Thread: tuning a sub and stereo

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.