Tutorial for setting gain

There is a tutorial up at http://www.wakeboatworld.com on how to set your boat's amp gains using a multimeter. Feedback?

not very accurate for sure and the spelling is brutal in some cases.

Would like to know what you consider inaccurate about it since several manufacturers (JL, Rockford, MBQ) suggest setting the gain by almost that exact same method. Better yet, it would be better to write why you consider it inaccurate in the "comment on this article" link at the bottom of it.

Spellings were common mistakes. Remember as remeber, double c's in oscilloscope, etc. Have been fixed.

(Message edited by olskooltige on July 27, 2007)

its late so bare with me

just a few quick notes

-manufacturer specs and actual outputs are different. It seems the method you went about used calculation sbased on what the amp was supposed to do. Now thats fine but most times the amp is off so calculating it this method would be off a bit

-Most decks will hit volumes near 95-99% or even 100% volume sometimes without clipping on the low level output. I have seen it on scopes. Some decks will not produce a clipped signal at very high volume on the pre amp side, but on the speaker level side the output is very distorted

-Best method for setting gain is still using an 0-scope if you really want to take a good reading, and it has to be with a load on the amp, dont disconnect the speaker load, just double up with the o-scope probes

-Next best method is using a True RMS meter and turning up the gain untill the AC voltage stops increasing then turn it back down a notch, this will indicate on your MM that your starting to clip, without actually being able to see the wave

-The best method I still find if you don thave a scope is an ear, just train it well and you will be happy with the output. Some peopl ehave great ears and can pick up everything, and some can't hear worth a dime.

Not a bad article, good to see this out there to help newbies. Anything like this is always a help.

Cheers

Thanks for the feedback. The article is meant as a generic configuration. As far as volume, as long as it is set at a safe level, then it shouldn't matter what level it used. The o-scope was mentioned as the preferred method in there. Not everyone can drop $400 on one. Using that tutorial will get the amp setup to a non-clipping level without the need for knowledge outside most users. Thanks, hope you signed up over there.

Def agree.

Anything to help newbies that lack the skills to setup an amp, and end up burning out voice coils or blaring the music so loud it makes your ears bleed.

As far as oscopes go, you can get handheld portable units for a pretty decent price these days. I have seen hand held portables for around $100 but its still allot of $$ if your only going to use it once.

I have a Velleman HPS10 and find it very usefull.

Cheers