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Tuning Sub/Amp
- Thread starter ekaJ
- Start date
Astra GSI, 172, Golf
to be able to tune a amp you need to match it to the rest of your speakers to give a balance its not somat you can say quarter turn here half there .
the best way i find the set a sub up is to turn it of and turn the volume up as loud as you can while it stays plays clear and then adjust all your treble settings etc for your components . then turn your sub on and give enough bass to match the volume of teh trebble and mid range . then it should give you a pretty decent set up you want it on low pass filter to if you have that . and really u just need to get a feel for the settings and have a play
the best way i find the set a sub up is to turn it of and turn the volume up as loud as you can while it stays plays clear and then adjust all your treble settings etc for your components . then turn your sub on and give enough bass to match the volume of teh trebble and mid range . then it should give you a pretty decent set up you want it on low pass filter to if you have that . and really u just need to get a feel for the settings and have a play
It's not worth doing....that sub is pisshhhh! 
What else do you have, headunit/fron speakers etc etc???
In basic theory:
1, Set your headunit to flat (no bass enhancers etc etc).
2, Depending on what headunit you have, turn it upto about 3/4 (the point just before it starts to distort)
3, Set the sub to the desired crossover frequency and bass boost (preferably not much bass boost)
4, Wind the gain upto the point where it starts to distort, then wind it back down a little so it's not distorting
5, DONE!
Do this with a good quality CD that is typical of the kind of music you listen to if possible.
The crossover should be set to the lowest frequency your front speakers will play.
And the gain SHOULD NOT be used as a volume control! Set ti correctly then adjust from the headunit if you need to quieten it down.
What else do you have, headunit/fron speakers etc etc???
In basic theory:
1, Set your headunit to flat (no bass enhancers etc etc).
2, Depending on what headunit you have, turn it upto about 3/4 (the point just before it starts to distort)
3, Set the sub to the desired crossover frequency and bass boost (preferably not much bass boost)
4, Wind the gain upto the point where it starts to distort, then wind it back down a little so it's not distorting
5, DONE!
Do this with a good quality CD that is typical of the kind of music you listen to if possible.
The crossover should be set to the lowest frequency your front speakers will play.
And the gain SHOULD NOT be used as a volume control! Set ti correctly then adjust from the headunit if you need to quieten it down.
True for the cross over and bass boost, not so for the gain.
True for the cross over and bass boost, not so for the gain. And yes, the low-pass filter is essential (if it has a switchable one)
Struggler
ClioSport Club Member
Ph1 track 172
the BEST way to set it up is to get a 50hz frequency, along with other frequencies, (at 0dB)
play them at 75% headunit volume with no bass enhancements at all,
set everything on the amp to zero,
wire an oscilloscope to the output terminals on the amp,
set the scope to the correct input impedence,
slowly increase the gain on the amp until the sine wave clips,
(goes flat at the top)
reduce the gain a touch for safe measure, then make sure it does no clip on any of the frequencies, if not, then take the scope off and connect the sub.
but make sure the sub is suited to the amp.
thats how to PROPERLY set up a sub.
it is very hard to hear a clipped signal in bass waves, so be careful setting it up by hand, clip signals kill subs!
however most people never bother with that, thats only for very expensive systems.
however if you have access to an oscilloscope there's nothing stopping you!
play them at 75% headunit volume with no bass enhancements at all,
set everything on the amp to zero,
wire an oscilloscope to the output terminals on the amp,
set the scope to the correct input impedence,
slowly increase the gain on the amp until the sine wave clips,
(goes flat at the top)
reduce the gain a touch for safe measure, then make sure it does no clip on any of the frequencies, if not, then take the scope off and connect the sub.
but make sure the sub is suited to the amp.
thats how to PROPERLY set up a sub.
it is very hard to hear a clipped signal in bass waves, so be careful setting it up by hand, clip signals kill subs!
however most people never bother with that, thats only for very expensive systems.
however if you have access to an oscilloscope there's nothing stopping you!
Struggler
ClioSport Club Member
Ph1 track 172
will have to find out from the people that made them,
clip sounds almost identical to a normal signal, it just seriously over works the voice coil.
thats the best way of looking at clip, the amp can only amplify up to a certain voltage, after that, it will square off. its very hard to tell in bass, but will just sound off in normal speakers.
clip sounds almost identical to a normal signal, it just seriously over works the voice coil.
thats the best way of looking at clip, the amp can only amplify up to a certain voltage, after that, it will square off. its very hard to tell in bass, but will just sound off in normal speakers.
Stick the crossover at 70-80hz and set the gain just below half. It'll be fine...dare I say you wont notice a difference in crossover as long as it's round about the bottom end of the Renault speakers.
Personally with a FLI sub I wouldn't bother using an oscilloscope unless you can get old of one easily.
To do it properly you need a db meter and some test tones. Play the test tones and map the frequencies on a graph, do the same with the sub and try to make the frequencies level, i.e. same volume for all.
That's what I'd do at home but in a car it's harder because you have lots of noise when driving along.
Personally with a FLI sub I wouldn't bother using an oscilloscope unless you can get old of one easily.
To do it properly you need a db meter and some test tones. Play the test tones and map the frequencies on a graph, do the same with the sub and try to make the frequencies level, i.e. same volume for all.
That's what I'd do at home but in a car it's harder because you have lots of noise when driving along.
Last edited:
Thanks, what about bass boost?
The bass boost will raise certain frequencies to give more "bass" I have no idea what these frequencies are or how much they are boosted (on your amp/sub). Try it as low as it goes and then see if it's bassy enough....come back to us then! Good luck, and I hope you prefer how it sounds!
Struggler
ClioSport Club Member
Ph1 track 172
frequency response of your standard speakers is not that important really,
are you refering to the HPF settings on your headunit? if so, set it to the 70-80hz mark as said above.
personally id never use 'bass boost' its on the same shelf as a power cap for me!
will amplify some of the bass frequency completely screwing up any tuning youve done! overpower the sub and most likely running the amp into a clip without you knowing about it!
i wouldnt bother loosing too much sleep over the clip, just set it to an audible level, and youll most probs be below the clip, its only big bass systems that this kind of setting up is needed for.
are you refering to the HPF settings on your headunit? if so, set it to the 70-80hz mark as said above.
personally id never use 'bass boost' its on the same shelf as a power cap for me!
will amplify some of the bass frequency completely screwing up any tuning youve done! overpower the sub and most likely running the amp into a clip without you knowing about it!
i wouldnt bother loosing too much sleep over the clip, just set it to an audible level, and youll most probs be below the clip, its only big bass systems that this kind of setting up is needed for.
