Amplifier Tuning?

[Brandon1]

Anyone here know anything about fine tuning a amplifier. I have the 2 sets of kicker door speakers, alpine 9851 cd player, dual 8" Rockford fosgate subs, infinity 7040 4-ch amp. The amp puts out 70x4 to the speakers+278x1 to the subs. I have always had trouble with the tuning part of the instalation. How do yall set your gains? X-overs, how do yall match the amp with the equalizers on the h/u?

Thanks
Brandon

[rw3829]

Hello! Sounds like a pretty nice setup...My process is as follows: With a 4-channel amp, I unplug all RCA cables at the amp. I set all levels on the amp to zero gain and no bass boost (if applicable). I set all adjustments on the h/u to flat (Bass=0, Treble=0, Loud=Off, etc.) Now plug in only the front channel RCA cables to the amp. Pop in a GOOD quality CD of something you are familiar with that has very good clarity. No Metal if possible. I turn the h/u approximately 3/4 of maximum volume. Now I go back to the amp and start increasing the gain level on the front channel until you get clipping (distortion). Once distorted, back off a bit until clean sound is achieved. Turn the stereo down and unplug the front RCA's. Plug in the rear RCA's at the amp. Repeat volume to 3/4 at h/u and turn gain up at amp til distorted, then back off. The X-overs should cross over to match speaker Hz. rating. I always used subs which can go down pretty low, but you don't want to set x-over too low as bass in the 30hz. range is not optimum. I set mine around 80hz. normally as that is good all around bass in a variety of music. I then set my High Pass X-overs around 125hz. Sometimes you have to go a bit higher to keep the lows out of the satellite speakers, but you get the idea. Hope I did not get you too confused...LOL!

[G35stilez]

I have a pretty good ear (musician for about 10 years) so I am constantly tweaking my settings on a song by song basis. I did do an initial tune though.

If any of your friends are good with stereos, watch what they do. In the end, I chose the highest quality music I had (meaning 192kbs or higher on MP3) and of the most common music I listen to. For my choice I chose:

Tommy Lee - Good Times
Ryan Cabrera - Shine On
Police - SOS (Sand Ver Doom Mix) ...house music mix

Laugh all you want but those three have a nice range of acoustics. If you have any Sade, U2, or Elton John, I would use those too as they have excellent recording qualities and great detail acoustically as well.

I brought my car to a parking lot and kept my windows closed. I then played each song at 75% volume and went to town. You have to see what fits you best. I usually tune the sub first, then go up in the hZ rating.

Any questions, just ask...Hope I can help.



edit: RW: Funny we both touched on similar things . I have my subs filter at 80hz and high-pass at 125-hz too...