Help tuning amp.

[mrben 0]

I have a couple questions about setting the gain, and the settings I should be using on my head unit. My setup is a IDA-x100 headunit from alpine. (Pre-Amp is 2volts) My subwoofer is an 15" Q, and amp is a SAE-1200 Sundown.

On my headunit, I heard that the subwoofer level should be set to full, 15. But I didn't know what to set the base level at, so I just set it to full, 8. Then I tuned it to 36volts using a dmm, (Thats what the tuning instruction sheet that came with the amp said to tune it too) It sounded good, but I feel with that much power, I should be getting it a little louder. So I put the bass to 0 on the headunit, but then I could turn the amps gain up to maximum without any distortion. (I havent used a dmm to check the volts like this yet though)

So my question, what should the bass level on the headunit be?

[Duran 387]

Bass should be at zero, don't use it. Turn your "loud" function off as well. Set it with a DMM and preferably an oscilloscope.

If you wanted output why did you buy a Q?

[hdrox88 142]

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[mrben 0]

Bass should be at zero, don't use it. Turn your "loud" function off as well. Set it with a DMM and preferably an oscilloscope.

If you wanted output why did you buy a Q?

Because I wanted the sound quality. I don't want it super loud, I just thought it should be louder then what it is.

[mrben 0]

So if the amp 1200, and my sub is dual2, that would come out to 49volts. The sundown amp was using 36, and said to make it 36, does it matter?

[hdrox88 142]

So if the amp 1200, and my sub is dual2, that would come out to 49volts. The sundown amp was using 36, and said to make it 36, does it matter?

That amp is rated for 1200 watts at 1 ohm. You have a dual 2 ohm sub, that would be wired in parallel to create a 1 ohm load on the amp. For the calculations you use the impedance load that sub will put on the amp which is 1 ohm. That comes out to 34.6 volts. Sundown is probably recommending a tad higher at 36 volts due to the fact that the amp could put out a little over 1200 watts with the proper electrical.

Also, follow the recommendations that Duran said earlier.

Edited August 16, 2009 by hdrox88

[mrben 0]

So if the amp 1200, and my sub is dual2, that would come out to 49volts. The sundown amp was using 36, and said to make it 36, does it matter?

That amp is rated for 1200 watts at 1 ohm. You have a dual 2 ohm sub, that would be wired in parallel to create a 1 ohm load on the amp. For the calculations you use the impedance load that sub will put on the amp which is 1 ohm. That comes out to 34.6 volts. Sundown is probably recommending a tad higher at 36 volts due to the fact that the amp could put out a little over 1200 watts with the proper electrical.

Also, follow the recommendations that Duran said earlier.

Ohhh, gotchya. Forgot that step. So when I'm at 0 bass, and I can't get the 36 volts, can I turn the bass boost up a tad? Or how would I go about doing that.

[hdrox88 142]

So if the amp 1200, and my sub is dual2, that would come out to 49volts. The sundown amp was using 36, and said to make it 36, does it matter?

That amp is rated for 1200 watts at 1 ohm. You have a dual 2 ohm sub, that would be wired in parallel to create a 1 ohm load on the amp. For the calculations you use the impedance load that sub will put on the amp which is 1 ohm. That comes out to 34.6 volts. Sundown is probably recommending a tad higher at 36 volts due to the fact that the amp could put out a little over 1200 watts with the proper electrical.

Also, follow the recommendations that Duran said earlier.

Ohhh, gotchya. Forgot that step. So when I'm at 0 bass, and I can't get the 36 volts, can I turn the bass boost up a tad? Or how would I go about doing that.

If everything is set flat then you should be able to get the voltage you are looking for. Even with 2 volt preouts. What is the HU volume at? If you do have to turn up the boost, don't turn it any higher than where it was when you set everything up. When listening to it that is.

Edited August 16, 2009 by hdrox88

[mrben 0]

So if the amp 1200, and my sub is dual2, that would come out to 49volts. The sundown amp was using 36, and said to make it 36, does it matter?

That amp is rated for 1200 watts at 1 ohm. You have a dual 2 ohm sub, that would be wired in parallel to create a 1 ohm load on the amp. For the calculations you use the impedance load that sub will put on the amp which is 1 ohm. That comes out to 34.6 volts. Sundown is probably recommending a tad higher at 36 volts due to the fact that the amp could put out a little over 1200 watts with the proper electrical.

Also, follow the recommendations that Duran said earlier.

Ohhh, gotchya. Forgot that step. So when I'm at 0 bass, and I can't get the 36 volts, can I turn the bass boost up a tad? Or how would I go about doing that.

If everything is set flat then you should be able to get the voltage you are looking for. Even with 2 volt preouts. What is the HU volume at? If you do have to turn up the boost, don't turn it any higher than where it was when you set everything up. When listening to it that is.

The headunit volume goes a little over half way. If It gets any louder the factory front speakers will get to loud and start to distort.

[hdrox88 142]

So if the amp 1200, and my sub is dual2, that would come out to 49volts. The sundown amp was using 36, and said to make it 36, does it matter?

That amp is rated for 1200 watts at 1 ohm. You have a dual 2 ohm sub, that would be wired in parallel to create a 1 ohm load on the amp. For the calculations you use the impedance load that sub will put on the amp which is 1 ohm. That comes out to 34.6 volts. Sundown is probably recommending a tad higher at 36 volts due to the fact that the amp could put out a little over 1200 watts with the proper electrical.

Also, follow the recommendations that Duran said earlier.

Ohhh, gotchya. Forgot that step. So when I'm at 0 bass, and I can't get the 36 volts, can I turn the bass boost up a tad? Or how would I go about doing that.

If everything is set flat then you should be able to get the voltage you are looking for. Even with 2 volt preouts. What is the HU volume at? If you do have to turn up the boost, don't turn it any higher than where it was when you set everything up. When listening to it that is.

The headunit volume goes a little over half way. If It gets any louder the factory front speakers will get to loud and start to distort.

Aha...that is why. Yes, you will probably need to up the bass boost.

[mrben 0]

So if the amp 1200, and my sub is dual2, that would come out to 49volts. The sundown amp was using 36, and said to make it 36, does it matter?

That amp is rated for 1200 watts at 1 ohm. You have a dual 2 ohm sub, that would be wired in parallel to create a 1 ohm load on the amp. For the calculations you use the impedance load that sub will put on the amp which is 1 ohm. That comes out to 34.6 volts. Sundown is probably recommending a tad higher at 36 volts due to the fact that the amp could put out a little over 1200 watts with the proper electrical.

Also, follow the recommendations that Duran said earlier.

Ohhh, gotchya. Forgot that step. So when I'm at 0 bass, and I can't get the 36 volts, can I turn the bass boost up a tad? Or how would I go about doing that.

If everything is set flat then you should be able to get the voltage you are looking for. Even with 2 volt preouts. What is the HU volume at? If you do have to turn up the boost, don't turn it any higher than where it was when you set everything up. When listening to it that is.

The headunit volume goes a little over half way. If It gets any louder the factory front speakers will get to loud and start to distort.

Aha...that is why. Yes, you will probably need to up the bass boost.

Ok, where do I find out what hz the bass boost is at for the amp? And, will I put the gain at max, then adjust bass boost till I hit 35/36 volts?

[Duran 387]

So if the amp 1200, and my sub is dual2, that would come out to 49volts. The sundown amp was using 36, and said to make it 36, does it matter?

That amp is rated for 1200 watts at 1 ohm. You have a dual 2 ohm sub, that would be wired in parallel to create a 1 ohm load on the amp. For the calculations you use the impedance load that sub will put on the amp which is 1 ohm. That comes out to 34.6 volts. Sundown is probably recommending a tad higher at 36 volts due to the fact that the amp could put out a little over 1200 watts with the proper electrical.

Also, follow the recommendations that Duran said earlier.

Ohhh, gotchya. Forgot that step. So when I'm at 0 bass, and I can't get the 36 volts, can I turn the bass boost up a tad? Or how would I go about doing that.

If everything is set flat then you should be able to get the voltage you are looking for. Even with 2 volt preouts. What is the HU volume at? If you do have to turn up the boost, don't turn it any higher than where it was when you set everything up. When listening to it that is.

The headunit volume goes a little over half way. If It gets any louder the factory front speakers will get to loud and start to distort.

If the front speakers are on the HU adjust it so they don't distort, if they are amped get them with a DMM like you are with your sub, just a 1KHZ tone instead.

[mrben 0]

So if the amp 1200, and my sub is dual2, that would come out to 49volts. The sundown amp was using 36, and said to make it 36, does it matter?

That amp is rated for 1200 watts at 1 ohm. You have a dual 2 ohm sub, that would be wired in parallel to create a 1 ohm load on the amp. For the calculations you use the impedance load that sub will put on the amp which is 1 ohm. That comes out to 34.6 volts. Sundown is probably recommending a tad higher at 36 volts due to the fact that the amp could put out a little over 1200 watts with the proper electrical.

Also, follow the recommendations that Duran said earlier.

Ohhh, gotchya. Forgot that step. So when I'm at 0 bass, and I can't get the 36 volts, can I turn the bass boost up a tad? Or how would I go about doing that.

If everything is set flat then you should be able to get the voltage you are looking for. Even with 2 volt preouts. What is the HU volume at? If you do have to turn up the boost, don't turn it any higher than where it was when you set everything up. When listening to it that is.

The headunit volume goes a little over half way. If It gets any louder the factory front speakers will get to loud and start to distort.

If the front speakers are on the HU adjust it so they don't distort, if they are amped get them with a DMM like you are with your sub, just a 1KHZ tone instead.

They are factory amped. So theres nothing I can really do about that.

For my amp - 0 - 12 dB adjustable bass boost with 60 Hz center frequency

So I need a 60hz test tone to the the tuning?

[hdrox88 142]

So I need a 60hz test tone to the the tuning?

That should work. As far as turning the gain all the way up...that is not a good idea. If you turn you bass boost all the way up then you will just have a one note wonder. You will have to adjust the settings around a bit til you get them right. It sounds like you may want to look into a line driver, it would help a lot.

[mrben 0]

So I need a 60hz test tone to the the tuning?

That should work. As far as turning the gain all the way up...that is not a good idea. If you turn you bass boost all the way up then you will just have a one note wonder. You will have to adjust the settings around a bit til you get them right. It sounds like you may want to look into a line driver, it would help a lot.

Mess with the settings as long as you get 36, correct? Whats a line driver?

[hdrox88 142]

So I need a 60hz test tone to the the tuning?

That should work. As far as turning the gain all the way up...that is not a good idea. If you turn you bass boost all the way up then you will just have a one note wonder. You will have to adjust the settings around a bit til you get them right. It sounds like you may want to look into a line driver, it would help a lot.

Mess with the settings as long as you get 36, correct? Whats a line driver?

Yes, however, you dont have to get to 36 volts as that will be giving more than the rated rms to the sub anyway. 31.6 volts would be about 1000 watts. A line driver hooks up to the rcas between the HU and the amp and boosts up the voltage.

Edited August 16, 2009 by hdrox88

[KU40 173]

So if the amp 1200, and my sub is dual2, that would come out to 49volts. The sundown amp was using 36, and said to make it 36, does it matter?

That amp is rated for 1200 watts at 1 ohm. You have a dual 2 ohm sub, that would be wired in parallel to create a 1 ohm load on the amp. For the calculations you use the impedance load that sub will put on the amp which is 1 ohm. That comes out to 34.6 volts. Sundown is probably recommending a tad higher at 36 volts due to the fact that the amp could put out a little over 1200 watts with the proper electrical.

Also, follow the recommendations that Duran said earlier.

Ohhh, gotchya. Forgot that step. So when I'm at 0 bass, and I can't get the 36 volts, can I turn the bass boost up a tad? Or how would I go about doing that.

If everything is set flat then you should be able to get the voltage you are looking for. Even with 2 volt preouts. What is the HU volume at? If you do have to turn up the boost, don't turn it any higher than where it was when you set everything up. When listening to it that is.

The headunit volume goes a little over half way. If It gets any louder the factory front speakers will get to loud and start to distort.

Aha...that is why. Yes, you will probably need to up the bass boost.

no, do not turn up the bass boost.

On Alpine head units the subwoofer level controls the overall output of the subwoofer RCA outputs. It is not a bass boost. so when you set the gain for the amp, you'll likely want to turn this to +15. However, the "bass" setting on the head unit is just a bass boost, and it's centered at a frequency that you can set. I think the options may be 60, 80, 120, or something like that. Do NOT use this. Put it to 0.

If you use the "bass" setting, it will apply that to the interior speakers as well and just make them distort at an even lower volume level.

[hdrox88 142]

no, do not turn up the bass boost.

On Alpine head units the subwoofer level controls the overall output of the subwoofer RCA outputs. It is not a bass boost. so when you set the gain for the amp, you'll likely want to turn this to +15. However, the "bass" setting on the head unit is just a bass boost, and it's centered at a frequency that you can set. I think the options may be 60, 80, 120, or something like that. Do NOT use this. Put it to 0.

If you use the "bass" setting, it will apply that to the interior speakers as well and just make them distort at an even lower volume level.

He was talking about the bass boost on the amp. But yeah, that is a last resort thing. The sub level control...I forgot about that ^^^What he said.

[mrben 0]

no, do not turn up the bass boost.

On Alpine head units the subwoofer level controls the overall output of the subwoofer RCA outputs. It is not a bass boost. so when you set the gain for the amp, you'll likely want to turn this to +15. However, the "bass" setting on the head unit is just a bass boost, and it's centered at a frequency that you can set. I think the options may be 60, 80, 120, or something like that. Do NOT use this. Put it to 0.

If you use the "bass" setting, it will apply that to the interior speakers as well and just make them distort at an even lower volume level.

He was talking about the bass boost on the amp. But yeah, that is a last resort thing. The sub level control...I forgot about that ^^^What he said.

I already had the sub level at +15. And I would like to get everything out of the amp because I have the BP Power on it. I should have mentioned that before.

[hdrox88 142]

no, do not turn up the bass boost.

On Alpine head units the subwoofer level controls the overall output of the subwoofer RCA outputs. It is not a bass boost. so when you set the gain for the amp, you'll likely want to turn this to +15. However, the "bass" setting on the head unit is just a bass boost, and it's centered at a frequency that you can set. I think the options may be 60, 80, 120, or something like that. Do NOT use this. Put it to 0.

If you use the "bass" setting, it will apply that to the interior speakers as well and just make them distort at an even lower volume level.

He was talking about the bass boost on the amp. But yeah, that is a last resort thing. The sub level control...I forgot about that ^^^What he said.

I already had the sub level at +15. And I would like to get everything out of the amp because I have the BP Power on it. I should have mentioned that before.

If the sub level is already at max and still cant get the proper volts then you should probably get a line driver if you dont plan on upgrading you HU anytime soon.

[KU40 173]

Perhaps you should also look into highpass crossovers for you interior speakers, since I imagine the reason they can't take the power is that they're bottoming out. Cutting off low frequencies to them will allow you to turn the head unit higher and get more voltage down the line to the amps.

[///M5 2,833]

Actually since you said you wanted SQ you NEED new front speakers and an amplifier for them. That will solve the whole problem you are having. If you don't add those then you should have bought a BL as the Q isn't for you anyways. Time to start shopping.

*in the interim, perhaps that h/u has level control and you can turn down the output to the front stage

[mrben 0]

Actually since you said you wanted SQ you NEED new front speakers and an amplifier for them. That will solve the whole problem you are having. If you don't add those then you should have bought a BL as the Q isn't for you anyways. Time to start shopping.

*in the interim, perhaps that h/u has level control and you can turn down the output to the front stage

My headunit does not have an option like that, it has very little SQ options, I bought it for the Ipod interface.

I do want soundquality, but do not have the money to buy new front speakers yet.

I tuned it again today, with the gain about 1/8 turn away from max. I was able to turn the gain up a surprisingly large amount before hitting the 36. I stopped at 34 to play it safe. It is alot louder, and still sounds very good. I'm happy for now, but will save my money for a front stage.