gain question on RF 25 to LIFE amps...

[pimpedout97x 4]

seems like this only does it on these amps, any other brand amps i never really noticed this...but anyways, ill have a speaker connected, and ill have the gains on 0. i gradually put the gains up, and the loudness/volume doesnt move. it gets louder only when i get to like right before 3/4 of the way up....is that normal? does this on both of my 150's and both of my 45's...

i just think thats odd, like ill put the gains at 1/2, and its the same as having the gains at 0....

[JimJ 11]

Depends on how much preout voltage you have...and amps do vary somewhat depending on the value and slope of the pots they use.

But it really shouldn't matter because gains are set based on preout voltage and not the position of the pot.

[pimpedout97x 4]

so im not harming anything having them that high? i put them all the way up for a second, with the HU volume low, and it doesnt distort or clip (at least no audible clipping) but i still dont put them higher than 3/4

my HU is a Nakamichi CD-400, would a line driver help? i noticed another guy on DIYMA.com forums said the same thing about his RF 25TL Punch amps.

[pimpedout97x 4]

according to Nakamichi, my preouts are 4V.

[JimJ 11]

There's no substitute for measuring it directly...some manufacturers list a maximum preout voltage, but that may be at the very last volume stop and the unit's clipping the hell out of the signal. On Alpines, for example, it'll start to clip well before the final stop...you have to set your amps with the head unit putting out a clean, unclipped signal.

A line driver would only be needed if you had a major inducted noise issue...even then it's not a cure-all.

[pimpedout97x 4]

how would i go about setting the gains to the highest they can go without clipping? i need a DMM right?

[ANeonRider 3]

Nope, an oscilloscope.

[pimpedout97x 4]

crap, i dont got one. lol

[pimpedout97x 4]

someone told me he had one of the newer hifonics amps, and he had to put the remote knob on the amp, turn it all the way up, and then set the gains, with the knob all the way maxed out. he said it made a pretty noticable differece....wonder if that would work on this RF amp? maybe it wont make me have to put the gains to nearly 3/4 of the way up to get it louder?

[Adrian_D 520]

gains are set depending on the pre-out voltage of the head unit.

so, unless you have a dmm or an oscilloscope you will not be able to set the gains exactly.

there is a gain setting tutorial over here. use that.