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Gain settings and speaker buzzing

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Old Feb 27, 2018 | 10:32 AM
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Default Gain settings and speaker buzzing

Installed amp. 8 gauge wire all the way to batter. I looked at the sticky for gain adjustment. It looks like my Cerwin Vega B52 amp has a voltage of 44.7 according to the chart. I turned volume on HU to 3/4 and adjusted gain. Doesn’t go past 37 or 38 when the **** is at about 1 o’clock. So I turned know down just to where it started dropping the voltage. Which is about 12 oclock. Backed off a little more to 11. But now with MP3 player on pause I get that hiss sound. Like a record player waiting to be played. And with radio off I get buzzing in speakers. So I backed off till the buzzing was tolerable. So now gain is at 9 o’clock. Haven’t had a chance to ride it yet to see if that will suffice but seems loud enough. I’ve tried ground in different places. Neck, triple tree. Nothing changes. Any thoughts? Am I missing something? Maybe the stock head unit just sucks? I attached pics of current setup.


 
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Old Feb 27, 2018 | 10:55 AM
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Also if I’m using 2ohm speakers, the way I understand it is the wires on the left are for one speaker and the wires on the right are for the other?
 
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Old Feb 27, 2018 | 10:55 AM
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Not sure where you got the 44vac from but that is waaaaay high. Is the gain in the pic at 9 or 3 o'clock? Looks to me like 3 which is way too far. If you back it off to the left is it a 1/4 turn or 3/4 to the stop?
 
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Old Feb 27, 2018 | 11:04 AM
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When looking at the chart do I use max power rating 1000w or Rms rating 500w?
 
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Old Feb 27, 2018 | 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Fblo1690
Also if I’m using 2ohm speakers, the way I understand it is the wires on the left are for one speaker and the wires on the right are for the other?
It doesn't matter if using 2 ohm or 4 ohm. On the output of that amp looking at the output plug as it plugs into the amp. top left is right side -, bottom left is right side+. Top right is left side + and bottom right is the left -. Follow the wires to the speakers and make sure positive and negative are correct. Also 20-23 volts what you should run and not 44. When looking at the chart the numbers are per channel not total watts. The b-52 is 250 per channel at 2 ohms and 200 per channel at 4 ohms according to the specs.
 

Last edited by travelingypsye; Feb 27, 2018 at 11:17 AM.
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Old Feb 27, 2018 | 11:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Outkast6991
Not sure where you got the 44vac from but that is waaaaay high. Is the gain in the pic at 9 or 3 o'clock? Looks to me like 3 which is way too far. If you back it off to the left is it a 1/4 turn or 3/4 to the stop?
so the **** is at 9 oclock. i turned it down enough until the feedback stopped through the speakers. not sure what voltage is right there.
 
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Old Feb 27, 2018 | 11:29 AM
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No disrespect to anyone here, especially the OP, but this is why I NEVER suggest setting gains with a DMM to an audio newb!!!!!
Set your gains the old school way. Turn gains all the way down, set treble and base to neutral, turn radio up to 3/4 volume and adjust gains until you hear distortion and back off a bit.
Also, run your ground to the battery. Not on the neck or triple tree.
 

Last edited by SBates08; Feb 27, 2018 at 11:31 AM.
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Old Feb 27, 2018 | 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by travelingypsye
It doesn't matter if using 2 ohm or 4 ohm. On the output of that amp looking at the output plug as it plugs into the amp. top left is right side -, bottom left is right side+. Top right is left side + and bottom right is the left -. Follow the wires to the speakers and make sure positive and negative are correct. Also 20-23 volts what you should run and not 44. When looking at the chart the numbers are per channel not total watts. The b-52 is 250 per channel at 2 ohms and 200 per channel at 4 ohms according to the specs.
ok so i misread the chart. im not a stereo guy at all. lol. So i need to turn my volume to 3/4 and adjust gain till 22.4 looks like?

so another question. whats the point of all that room left on the gain adjustment? would i benefit from upgrading speakers? Or is the issue the Factory head unit?
 
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Old Feb 27, 2018 | 11:33 AM
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Originally Posted by SBates08
No disrespect to anyone here, especially the OP, but this is why I NEVER suggest setting gains with a DMM to an audio newb!!!!!
Set your gains the old school way. Turn gains all the way down, set treble and base to neutral, turn radio up to 3/4 volume and adjust gains until you hear distortion and back off a bit.
Also, run your ground to the battery. Not on the neck or triple tree.
I see that now. Yup old school works best here.
 
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Old Feb 27, 2018 | 11:37 AM
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Originally Posted by SBates08
No disrespect to anyone here, especially the OP, but this is why I NEVER suggest setting gains with a DMM to an audio newb!!!!!
Set your gains the old school way. Turn gains all the way down, set treble and base to neutral, turn radio up to 3/4 volume and adjust gains until you hear distortion and back off a bit.
Also, run your ground to the battery. Not on the neck or triple tree.
Ground is all the way to the battery. I tried the old school way. I dont have an ear for that. ima technical guy. id rather use the meter. no offense.
 

Last edited by Fblo1690; Feb 27, 2018 at 11:44 AM.
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