setting my amps up with an o-scope..

[ener.g 0]

i have an osciliscope that my dad is letting me use, i want to see my wave forms to make sure i am not getting any square waves to make sure i am not clipping..

everytime i set it up once i turn the volume up its makes a pop noise from the speakers and doesnt read nothing..

how i hooked it up:

sub was hooked up on all the tries

1st hooked up to pos(+) and neg(-) on the amp sub out

2nd try hooked up just the pos(+) on the amp sub out

3rd try hooked up pos to the pos(+) on the amp, and neg (-) to chassis ground

all got the same result only showed a wave form at low volume in voltage mode

cant find out how to get to hz

screen shows +14v to -14v my guess was that the output voltage of the amp is much higher (according to the gain setting calc we have here) so this oscope may not work with this much power?

do i need to set up to read volts or hz?

and also do i need to have the sub disconnected from the amp while doing this?

pleaseeeeee help me i really wanna get this going

[Audio Junkies 3]

http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_...KW=oscilloscope

[TRZ 0]

volts AC and a good cd with sine waves . You may also need a 10x probe depending on the volts div on the scope and speed of scope . You need to test your source unit first to find out at what point it starts to clip. Then move back in the chain ,eq's and what ever else you have in order, from source unit to amp . When setting the sub amp you should have the subs hooked up . Set all loudness off ,eq flat ,and bass at 0 (no boost or cuts). Set you Lpf and subsonic on amp. Usually you can set your headunit at 3/4 volume and as long as it is unclipped at that point!!! make sure you check your source unit with it unplugged to the next device in line when testing it( also protect your coaxials and other components to unwanted freq when setting the lower freq). You can buy most adapters at radio shack for your scope. You should hook up at the terminals of the sub amp at +/- like a speaker when setting it. Good luck and remember that you can have a small amount of gain overlap on music compared to sine waves. hope this helps.

[ILuvJDM 0]

So when you set the HU to 3/4 volume, is this assuming when you want to 'bump' you can turn it up to 3/4 volume? Or do you tune to 3/4 so that when you listen at 1/2 you're safe? I've always had trouble with this, because my headunit is loud enough at 1/2 volume. Also, why turn all the EQ settings off? If you listen to music with them on, shouldn't you tune with them on, otherwise it'll throw the balance off right?

-John

[TRZ 0]

So when you set the HU to 3/4 volume, is this assuming when you want to 'bump' you can turn it up to 3/4 volume? Or do you tune to 3/4 so that when you listen at 1/2 you're safe? I've always had trouble with this, because my headunit is loud enough at 1/2 volume. Also, why turn all the EQ settings off? If you listen to music with them on, shouldn't you tune with them on, otherwise it'll throw the balance off right?

-John

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It safe that way so if people get the itch they can turn it up but if you like it at 1/2 set it there what ever you like after a basis is set you can add your eq in and continue testing if so desired this is just a non confusing way for some one who has limited experience on a scope to start . but were you like your system is up to you.and I usually set my gains with a scope and eq with a rta/analyzer as far as boosts and cuts and keep the scope handy to make sure everything is ok .