how to tune an amplifier??

i have no idea, thats why i am asking you guys, lol this is what it says

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Level (GAIN) Control Setup:

Ensure that the Level is turned completely to the left prior to turning the system on. Next you should insert a CD or cassette that you are familiar with

to use as a reference, and turn the head unit volume control to about 80% of its full setting. The system sound level will of course be very low, and

the following procedures will help you to match the amplifier input sensitivities properly to the head unit output signal level.

It is important to match the amplifier
LEVEL input sensitivity to the Radio/CD output sensitivity. This can be located in the Radio/CD manual.

If the Radio/CD output sensitivity is 2 volts, then adjust the amplifier
LEVEL input to 2 volts.

If you are not sure what the Radio output sensitivity is, follow these general guide lines:

Turn the level control up slowly, till you hear distortion, then back off a few degrees on the control. If at any point your amplifier goes into protection,

you will need to turn the Level to the left a bit and then try again. If you reach a point where the output does not increase, stop turning the Level

control to the right as the amplifier/subwoofer combo has reached its maxx output in this application.

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Nah it's good.. we're saying the same things... we just speak slightly different languages. In any case, we'll get ole' Dee where he needs to be lol.

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Originally Posted by Fatboy501

Nah it's good.. we're saying the same things... we just speak slightly different languages. In any case, we'll get ole' Dee where he needs to be lol.

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you can just call me devin lol but yes thank you guys very much this is all so confusing to me as everything says something different

Yeah man, just download some test tones and use the DMM tutorials... you can pretty much ignore the "Back it off once you hear distortion" crap. As for your headunit volume... different ones clip at different levels. Honestly, 3/4 of the way up actually is somewhat useful in this scenario... you're saying your h/u has 2 volt pre-outs, so I'm assuming it's a lower level one like mine. Mine's a Pioneer deh-3200ub, and I never go above 53...

my head unit is the pioneer avh-p1400dvd

Ok, so yeah, 50-55 should work out well for choosing your max volume. Most a/v headunits don't have great pre-out voltage. So, get your tones, set your volume, and have at it.

so i turn all my settings on my head unit to 0. get a test tone (what test tone should i use??) play it thru the head unit. unplug the speakers. stick the dmm in the positive and negative turn it to ac and tune till i get desired voltage?? is this correct?

im still confused on what my desired voltage is and what tone i should use?

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Originally Posted by Fatboy501

Ok, so yeah, 50-55 should work out well for choosing your max volume. Most a/v headunits don't have great pre-out voltage. So, get your tones, set your volume, and have at it.

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i think youre talking about the volume level on the head unit?? mine goes from 0-40 so 75% would be 30 and i usually have it at about 25

Your desired voltage is the one from the equation you did earlier. Use a 50hz test tone.

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Originally Posted by 2dee11

i think youre talking about the volume level on the head unit?? mine goes from 0-40 so 75% would be 30 and i usually have it at about 25

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Ah ok, I figured since it was Pioneer it'd be like mine... guess the a/v units are a lot different. Well, yes, you're good with your levels then. As long as you don't just crank it and wonder what happened when stuff goes *poof* lol.

As for the settings on the h/u... I always, always, always leave mine on "flat", but I also have an amplifier for my mids/highs. Set your subwoofer level on the headunit to the highest you'll ever have it... honestly, leaving it at 0 (if it goes down into the negative numbers) will work just fine. Some headunits don't put out any decent voltage from their sub pre-outs until the subwoofer level is up though... in your case, I'm honestly not sure, so I'd use it with it at 0.

did i do the equation correctly? i wasnt sure if i should multiply by 2 or 4 ohms

Do it by the final load the amp will be seeing... so use 2 ohms.

sooo
Voltage = sqrt(300W X 2 ohms)
Voltage = sqrt(600W*ohms)
Voltage = 24.49489742783178 V

I believe you're spot-on. Just use 24.5 volts obviously though lol.

haha thanks. i really appreciate it!!

when i tune it should i have the remote knob on max or min??

Do you have subwoofer control on your HU? If so, I wouldnt use a bass (gain) knob .

with the gain know you want to set them in relation to the pre-outs on your head unit and depending on the amp you normally and ohm your running it at will decide what gain you should run at.....gain is just telling the amp what kind of signal is going to receive too much gain(telling the amp is going to get more power then it actually does) is no good same is not enough i would start around .5v-1v....once you set it dont touch it again and control the subs through your head unit