Gain Setting Question
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,686
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Gain Setting Question
Voltage = square root of Watts x Ohms
My B52 is rated at 200 Watts @ 4 Ohms and 250 Watts @ 2 Ohms
Why do all the voltage calculation examples for odd impedance speakers, 2.7 for example, always show the 2 Ohm Watts X 2 Ohm, why not 4 Ohm Watts X 4 Ohms? Neither one is accurate. If 2 Ohms is 250 Watts and 4 Ohms is 200 Watts, then 2.7 is somewhere in the middle, so I assume that one calculation would be too high, the other too low?? In this example wouldnt you calculate the voltage both ways and split the difference?
Jim
My B52 is rated at 200 Watts @ 4 Ohms and 250 Watts @ 2 Ohms
Why do all the voltage calculation examples for odd impedance speakers, 2.7 for example, always show the 2 Ohm Watts X 2 Ohm, why not 4 Ohm Watts X 4 Ohms? Neither one is accurate. If 2 Ohms is 250 Watts and 4 Ohms is 200 Watts, then 2.7 is somewhere in the middle, so I assume that one calculation would be too high, the other too low?? In this example wouldnt you calculate the voltage both ways and split the difference?
Jim
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 574
From: Lockport Illinois
Voltage = square root of Watts x Ohms
My B52 is rated at 200 Watts @ 4 Ohms and 250 Watts @ 2 Ohms
Why do all the voltage calculation examples for odd impedance speakers, 2.7 for example, always show the 2 Ohm Watts X 2 Ohm, why not 4 Ohm Watts X 4 Ohms? Neither one is accurate. If 2 Ohms is 250 Watts and 4 Ohms is 200 Watts, then 2.7 is somewhere in the middle, so I assume that one calculation would be too high, the other too low?? In this example wouldnt you calculate the voltage both ways and split the difference?
Jim
My B52 is rated at 200 Watts @ 4 Ohms and 250 Watts @ 2 Ohms
Why do all the voltage calculation examples for odd impedance speakers, 2.7 for example, always show the 2 Ohm Watts X 2 Ohm, why not 4 Ohm Watts X 4 Ohms? Neither one is accurate. If 2 Ohms is 250 Watts and 4 Ohms is 200 Watts, then 2.7 is somewhere in the middle, so I assume that one calculation would be too high, the other too low?? In this example wouldnt you calculate the voltage both ways and split the difference?
Jim
https://www.rapidtables.com/calc/ele...alculator.html
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 123
From: Sussex, WI
you want to set to what the speaker can handle not what the max output of the amp is. If the speaker is only rated 100w rms then 200 or 250 would be way to high. Plus, it's only a starting point and shouldnt be your final setting
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Originally Posted by USAproud
you want to set to what the speaker can handle not what the max output of the amp is. If the speaker is only rated 100w rms then 200 or 250 would be way to high. Plus, it's only a starting point and shouldnt be your final setting
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,440
Likes: 185
From: Fond du Lac WI
Why would you set your amp to max output without knowing what your speakers can handle. Use the chart in that sticky its very helpful. Figure out what you want to send to your speakers on left hand side. What ohm they will be receiving on top and follow down thats what younger your gain output to. Then after that tune by ear.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,625
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From: Black River Falls, WI.
And the tune by ear is the part that I bank on. In the long run, like USA says. It's simply a starting point.
Kris
Kris
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
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From: Lake, Ms
Using a DMM has fried more **** than you can imagine when using one to set gains as a complete Noob to Audio. Always set by ear until you have a good feel for what you're doing. Your ears will tell you when it's not right versus trusting a meter reading.
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 173
Likes: 3
From: Deer Park Texas
So lets say you want to know what your voltage setting should be to obtain 100 watts to the speaker with a volt meter the your looking at Voltage = Square root of 100 Watts * 2.7 Ohms which would be Voltage = 10 * 2.7Ohms so Voltage to your speakers would need to be 27 Volts as a starting point
I personally depending on the speaker would start a % of Full RMS watts and then as everyone has said finish tuning by ear when you hear distortion back up a bit on your gains
