Fine Tuning Amps / Speakers
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Ultimate HDF Member
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From: TEXAS
Fine Tuning Amps / Speakers
Swapped out all of my RCAs for Stinger RCAs and also changed out the speaker wire to 14 gauge (rear) and 16 gauge (fairing). With that came another required tweak of the gains.
Followed the basic tune by ear process of 75% volume and gain up till distortion that back the gain out a bit, but wondering if I should just take the sled into a shop and pay a guy with the proper tools and knowledge to get er dun.
Will there be a negligible difference using an oscilloscope or whatever the pros use?
Think I have it pretty close and have checked it at 10 feet and 100 yards w engine running and off and also 80 mph. Should I turn the damn page? The cardinal sin within my audio addiction is to pay someone to work on it, forcing me to learn about this stuff, but 300 bucks for an oscilloscope is out of the question.
Thoughts?
T.
Followed the basic tune by ear process of 75% volume and gain up till distortion that back the gain out a bit, but wondering if I should just take the sled into a shop and pay a guy with the proper tools and knowledge to get er dun.
Will there be a negligible difference using an oscilloscope or whatever the pros use?
Think I have it pretty close and have checked it at 10 feet and 100 yards w engine running and off and also 80 mph. Should I turn the damn page? The cardinal sin within my audio addiction is to pay someone to work on it, forcing me to learn about this stuff, but 300 bucks for an oscilloscope is out of the question.
Thoughts?
T.
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,150
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From: S. FL
So you could use a tool, or a pro could use a tool to determine where amps start to distort with regard to your gain settings.....this has nothing to do with your speakers, or speaker wires. An o-scope would surely do this. However, that max signal from your amp to your speakers may still require some tuning. Lets use a set of BT Pro's for example, they are rated at lets say 170w RMS with a low freq of 40hz (just going off memory here) but that doesn't mean that at 170w of undistorted signal it's going to those speakers can produce 40hz of low freqs. So even if your amp is tuned by a machine, that doesn't mean it's going to sound it's best (to your liking). If you want your speakers to produce at 40hz you may need to lower your gains to get there.
What I'm getting at it, is that fancy tools make it easier.....but you still need to adjust a few things to get the sound right. If you are happy with where you are at (and considering your BT amp is already set for you) there's no real magic an "tuner" is going to do to get THAT much more from your second amp and 6X9 inside your bags.
Turn the page brother. You nailed it already.
Find a new hobby!!!
What I'm getting at it, is that fancy tools make it easier.....but you still need to adjust a few things to get the sound right. If you are happy with where you are at (and considering your BT amp is already set for you) there's no real magic an "tuner" is going to do to get THAT much more from your second amp and 6X9 inside your bags.
Turn the page brother. You nailed it already.
Find a new hobby!!!
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2015
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From: TEXAS
Originally Posted by haze324
What I'm getting at it, is that fancy tools make it easier.....but you still need to adjust a few things to get the sound right. If you are happy with where you are at (and considering your BT amp is already set for you) there's no real magic an "tuner" is going to do to get THAT much more from your second amp and 6X9 inside your bags.
Turn the page brother. You nailed it already.
Find a new hobby!!!
In all seriousness, my ears really are in a damn good place but just want to make sure I'm not leaving anything on the table due to my tuning ignorance.
Thanks again Haze!!!
Hobby!!!! Will be mowing yards for the next 6 months to pay for all of this shix!!!!
T.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: S. FL
Wait don't get me wrong....I tune all my amps with a distortion detector tool. Using an O-scope or tool is the best way of doing it. In Tailwind's case his main amp is a BT4180 that's already set.
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From: Vancouver BC
I just went on ebay and found perfectly good O'scopes for $50, even saw brand new O'scope modules that turn your laptop into a high performance oscilloscope for $63. Anybody dabbling in audio or audio installation should, in my opinion, possess one.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Broken Bow Oklahoma
A good scope is worth the money. Mine is for commercial radio. I tuned my T400X4AD and got 548 watts. I don't think a $50 scope would compare. Mine ran me $1500
Last edited by HDSAE60; Feb 29, 2016 at 08:33 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: S. FL
Also curious how close where the clip indicator lights on the amp to the o-scope?