Setting an amp up properly:

neonblack · Post by **neonblack** » Thu Aug 31, 2006 5:43 pm

http://www.mmxpress.com/technical/ampinstall.htm
http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=164826
http://www.termpro.com/articles/levelset.html

GaryPham · Post by **GaryPham** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:20 pm

Hi guys, just for some clarification. I'm trying to set my amp for my subwoofer. When I do all of these adjustments to my amp, do I have all my settings (bass, mid, treble) all set to 0? My stock headunit allows these settings to be set at -6 to +6. Also, I should have my bass boost turned down to 0 as well correct?

From my understanding, this is what I should do (I don't have a voltmeter).

1. set my amp to low pass (as opposed to high pass or full)
2. set my lowpassfilter to 80 hz
3. turn bass boost down to 0
4. turn down gain to 0
5. Put in a high quality music CD, and turn volume up to 75 percent
6. slowly increase my gain until I start to hear distortion, then move gain down a bit til distortion disappears.

Is this basically it? I don't know too much about car audio and just want the simplest way to set my amp. Also, since my amp is going to be set for only my subs, I only set the amp on low-pass right? Does this mean that my setting on highpass filter won't matter? I believe that the amp can be set on low-pass, high pass, or full (meaning both together?). Thanks guys!

Darthness · Post by **Darthness** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:23 am

yeah you pretty much got it. I set mine with a DMM using a sine wave rather than music.

cargodz · Post by **cargodz** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:44 am

When you refer to the bass boost, I assume you are talking about the remote gain control and not the actual bass boost (if your amp has it). Because if you are talking about the actual bass boost and not the lil remote and you plan on using it you will want to have that turned on when setting or you may be clipping after you set it and turn it on.
If you are talking about the little remote gain control that goes up front, just unplug it before you set your amp and then plug in after, it will not allow you to adjust any higher than your gains are set to.

loudwagon15s · Post by **loudwagon15s** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:59 pm

well, if u have ever heard of a tool place called harbor freight, they have a digital one for like 5 bucks that is effective and accurate for the purpose needed

greataudioposcar · Post by **greataudioposcar** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 1:56 pm

Found this site that will convert volts to watts, or vise versa.
http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-ohm.htm