amplifier setting up

[turbojolt]

dose any one here have any tips for setting up a car amplifier



or should i just twist all the nobs randomly lol

[NovaBoi92]

thats what i done and seemed to work! took a while tho to get it perfect ;)

[Stuart]

iirc you set the head unit to just under distortion levels with the amp gain set at minimum, then wind the amp gain up till thats just under distortion levels. Might need to fettle with the cross overs a little but thats the general gist of it

[craig green]

Personally I would establish where 8/10ths of the headunit output is.

Take the system to this volume & then back off the gain controls on the amp until the system is free of distortion.

Keep the head unit levels at zero/middle (ie bass & treble & any loudness etc) assuming they go into -ve figures.

Use one of your Mum or Dads CD's to set it up*. I'm thinking something properly studio mixed like a Dire Straights or Pink Floyd album or Madonna etc (sad I now)

Now use the bass/treble controls on the amp to create a smooth sound where the varying frequencies all blend nicely with no holes in the sound where the bass disappears leaving a gap into mid range etc. This is hard to describe but be really critical. It helps to have a helper adjust the settings whilst you listen & instruct them.

Also, try swapping the polarity of the speaker terminals to check the speakers are in phase. Assuming you have 6x9's on the shelf. Kneel on the back set looking at the 6x9's. With each speaker wired differently you should feel a discomfort in your ear as one speaker pumps the air & the other kind of sucks the air from the other ear. The one 'pumping' is theoretically correct & should be bassier. But try it both ways to determine which sounds best & to get them both doing the same thing. Polarity markings on amps & speakers can't always be relied upon.

When you are happy, try one of your preferred CD's.*

*Dance music usually sounds loud/acceptable on any crap setup

[turbojolt]

will the gain control say gain on it as there are 5 or 6 different controls and i really dont want to mess it up

[Pistol Pete]

RTFM! Read The Fcuking Manual!

If not the amp should have some markings as to which setting is which. What amp is it?

[turbojolt]

its a fusion amp but i don't have the manual


im not sure of the model name

[turbojolt]

i think i will go to tesco or wickes car park later and set up the amp instead of out side were all the little pikeys can hear and see what i have in my boot

also then i wont have the neighbors ringing the old bill

[ck]

as craig said.

but if you have a sub and speakers amp'd you want the high pas filter (for speakers) set to 80hz, and the low pass filter (for sub) set to 80hz also this is the best base frequency to stsrt with, if you running like 10" subs then maybe take both frquency's upto 100hz

[turbojolt]

i only have a 10 inch sub attached to the amp right now but if i wire the 6x9's to it as well will that reduce the power going to the sub



sorry if its a stupid question but i have zero experience with amps

[craig green]

If it's just the sub you are running from an amp, the only options I'd imagine you have for setting it up is the gain (kinda like a volume) but used to match the signal output & get the level to match that of the 6x9's. Maybe some crossovers which you can use your ears best to get the sub working & sounding where the 6x9's begin to struggle.

Still test the phasing of the 6x9's though.

Some dynamat behind the quarter panels in the boot will do wonders to the sound & how loud you can turn it all up before distorting.

[Stuart]

how many speaker terminals does the amp have? and how many phono inputs does it have?

[turbojolt]

it has 4 outs i believe 2 are being used by the sub but i don't know what a phono is

[craig green]

Phono/RCA leads. red & white signal wires/ports.

[turbojolt]

o right there are 4 of them as well

[craig green]

o right there are 4 of them as well

2 red & 2 white?

[turbojolt]

2 red & 2 white?


yes

[Stuart]

use one pair for the 6*9's and the other pair for the sub(s)

[turbojolt]

do i need to plug in 2 more phono leads to wire the 6x9s to the amp

[Jack]

I would assume the two RCA inputs are for left and right channels...?

[craig green]

Fr & rear

Using just one pair would normally mean the amp see's them as a non-facding pair. Use both pairs & the headunit fader will fade them Fr to right.