Set your AMP gain with a MULTI-METER, the cheap and easy way!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

A viewer asked me for some help -- he lives on the other side of the globe and does not have access to the tools available in the US. But he does have a DMM. You can do a lot with a DMM, get one if you don' t have one. Multi-meter (inexpensive option): amzn.to/3exHjiD

[@MrAnderson5157]

Where'd you get the Blaupunkt? The memories...

[@MrAnderson5157]

Thanks for the video,wasn't sure if I had my gains right and only had a multi-meter. Kudos!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Amazon: amzn.to/2YDhqXM They are not what they were back in the day, but they are cheap and they work.

[@smokinschannel5840]

@@DIYAudioGuy Should i set my gain before or after setting crossovers?

[@jkstdstang]

Very simple easy to understand tutorial for setting the amp gain. Now my problem is this. I used a 50 Hz test tone to set my subwoofer amp gain to 31.62 volts ac with head unit at 75% volume. Amp is similar to the video, RF prime 500 watt rms monoblock, pushing a 500 rms 12” d4 sub wired parallel at 2 ohms. but now I have almost no bass? What am I doing wrong? I believe the issue is the test tone vs playing music where the rca signal voltage varies and is generally much lower on average vs the max signal voltage using the test tone. That’s my guess anyway.

[@robertemmons2260]

I have been watching a crap load of videos all day on setting up amp gain on my amplifiers. I had watched several that were great, and some that should not even be allowed to be watched. I had came across yours and your video was THE BEST of all of them. Not only did you explain the why and the reasons, but also for if one had speakers that were rated lower than their amplifier, which was one of the things that I was looking for. Explaining the target voltage was clear and understandable. Even though I understand electricity, your explanation was direct and to the point. Thanks for a great video!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Glad to be of help!

[@DGGuaglianone]

I just set my gains with this method, I’ve previously always used the “by ear method” and my system is somehow louder and clearer than it was before. Thanks DIY Audio Guy

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I'm glad it worked for you!

[@DGGuaglianone]

@@DIYAudioGuy now to save up for an oscilloscope or maybe even an SMD

[@ReachShaunNow]

Hands down the BEST tutorial on KZbin for this. Answered every question I had -- when other tutorials didn't. Thank you so much!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Thanks!

[@tatsumaru12345]

Fantastic video! Didn't get snarky with viewers who complained. Didn't try to sell an overpriced in house product. This guy, is subscribed!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

You are far to kind. Thank you.

[@msh6865]

Super easy to understand video and a solid full-proof way for anyone to set gains without spending a bunch of bucks. We need more useful videos like this in car audio. Thumbed up and subbed!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

That's what I was shooting for.

[@jorgem50]

Last week I tried tuning my setup by ear like I have done since 1993. Well, I am using a Taramps hd3000 which is notorious for clipping with weak electrical. Long story short I over estimated my ear and clipped the sub to death. Ordered another sub and today, after watching this video, I set the gain with my multimeter and man that was easy. Thank you DIY Audio Guy

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Just the other day I was helping a friend set gains with my O-scope. He has a buddy that used to work in a shop and his buddy set it by ear. Dude did not trust the ear method, but according to the O-scope it was dead on perfect.

[@RedCan_Rick]

Great way to set gains without breaking the bank on single use tools. Thanks DIY Audio Guy!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I have some more short videos like this on the works.

[@Zairn12345]

Thanks for the info, bud. Helped me out when I had no idea.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Thanks for the tip! I appreciate you.

[@WishTheKid]

I like you guy, pretty cool how you shouted out all the other channels I been watching

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Yea, there is so much great info on KZbin. Not like it was when I was a teenager. You just had to trust the shop selling the gear.

[@NathanC-YT]

@@DIYAudioGuy I have found the issue. It was something with the rca but it is all fixed now👍Thanks.

[@859derrick]

Finally!! Not some over complicated bs that suggest you buy $200 meters. Thank you!!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Glad to help!

[@859derrick]

@@DIYAudioGuy do you have a video on setting the LPF at exactly 80 hz for a sub amp?

[@DIYAudioGuy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mH_EpoKhr8mHiK8

[@97warlock]

I wish the headunits had a lock point for the volume knobs on the units so that you can turn it wide open to 100 & its fine.

[@andreasbongdacity2854]

Its called source level and in aftermarket head units can be found in settings. Eave though if you are using an good quality amplifier it doesn't matter if the head unit is clipping. The singnal going in the amplifier is going through a procession that removes clipping from the input. That's why it's so important to adjust gain correctly

[@97warlock]

@@andreasbongdacity2854 well, the subs are going to amp, but .....4 door speakers are feeding from the Sony head unit. 55x4 Im gonna look for sourse level this evening, if I find it I will bump it down just a hair. thanx

[@4gclipseGT]

kenwood has a volume offset setting so you can set your max volume setting

[@tommymadux3646]

1000% agree with you mainly for customer to keep them from blowing up equipment when they play some trash quality file over bluetooth. Personally i could care less as long as the knob adjustment is fine enough and doesnt have massive jumping in level each number. Since the numbers to me are worthless i use my ears.

[@dlrowmotemoclew]

@@andreasbongdacity2854 This is completely false. There’s no way to remove clipping from a signal. You can counteract it by turning down like how a compressor works but it’s still going to be a distorted wave.

[@johnviera3884]

This guy is the best. Unlike most other channels this guy explains things very well.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

You are too kind.

[@davidnievesjr.9478]

Great information. What if I have a bass knob (I do)? What do I do with that?

[@DIYAudioGuy]

That's going to depend on the amp and how the knob operates. But, if the goal is to prevent clipping then you will want to turn the bass knob all the way up before you set your gains. That way you will not clip with the knob all the way up.

[@davidnievesjr.9478]

@@DIYAudioGuy Thanks for the response!

[@wentlydoda]

So I used your method when using an amprobe. Worked great. Also found a few interesting things. There's voltage loss when using a bass remote. A significant amount. Also that my amp voltage doesn't hit the desired voltage for a 1 ohm setup. The only way I could achieve the 36.4 volt output was to adjust the bass boost to 6db (which I did not and will not use). I setup my LPF to 80hz and was able to do so by toggling my head unit crossover on and off at 80hz. My gain is setup to 3/4 and pulling 30 volts. My Subsonic is set to 35hz based on the box tuning... My shit pounds! But I still need to hook up a capacitor and replace my door speakers for better overall sound quality. I took your advice about exceeding the 75% volume setting when setting the gain as well. I have a 16 year old son that's becoming a bass head and figured he may exceed the volume limit! So, thank you for all your knowledge and putting in layman's terms! Thank you sir!

[@wentlydoda]

4 year old video and still the best out there! Thanks again!

[@HifiVega]

Bravo! This is your best video to date

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Thank you!

[@johnviera3884]

By the way if your amplifier is in a hard to reach spot or you can’t get to the speaker terminals of the amplifier, you can measure at the end of the speaker cable where it connects to the speaker. Just make sure to disconnect the speaker and measure the speaker leads.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Yes, that works.

[@Blue_3is]

New Sub!!! Thank you so much for this video, just installed a complete Timpano system and no one could tune it; thanks to this vid I could finally tune it myself and now it sounds great and it’s not clipping at high volumes! 🙌🏼🔥

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Fantastic I hope you get a lot of joy out of your system.

[@duanebledsoe7566]

This wasn’t mentioned at the beginning of the video where he talked about meters but I did notice he is using a TRUE RMS meter. You need a meter that is true rms. They will be accurate at many different frequencies. A general meter that is not true rms will only be accurate at 50-60Hz since they are made to measure wall voltage in a home, and that is what frequency 120-240 volts AC is. But an audio signal will go from 20Hz to 20kHz, and playing a test tone frequency of 1000Hz is going to generate a voltage that a standard meter will not be able to read accurately, but a true rms meter will. The free one from Harbor Freight will NOT read accurately for full range 20Hz-20kHz signals. If this is just a sub amp, then it might be ok, because you could simply use a test tone frequency of 50-60Hz and get an accurate output reading.

[@700rrugga3]

Thank you for this comment. More people need to know this, as I rarely hear it in amp communities and such.

[@lilcurtisdavidson4724]

Directly to the point, I subscribed!!! T.y

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Welcome to the adventure!

[@ronnydisalvo80]

So why did we get a square root for the amp Nd subs??confused

[@vladtexas]

Great video. Setting up a system. Amp at 240 RMS bridged to 250 RMS speaker. 4 ohms. (240×4=960) square root 30.98... that will be my max voltage on the multimeter. Other speakers: 100 RMS amp to 150 RMS speaker. 4 ohms. (100 x 4 = 400) square root is 20. So multimeter AC volts should be max of 20. Hope this looks correct. Your video was amazing!!! Huge help and so simple! Thanks!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Looks right to me.

[@edud8452]

Awesome video I used my liumy O-scope to set the gains on mine and I made sure to write down the voltage I was getting on each one since it shows it to the side👍

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I do it the same way.

[@thejoshuahenry]

I stumbled on this video looking at one of your other videos and this answered a question I've been having for a while. I assume this would be a good way to match the outputs of two similar but not identical amps. Thank you very much for making this video!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Yes, this is a great way to gain match two amplifiers.

[@chilly2604]

Great information thanks. One question I have is should I use the amp's quoted "RMS" wattage or the quoted "MAX" wattage? And the same for the speakers.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

RMS, for both.

[@chrishernandez2490]

Never EVER go by "Max" or "peak". These are pretty much meaningless ratings

[@SteveJ619]

Because people trust and like you... We need you to do this same set up... But on a head unit with a subwoofer channel.... And a amp with a bass knob... So people understand that the subwoofer channel level is not a volume..it works like a fader in can be at max 10 when you set up your deck and amp... And people need to know that a bass knob needs to be in full before you set your gains.... These these are two very important factors... That have only caused arguments on Facebook groups... Why I'm asking you is Cause I've taken electronics.. and You speak my language

[@DIYAudioGuy]

That video is definitely on my list. Just waiting for a good chance to make it.

[@dragonzdoser2071]

You can check the preout voltage of the head unit through the rcas Set multimeter to ac Play a 40hz tone with the rcas unplugged volume max(whatever it is for you probably 3/4 like he said in the video) Probe the male end with positive and the shielding with negative Boom preout voltage, look online to figure out how many v of clean preout yours is and match from there turning the volume up or down if needed

[@mpfoote]

I have a question for you. I always run my head unit bass setting at negative 4, so that my dash and door speakers don't get too much bass. Those all run off the power of the head unit, no external amplifier. Even at negative 4, the door speakers are plenty loud and have plenty of bass. When I set the input gain on my subwoofer amp, would I want to leave the head unit's bass setting at negative 4, being that's how I always run it? Everything I've read says that you want to set everything to "flat", which doesn't make sense to me if that's not how it's normally ran.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

You have to set everything flat to get an accurate reading, and a lot of times people will turn on their bass boost or crank their bass up causing clipping and distortion. If you're trying to shape the sound it's always better to cut instead of boost. Since you are cutting you're probably not going to do any damage. but you're not going to get the best possible sound either. If your head unit has a crossover then you can use the crossover to pull the bass out of your door and dash speakers. In the end always remember that it's your gear and you can set it up anyway that you like.

[@mpfoote]

@@DIYAudioGuy Thank you!

[@Rightn2Parabola]

One of the best illustrations of gain settings, out there! Easy subscribe!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Thanks for the sub!

[@e3xPnico21]

Me useing the exact amp he said not to use

[@damienestep3869]

That Alpine is okay bro

[@NJEEP419]

No he was using it as an example that's a quality amp.

[@DarthObscurity]

Every 'pro' audio guy I have ever talked to has these 'hard limits' like you just mentioned (3:13) but I firmly believe it is 100% because of how you guys learned to do stereo stuff. Everything I learned was from practical application or self taught and I'll admit I have blown some equipment, but the limits you guys mention are hilarious and the things you think will happen if you go above/beyond those limits are wholly comical. 99.9% of the time, unless you have wired something very, very wrong or have gone hilariously above the limit (on purpose a huge majority of the time), you're probably just going to get protection mode constantly, distorted sound, or overheat your equipment over and over. Unless whatever you are using is old or was beat to crap/put over it's limits consistently for weeks or months, you're more then likely ok to prod those limits with trial and error.

[@Flinteastwood420]

Better to be safe than sorry. If you need it louder, buy better equipment.

[@yeahididit9054]

I constantly blow subs and speakers from overpowering them cause I’m too cheap to have someone with a DD 1 set them and I just set it by ear. 😂🤦🏻‍♂️

[@rydenroam5551]

Thanks very much. Now I can try to do this tomorrow for my 1500 amp RF.

[@rydenroam5551]

I have set my gains according to your video and now I have no problems on my amplifier. Thank you. My subs pumps hard and it never did clip. Again thank you.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Awesome, glad it worked!

[@josephstaton6438]

This is a good rudimentary way to set gain without DD-1 or O scope. The only issue i see is you don't account for attenuation when running signal via Bluetooth. Most people run their phone volume to max when running BT and that can dirty your signal for sure.

[@josephstaton6438]

Otherwise great video as always and keep the content coming.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

That is a good point!

[@josephstaton6438]

I might also add. I like how you recommend the kicker audio files for test tones. I'd rather point someone that route than to play a random tone generator. The files from kicker are setup with different recording levels 0db, -5db and -10db to help tailor your gain matching even further. Again in addressing attenuation I've always downloaded these files to either a CD or zip drive. You know 100% your signal is super clean that way. I do have a future video idea if you haven't done one yet. A full front to back gain matching. I.e. from the source unit to a DSP, EQ, ect. Showingthe importance of adjusting your gain from the source unit at every piece of gear in the line and ultimately at your amp. Great videos as always and your edit is coming along nicely btw. Keep up the great work.

[@JoshM7]

I was going to say I have that same amp... but that's a R400-4D and I have the Class AB R300X4 haha. Also really clear and on point. Good job!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Both are great amps.

[@JoshM7]

@@DIYAudioGuy Indeed. Mine was pushing my Ultimax 10 for a while with Channel 3 & 4 Bridged. Didn't complain one bit. Now I have a dedicated amp for the sub though.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Hell yeah brother!

[@ralph6524]

I adjusted the voltage to 17 because my amp's speaker output is 75 RMS per channel running at 4 ohms at 75% volume with an 1000 htz tone and i burnt my speaker coils because my speakers were only 25 RMS at 4 ohms.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

If your amp puts out more power than your speakers can handle then you have to turn the gain down.

[@birdsbore]

After watching all your videos , I installed my amp and speakers. sounds great. The only question I have is that the voltage per channel is 16.12. The rear speakers have a volt of 24.5, do I setup the amp for the per channel voltage 16.12 or for the rear speakers to 24.5. Note. the front speakers and a voltage of 14.14 Thank for all the information

[@DIYAudioGuy]

You typically have a separate gain control for front and rear, set them both either based on the power rating of the amp or the speakers, whichever is smaller. Another trick, if you want to emphasize the front stage you can reduce the gain on the rear channels.

[@ivanvijazulu]

Hello diy audioguy. Thanks for your videos. The gain is adjusted for both subwoofers and mid and high speakers with the same Output Power (14.4 V) @ 4 ohm. This is the Output Power specification for the Powerbass Amp ASA3-700.5

[@DIYAudioGuy]

OK.

[@RuStYpNuS]

You should be able to find the clip point by testing the voltage @ your rca outpout. If the headunit specs call for 4v preouts then youd look for that AC voltage testing the center pin and outer shell of the rca.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Correct. I have some RCA to speaker wire pigtails that I use for testing RCA's. Much easier than trying to hold the probes against the RCA wire.

[@Mike19sf]

Great videos. Doing a full install now. Was 2nd guessing my ohm configuration and set gains properly using voltage formulas or DbMv

[@DIYAudioGuy]

👍

[@luminousfractal420]

For those fine adjustment knobs drill a hole in a ruler big enough to jam the screwdriver in. Then you have an adjuster with a wider arc and you can hit those mv numbers.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Clever trick.

[@JasonLittle-vc8in]

You can use a DMM to find your head unit clipping by figuring out what your preouts voltage is from the manufacturer and then use a 0db 50hz test tone,turn the head unit volume all the way up as well as the subwoofer volume on the head unit,then run your test tone and attach the ground of the dmm to the outer pins on the rca and the positive to the center pin on the rca,say your preouts are 2 volt preouts. The dmm should read around 2.8 volts not the dmm,turn the volume knob on the receiver down till it hits the target 2 volts 😎

[@A.Dude.]

You're not the only one recommending to do the set-up with the volume at 75%... Please explain this fine audience what the down-side of tuning a stereo for 100% volume. We are talking about cars and they should be functional, regardless if the one and only driver is using it, the one who knows about a 75% limit... I would hate to get into someone's car (for various reasons, including emergency situations) and brake something... So what';s the downside of doing all the adjustment to accommodate 100% volume? Thanks!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

It's just a rule of thumb. Like all rules of thumb they don't always work. There are better ways to set up your amplifier, but those methods require more tools.

[@A.Dude.]

@@DIYAudioGuy OK; I was only curious... Thanks for answering and stay safe!

[@almetej29]

I had always done this by ear. Just checked my setup and was within 1v of what it should have been. nice to know im close once in a while.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Back in the day the old school shops would set them all by ear. Even now there are some people who swear that the ear is the only tool you should use when setting up your system.

[@99FXR]

Dude. Gonna try and do this right now on my powered kicker 10” 🤞🏼🤞🏼

[@Pottunuija]

I was looking at Alpine S-A60M 600W RMS amp, it was measured at 14.4 volts and 1% THD. That's not lying about it I agree that.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I think this is the older version of that amp. Great stuff. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5jKfY2YbJySqbc

[@Pottunuija]

@@DIYAudioGuy Yes, older ones are good. Just dont get this new trend, how they kinda cheat the rms power even it is the cheaper series of amps but it just makes Alpine look cheap

[@damon323]

Best video on here for setting the gain! Thank you very much!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

You are welcome.

[@damon323]

@@DIYAudioGuy Quick question sir. I’ll be setting up a 5 channel amp in my 4Runner. -Let’s just say on one of my channels, I have a door speaker and a dash speaker wired in parallel. -both speakers are 4 ohm, and rated for 100 rms each. …I’d be running a 2 ohm load. So what is the equation for that?

[@DannerPlace]

Problem is, a typical speaker's resistance (impedance) is rarely equal to its nameplate rating, it varies (a lot) over frequency. Better to use a actual power resistor, which can be measured with the inexpensive multimeter.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

How many people have resistors laying around? This video was made for people who don't have access to those kind of tools . The solutions proposed in this video ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/mV64hXRrbtWZhqM) are far more practical than setting up a resistor bank.

[@unitarianuniversalist806]

I had to slow down your video to makes sure I got it thank you awesome

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Thanks for watching!

[@pruff5072]

Cool idea. Might want to leave some headroom on the voltage you set - especially if you use a cheap multimeter. This is because every multimeter has some amount of measurement error. Or if you wanted to be really precise, your multimeter manual may show the specifications for error when making AC measurements.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

There are a ton of ways that error can pop up, no matter how you do it. The amp, the meter, anything.

[@johnviera3884]

I highly recommend using a bass control knob. It’s like having the gain control right on your dashboard for those old-school songs that need to be turned up

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I recommend using one that has a clip light.

[@johnviera3884]

@@DIYAudioGuy well I bought a JL Audio JX500/1 for $149 on sale 6 years ago. So I’m stuck with their overpriced garbage pot with no clip light (SOLD SEPARATELY) But I’m an adult, so I don’t need a clip light anyway.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

@@johnviera3884 That's a hell of a deal on that amplifier.

[@johnviera3884]

@@DIYAudioGuy $60 for the bass knob. Lol It’s an ok amp. S/N Ratio is only 62db

[@theviking5667]

Great stuff! And the Gain knob is not a volume knob! 😁. Thanks!

[@austin752crouse]

just a question, to find my target voltage am i taking my: *RMS power of amp and Ohm rating of amp* (RP1200.1D) OR *RMS power of amp and Ohms my speakers will be wired to*(RP1200.1D x Speakers wired to 2 ohms) Other than this question pretty straight forward video!

[@dreamlighttales3878]

Before adjusting gain, where should my bass boost , LP and HP filters be set at? Other videos have mentioned to set the bass boost at 0 and the LP and HP filters to highest before setting gain. What’s your opinion on this? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

[@DIYAudioGuy]

This is correct. I'll make sure to include that information the next time that I make a video on setting gains.

[@chrishuyler3580]

Actually no, you want to hit maximum voltage with the bass boost set where you plan to use it. If you plan on adding some boost to certain music, turn it on to the highest setting, set your gain using this method, then turn the boost back down, now you know you can add some boost without clipping. It’s worth noting that if you use boost on your head unit, the max volume you can set it to may be lower. Instead of 75% volume you may be limited to 65% volume. You won’t know actual volume until you use an oscilloscope.

[@HariKrishnan-jl4hm]

Sir, can you explain what should be the positions of HPF, LPF, & X-overs while doing the gain setting for speakers and subwoofers In a 4 channel amp.

[@HariKrishnan-jl4hm]

And one more doubt is that, in every videos regarding the gain setting , they are using RCA input.. is that mandatory.. ?? What would happen if I use speaker level input instead of RCA while doing the Gain setting...

[@DIYAudioGuy]

When you are setting the gain on the amp you want to make sure that all crossovers are off, any EQ on the head unit set to flat, and the speakers need to be disconnected from the amp. But, if you have a bass knob (or a bass level on the head unit) you want that turned all the way up. It works the same way if you use line-level inputs.

[@HariKrishnan-jl4hm]

@@DIYAudioGuy Thanks 💝💝

[@hakenkreuz7076]

@@DIYAudioGuy All crossovers on the amp should be off, what if you cannot turn the crossover off you can only turn it down to 50 as in a kicker CX 1200.1? Great video. New subscriber.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

@@hakenkreuz7076 For your subwoofer amplifier set the low pass crossover to it's highest possible setting.

[@chancladude]

Thank you for this video! Question, I have a 4 channel Amp with an RMS rating of 100 watts per channel at 4 Ohms. I'm connecting each speaker to its own channel so 4 speakers total. According to your calculations, target voltage should be 20. When testing the voltage, should 20 volts be tested on each channel (all 4)?

[@NathanC-YT]

Well a 4 channel only has 2 gain dials, 1/2 and 3/4 channels. You put the meter on chan 1+ and chan 2- and move dial till 20.0v. Repeat for other as well, chan 3+ and chan 4-. (Correct me if im wrong)

[@NathanC-YT]

Also I tried to do channel 1+ and -. And 20v wasnt even reading no matter where the dial was. Like for ex, at the lowest it read 1v and at the highest it read 15v. Obviously thats not the right numbers but you get the point. Thats why i say chan 1+ and chan 2-

[@DIYAudioGuy]

That is correct, but you only need to test one channel on the front and one on the year since most amps don't have gain controls for left and right, just front and back.

[@chancladude]

Thank you, this is what I did and speakers now sound to their potential! I always relied on my clip indicator on the remote but this method is so much better!

[@prest81j72]

Can you teach us how to use a oscope to find where head units clip and how to set your gains with one.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Sure, I can do that.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXOxdoeobqZ7raM

[@AwesomeOakTree]

Amazing content! just what I needed as I am in the process of a full car audio set up! Just subbed too!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Thanks.

[@anonymouslegion4928]

Had to sub, I hope I can have your help when my equipment is installed. Very informative video sir.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Thanks for the sub!

[@ronb6333]

I’m setting gains on a 6 channel amp with the multimeter. 4 of the channels are going to be 4 ohm @165 watts The other 2 are parallel at 2 ohms @290 watts. When setting volts do I count both channels when finding voltage square root or do I do a single channel in the math equation. 4ohm x 165 watts\ 25.69 volts All the way count both channels in the math equation 4 ohm x 330/ 36.33 volts

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Just a single channel

[@NathanC-YT]

I have a 2000 watt mono block amp. It puts out 2000 at 1ohm. I have 4 8s that are 400rms a piece. Thats 1600watts, There wired down to 1 ohm. If I was to set my gain would it be 2000 x 1ohm or 1600 x 1ohm to find the voltage. Thanks

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Always go with the smaller number -- if the amp has less power then go with the amp, if the subs are rated to handle less power then go with the subs.

[@Paul-oh4fe]

Great and simple explanation. Thank you!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jimmyupton3732]

Great info first time user setting my gains, this video help dummies like me and you made very simple.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I'm glad it was helpful.

[@jimmyupton3732]

@@DIYAudioGuy just got done all is set now, i did make one little calculation error i got Rockford 300x4 and i did the math for 75 watts instead of 50..lol clip light came on when i was trying set it 17.4 and I said to myself something is not right. It should of been 14.14. Once again thank you for the great info!!

[@MarcoTopG]

I’m confuse, so is the reason for not going above 75% volume is so that you won’t blow the door speakers or blow the subwoofer? Can you blow the subwoofer going above 75% volume on the radio after setting the gain?

[@DIYAudioGuy]

No, that's not the purpose of the 75% rule. Watch this video for further clarification. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mV64hXRrbtWZhqMsi=1Lc-Agofp3leXm9K

[@VndNvwYvvSvv]

Do you use the nominal impedance (z), the actual resistance Re (often 3.5 to 3.9 instead of 4 ohms), or would you measure including your speaker wire?

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Nominal impedance.

[@juanreynoso4930]

I like the new format, i have a 04 ram ur videos help me a lot, do you going to show the performance of the sound system?

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I was hoping to get to a MECA show and enter a SQL competition, but it has not worked out.

[@kulbirshaman]

How to check what gain I need for speakers

[@DIYAudioGuy]

That is based on the amount of power that you plan on using, or the amount of power that your speakers can handle. Whichever is lowest. So if you have a 75 watt per channel amplifier going into speakers ready for 75 watts per channel then you want to set your gain so that you get 75 watts per channel. I've got a couple more videos on the process. This one shows a cost-effective alternative and gives you some more examples of how to use the multimeter correctly. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mV64hXRrbtWZhqM

[@Countryboy60131]

Your videos are the best. Should I use the test tones you recommend at o db

[@DIYAudioGuy]

0db test tones are fine.

[@gorion70]

Pawn shops are great places to buy good multimeters cheap

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I am a big fan of pawn shops, you can get killer deals.

[@mikecurry6847]

Oh wow that's really good to know about not going above the volume where I set the gain. If I want to give myself a little bit of headroom on the volume, can I set my gain at 85-90% volume?

[@DIYAudioGuy]

The volume setting (75%) is just a rule of thumb, so you can always turn it up a little bit higher.

[@johnlucier5654]

Autosound 2000 (richard clark) used to sell a test CD with various frequencies that increased in volume to MHBL (the most output a CD can achieve) then exceeded it with an intentionally clipped signal so you can view what clipping should look like on your Oscope, then repeated the same tone up to MHBL without clipping it. I found a super simple (only went to 100khz) BK crt oscope at a surplus store for $100 and never blew a speaker again.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Richard Clark did amazing things. He now builds hot rod Buick Grand Nationals.

[@johnlucier5654]

@@DIYAudioGuy was that a Buick he won the SQ championship with? (With USD audio HLCDs) Or was it a T bird? I love horns, there nothing else that sounds so impressive tho theyre a pain to tune.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

@@johnlucier5654 Yep, a Buick Grand National.

[@3RDERA]

👍👍Solid video!! Most important thing you said was, “from a reputable manufacturer.” Sorry people, but max ratings aren’t going to work here🤓. Adventure continues!!!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

If all power ratings were honest a DMM is all we would need.

[@3RDERA]

DIY Audio Guy wouldn’t that be nice! Great editing by the way, super smooth and engaging!!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

@@3RDERA I put a little extra juice in this one. Thanks for noticing.

[@DJGUSFRING]

Sub woofer is 600w rms @ dual voice coil @ 4 ohms, i wire it to produce 2ohms, monoblock is rated at 500w rms @ 2ohms, which rms should i use to calculate the voltage? Amplifier or subwoofer? Does punch equaliser have effect on this process? If yes shoul it be at min level or maximum level while setting up the gain? Does cabinet tuning affect this process in any way? Thanks great video learnt alot.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Always go with the lower number, so 500 watts in your case. I don't recommend using any kind of bass boost. If you have the amp tune so you're just on the edge of clipping turning on the bass boost will cause clipping. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYTHn6V4fpyUb5I The box tuning doesn't matter, but you may need an infrasonic filter. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4i1oHyepJx0bcU

[@DJGUSFRING]

@DIYAudioGuy thanks very much for you feedback. I really appreciate your knowledge

[@extrap51]

Very helpful video 👍 and good presentation.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jakespiller3523]

I tried this but my there’s no voltage at my speaker outputs, RCAS are in, ive got 12v at supply of the amp, when I put the speaker cable on the terminals the speakers play the tone, and My multi meter is on AC, but I’ve got absolutely nothing coming up on my multi meter. What could be going on here? Also great video, cheers!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Could it be a problem with the multimeter?

[@jakespiller3523]

DIY Audio Guy well it worked when I tested for power, but it is one of my dads old ones, I’ll try with a better one I have, thanks though xx

[@fabio98nl]

If i split my rca kabel wil the voltage be the same or split in 2?. What i tried with A 4channel amp is put 1 rca in chanel 1 and the other in chanel 3 the voltage won’t go to 26 only 20max

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I've heard people argue both ways. But honestly don't know. You could always use your multimeter to measure the voltage coming out of the RCA's.

[@fabio98nl]

@@DIYAudioGuy il try it out thanks for the useful video

[@wesleygoldstone4770]

100% helpful and to the point.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Glad you liked it!

[@MrDarkvanity]

Thank you so much I just needed this

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Glad it helped.

[@TexasSean]

Badass video and an exact way to do it!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Absolutely.

[@lukasmitk9319]

Great video! Helped me a lot

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Glad it helped!

[@jackschmidt98]

Hi there, great video and super helpful! I have a question tho... I have a 5 channel Alpine amp XA90V and everything is wired up to the speakers and sub and the install is complete. I have it tuned what I believe to be reasonably well be ear, but want to fine tune with a multimeter to get the maximum benefit out of the amp. Because of the location of the amp, I can access the controls but cannot remove the amp to plug the Multi meter directly into the terminals. However I can access the speaker terminals... Could I do the same process with multimeter at the speaker terminals and get the same result? Cheers.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Yes.

[@jackschmidt98]

Awesome! Thank you for responding 👌

[@12345MPEG]

Great informative video. I Know nothing of car audio but little by little piecing together different videos I’ve managed to install a pretty decent system into my car. Now with this video I’ll be able to adjust gains so I don’t blow my shit lol. Sometimes it sounds like my songs are screaming at me.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Awesome, I'm glad you found it useful.

[@NathanC-YT]

My amp is a 2000 watts. My voltage output is very low and idk why. It was in this truck before attached to the same battery and not just isnt pushing power. I need it at 44 volts and with the gain all the way its only at 10volts. Any ideas on my problem?

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Might need to turn the head unit up a bit.

[@AbhishekAbhishek-bq8yj]

Can you please also show how to set gains and crossover frequencies on an inbuilt amplifier. Pioneer ts-wx1210a thanks

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I don't have any experience with that equipment.

[@kulbirshaman]

Hi there , thanks for reply. I have focal flex evo p20 fse subwoofer with focal FDS 1.350 And also focal flex evo ps165 f3e 3 way component speakers Also hertz for back doors mpx 165.3 pro With two amps from focal fpx 4.800 for midwoofer and hertz spekers FDS 4.350 For mid speakers and tweeter Can have set volume for all these please. Thanks

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I'm not familiar with the gear so I can't tell you how to set it up. I would advise you to reach out to the dealer that sold you the equipment or reach out to focal customer service.

[@XnaughtylusX]

i did your calculation with the watts and ohms. if i did my math correctly. then 3000 watt in 1ohm and 1 channel (which i have in my amp) then my voltage should be 54,77 volts?

[@DIYAudioGuy]

👍. That seems right to me. 54.77

[@XnaughtylusX]

@@DIYAudioGuy thank you for fast reply. Keep The videos coming

[@yausaptheshasuabary180]

Awesome video. I think I missed the part about adding bass boost after three gain is on point. Anybody know if its safe to add bass boost after setting the gain?

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I have a strong opinion about that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYTHn6V4fpyUb5I

[@A6Legit]

Thanks for the tips brotha. Just installed a new 12" at a different ohm load than my previous sub.🤞 I dont blow this one 😆 I went with a nvx nsw124v2 since it was cheaper than buying an amp for the VSW's I have laying around

[@DIYAudioGuy]

If you are a big NVX fan you can use the code diyaudio10 for a discount on the NVX website.

[@NikaidouStep]

If i have component speakers that run at 150rms and 40rms, would I just add those two together at 190? So 190rms @ 4ohms would be 760 and my target volts would be 27.5?

[@iwilliex]

Should I flatten the bass and treble on my head unit, before setting the gain?

[@DIYAudioGuy]

YES!

[@billcrane2444]

Question on amp tuning: If the amplifier is rated at 75 watts at 2 ohms and the speakers are rated at 75 watts at 2.7 ohms is it logical that the gain on the amplifier can be set to its maximum since the numbers match up almost exactly; i.e. 75 watts on each and both are in the approximate 2 ohm range? The amplifier is an Alpine and the speakers are Infinity.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

It's logical, but that is not how it works. A better way to think about it is that the gain control lets you match the amp to the head unit. Tell me where you're getting the 2.7 ohm number. Most speakers are going to be four ohms, some of them are two ohms. Did you get that number by measuring the resistance at the speaker terminals?

[@billcrane2444]

@@DIYAudioGuy The 2.7 ohm number is on the Infinity literature that came with the Kappa 62IX speakers of which I'm using 4 with the Alpine MRV-F300 4-channel amplifier.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

@@billcrane2444 👍

[@danielphelps2163]

Perfect explanation

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dionne681]

what does it mean to run something in a 2 ohm load? is that the same as bridging?

[@DIYAudioGuy]

That would mean something like taking a pair of speakers that are rated 4 ohms nominal each and then connecting them parallel to one channel of an amplifier. Bridging is combining a pair of output channels into one channel. Bridging does have an impact on the minimum impedance that the amplifier can handle. Most four-channel amps, for example, are two ohms stable per channel but when you bridge them they're only four ohm stable.

[@dionne681]

@@DIYAudioGuy Thanks. Explained perfectly. That was tripping me up reading the specs on Sound Digital amps because they have both 4ohm and 2ohm amps and the 4ohm version can be ran with a 2ohm load.

[@destructiz]

Thank you for this very informative walkthrough. However I have some questions. I connect my Note 10+ to a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, then connect it to the head unit via 3.5mm AUX. With this configuration my audio is about half the volume at the same number on the head unit as playing from another source such as FM or CD. I have a Pioneer DEH-X5600HD head unit with a Pioneer GM-A5702 1000w 2 channel bridgeable amp rated for 150w x2 @ 4 ohms connected to 2 Rockford Fosgate P210S4's in a separate chamber 1.25ft3 each chamber sealed box. On an amp dyno this amp is supposedly capable of closer to 200w rms in this configuration. Considering the source volume is low (even with source level adjustment at 4 which is max on the head unit) I usually play with my volume at 57/62 listening to loud music. If I push higher than 57 my door speakers distort a bit. My system sounds great but I haven't fine tuned the gain other than by ear so far, nor have I connected my DMM to the amp except to test power input voltage and ground voltage and resistance. My input voltage is 13.8v (ground is the same with 0.03ohm resistance at amp ground and 2 different battery grounds in the engine bay) Will I get different results by using your method with the head unit at this volume? And should I try to aim for the "rated" 150w rms @ 4ohm (24.5v speaker output) or could I aim for, say, 175w RMS at this volume and should I still lower my volume to 46? I almost never use another source to listen to music in my vehicle. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and thank you again for uploading this video. Other possibly relevant information: my LPF is at 125hz, bass boost is at +6db (yeah I know, give me hell if you want but I don't hear any distortion of any kind at any volume with my ear both right next to the subs and further away, but should I eliminate it?) No bass boost on head unit, loudness on low (my door speakers are halfway decent 5x7 factory speakers powered by head unit and without it I have trouble hearing some treble listening to heavy metal/prog such as Dream Theater and Periphery) head unit HPF @ 80hz/24db slope. My gain is currently at about 60%

[@DIYAudioGuy]

I would love to help but that's a little bit too much to dig through. I would advise you to find somebody local that can help you dig through all of that. There's just too many variables to accurately troubleshoot without being able to put hands on the equipment.

[@destructiz]

@@DIYAudioGuy that's fair lol, thank you for your quick reply. I ended up adjusting at my normal listening volume and ended up with 26.6v speaker output (177x2@4ohm) with no audible distortion/clipping. I started with the rated 150w and went from there until it started to introduce distortion, then backed it down in very small increments until it was gone with a 40hz, 50hz, and 60hz test tone. I was unaware I could adjust gain with a DMM until stumbling across your video, so thank you again! Maybe I will eventually have a professional look at it, but it sounds great for now. It did take quite a while but that's just how it is with these things

[@user-sh5dy5tr9d]

Learning a lot...thanks! 👍

[@Ryan............]

Great video, very informative!

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Thanks!

[@antcar97]

Great video I’m having a problem setting mine up , I’m gonna try your tactic hopefully that works , will let you know

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Awesome! Good luck.

[@blackwebb30]

I have a 700w amp pushing 4 speakers 90w each (180 pair).Im using a multimeter to set my gains. The question is do i set my gains to the amp rms or the speakers rms, for example my amp Voltage wold be 52.91 and my speaker Voltage is 18.97. Hope I'm saying it right

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Set it up for the speakers. I'm assuming it's a two-channel amp and you're putting a pair of speakers on each channel. So set each channel individually.

[@blackwebb30]

@@DIYAudioGuy 4 channel amp and yes im setting each speaker on its own channel

[@DIYAudioGuy]

@@blackwebb30 awesome, then set each channel for a 90 watts. My guess is you only have 2 gain controls, one for the front channels of one for the rear. So just pick one of the two front channels and set the gain for the front, repeat for the back.

[@blackwebb30]

@@DIYAudioGuy yes sir...thanks alot for your help

[@geezler4083]

I'm guessing the values won't change as you hook up the remaining channels.

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Probably not.

[@sive20]

Hi, thank you very much for this video. Literally the most useful one on KZbin. Keep it up. Quick question, can this be applied to underseat sub ? If not,is there anyway to set the built-in amp on underseat sub. Thanks

[@DIYAudioGuy]

Not unless you remove the subwoofer or the amplifier from the enclosure. Honestly the best way to do one of the other seats subwoofers is to just set it by ear. It sounds like crap turn the gain down.

[@sive20]

@@DIYAudioGuy much appreciated for the response 👍

[@TheChrisGrib]

Is there a video to help set your Subsonic and LPF's with a multimeter?

[@DIYAudioGuy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4i1oHyepJx0bcU

[@ronb6333]

If your amps are very difficult to get to, can you use the wire at the speaker?