Anyone here good at matching gains?
Ie, in two identical amps that aren't strappable, and want to be given some more power...
If anyone can help out post or pm me, as I'm not good at this stuff, thanks.

 

Get a multimeter and turn up 1 amp until it starts to clip and turn it down slightly. Then measure the output voltage on that amp and take the second amp and match the outputs. It's pretty simple JT.

 

I know, but I don't have a multimeter...maybe I should buy a couple, lol.
Hoow much do they usually cost?

 

I think they are like $20-30, I got one for my b-day. You only need 1 man.

 

1 psssh i got 2 lol used to have 3, that was too much

just set them by ear.

turn ehad unit up 3/4 of the way for volume or untill u hear it distort.

turn up amp gain to match the level or untill subs start to distort.

your set.

 

the best way is actually with an oscilliscope but not all of us have access to one.

 

K, if someone can give me exact instructions how to do this it would be very helpful.
IE. which setting on the multimeter to put it on, (ac/v , dc/v...etc) and where exactly to put the pos and neg wires (there's three holes in the meter). I've never done this before so don't flame me for asking a simple q, and if possible, I need an answer ASAP! lol

 

Use a DIGITAL multimeter....it's more acurate than the analog one.

Also, you will NEVER get an EXACT match from both amps. The comonents in the amp are never exactly the same, therefore, you will never get anexact match. Also, as the speaker start to show thier age, you will have an imbalance in thier outputs.....also as the temperature rises and falls in the car over the summer months and winter months, it will also give you an imbalance.

This is why you ALWAYS see SPL competitors setting and resetting the outputs/inputs before each serious run. They tend to "drift' abit when pushed hard.

The best you can do is to get it as close as possible, and hope for the best.

Then check it every couple of weeks, or every week if your that ****.

 

Here, these two posts will help you out a bit. (didn't feel like typing out the way I do it.)

The first link is for the "techies".....the second is for the "newbies".

http://www.eatel.net/~amptech/elecdi...swithscope.htm

http://www.diymobilesound.com/tutori...ting_gains.htm


Remember to do ONE amp at a time......disconect the others until the first one is done....then disconnect the adjusted one, and work on the next amp.......this is a simplified way to do it.

 

Sorry if I offended anyone with the techie/newbie comment.

 

hey john if you still need to set up the abit more let me know we can meet up and ill show yah how

 

Thanks, you guys are the best. I basically figured it out this morning with some help people have been giving me. I got them pretty even which is what I was looking for. Went to the Future Shop Eastern finals in Miss. today. Lots of cars, some good some bad, with some tweaking I was able to hit a 146.4 good for 5th in my class. (up 2 db from Thursday)
Thanks for all your help and hopefully the db's will keep increasing!

 

Oh, btw Jeff, I used a tone generator to make my cd for today, but was only limited to burning 3 secs for each tone (shareware), which wasn't bad, but if you can I would rather burn a copy of your cd, thanks.

 

yeah man let me know the next comp your gona be at and ill bring it