Thread: tuning a sub and stereo

Originally Posted by Toofastgs

Ok, Wow!

First off any subs need to have the LPF (low pass) Set. This will block all frequencies that are above the hz you set and let every thing below that setting through.
So, if a LP is set to 80hz it will let all hz below 80 go to the speaker and everything above 80 will be blocked.

HPF (high pass) will Block any hz below what you set it too and what is above it pass to the speakers. So you have your HP is set to 80hz it will let all signal above 80hz go to the speaker and any under it will be blocked.


Now to get the best sound for what the sub can do need to know the specs.
A general rule of thumb is to st a LP to 80hz and hp to same or if your speakers can go lower a little lower for a better roll off.
I have my system set for SQ I have my sub lp set for 80hz and my front speakers set to 80hz with a slop of 12db so the roll off aka hand off is smoother.

There is a lot more involved in tuning a system. Like you also want to set your amplifier gain so your are not clipping any signal. The way you want to do this is with a oscilloscope but most people do not have access to do this so next step is using a DMM. And again this is the advanced audio set up and if you want to get the best of what your equipment can do then there are steps you have to take.

Using a DMM to set your gain isn't necessarily appropriate. Typical music source is recorded below 0db. So using a DMM and tones won't be as accurate as you believe. Every engineer records the music differently too depending on their goals, i.e. equalizing for more bass n' such. If you set with a DMM then you're typically losing out on available power from your amps. I prefer to set by ear with the source volume 3/4 of the way up. But I also have an LED for clipping available to me. I've found that most clipping occurs below 300hz and it's usually rap, hip hop, or related genres.

Originally Posted by I800C0LLECT

Using a DMM to set your gain isn't necessarily appropriate. Typical music source is recorded below 0db. So using a DMM and tones won't be as accurate as you believe. Every engineer records the music differently too depending on their goals, i.e. equalizing for more bass n' such. If you set with a DMM then you're typically losing out on available power from your amps. I prefer to set by ear with the source volume 3/4 of the way up. But I also have an LED for clipping available to me. I've found that most clipping occurs below 300hz and it's usually rap, hip hop, or related genres.

WOW so much fail.

First off, Sound engineers if they are worth a damn and care about the sound record every track they produce as flat as possible.

Originally Posted by I800COLLECT

If you set with a DMM then you're typically losing out on available power from your amps.

Power is not everything. And this is one of the biggest things people that do not know about audio systems make. They think the more power the better. In reality you by the amp that match the specs of your speakers. Over powering can kill speakers. Not as much as Distorted power getting to speakers but it can kill speakers. How? simple HEAT. The voice coil was designed for a certain operating temp and over powering creates more heat then what the voice coil was designed for and with out either proper cooling or high quality components it could fail.

Originally Posted by I800Collect

I prefer to set by ear with the source volume 3/4 of the way up. But I also have an LED for clipping available to me. I've found that most clipping occurs below 300hz and it's usually rap, hip hop, or related genres.

First off tuning by ear is like calibrating a HDTV to ISF standards with just eye. You can get it in the ballpark but it will never be right aka the way the sound engineer recorded it and intended it to be played back.
Clipping happens at ALL frequency ranges. The lower the hz the more the human hear can not hear it. And it is not just par, hip hop, or related genres. It happens during a musical peak and happens in ALL music even speeches. And that little LED is eye candy just like our boost gauge.

Originally Posted by Toofastgs

WOW so much fail.

Apparently I'm beneath you somehow?

First off, Sound engineers if they are worth a damn and care about the sound record every track they produce as flat as possible.

Key word..."if"...

Let me just add...IF you cared about the english language that wouldn't be so difficult to read.

Power is not everything. And this is one of the biggest things people that do not know about audio systems make.

So are you concluding I know nothing about audio? Every man is worth something. Let me help you by adding a link. Don't get upset Matt

The "Real Deal" with 8 ohm drivers - DIY Mobile Audio

They think the more power the better. In reality you [sic]by the amp that match the specs of your speakers. Over powering can kill speakers. Not as much as Distorted power getting to speakers but it can kill speakers. How? simple HEAT. The voice coil was designed for a certain operating temp and over powering creates more heat then what the voice coil was designed for and with out either proper cooling or high quality components it could fail.

Was that lesson for the op? You should be applying knowledge that benefits the purpose of this thread.

First off tuning by ear is like calibrating a HDTV to ISF standards with just eye. You can get it in the ballpark but it will never be right aka the way the sound engineer recorded it and intended it to be played back.

Did I tell him to tune it by ear? No, I said you can set gains by ear according to distortion. You can use DMM too, but don't pretend it's any more accurate and spread it as gospel.

Clipping happens at ALL frequency ranges. The lower the hz the more the human hear can not hear it. And it is not just par, hip hop, or related genres. It happens during a musical peak and happens in ALL music even speeches. And that little LED is eye candy just like our boost gauge.

So an LED can't, in any way, parallel the method of using a DMM? *cough*

Instead of trying to prove any disposition against yours it would be best to realize we've tried to convey the same ideas and principles. It just happens that your use of semantics did not materialize in the same manner as my own. So we either clear up our discrepancies without the attempt of putting others down or we go our separate ways.