakers until they Clip. 

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10 hours ago, TheBKG said:

The problem with using 0dB is consumer audio equipment is built around a -10dB reference.  Whereas for an alternate example Pro Audio gear is based on -4dBv = Zero reference.  Some ppl go with -5dB or -7dB as a safety buffer.  But at 0dB your definitely leaving a lot of gain potential on the table. 

 

As for your methods they're spot on.  Lookup the DD-1.  That's a tool sold on SMD's store (on this website) that can tell you exactly how high you can take both your HU and speakers until they Clip. 

I've looked it up , but I'm from Europe and can't find it to buy here..

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22 minutes ago, m4n1akx said:

I've looked it up , but I'm from Europe and can't find it to buy here..

I just checked.  Here is the Distributor in Europe:

 

Germany: MASORI
Daniel Hoppe
masori.de
Tel: 49 (177) 293-3128
Facebook: @masoriaudio 
Instagram: @masoriaudio 

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