Audio Systems Find answers to all of your stereo, speaker and other audio technology questions here.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Gain setting?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 26, 2018 | 11:07 AM
  #1  
slodsm's Avatar
slodsm
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 353
From: Tyler Tx
Default Gain setting?

This is a first for me, In car audio I've used a different method more along the lines of isolating each channel and tuning gains flat at 3/4 volume by ear for loud but clear audio and then tying them all together after each channel is set and using an EQ to get the sound I want.

With the limited area in a motorcycle as well as the wind noise vs a car, I read through a thousand threads in here and saw how you guys recommend and went to town. I'm happy with the stereo I have for now while I research and try to figure out what I want to add next BUT I had a question about using the voltmeter for gain setting. Do you tune the gain for the RMS rating of the speaker or the peak rating or somewhere in between? I set mine up at RMS and parked it's freakin ear splitting but running down the road it truly doesn't sound much louder than what I had before (head unit and a few kickers), just a more full sound. Going off of the chart with Kappa's being 2.5 ohm and the RF's being 4 ohm, I set the output voltage to 14v and the RF's to 20v to achieve what would be RMS rating of both (75w to the kappas. 100 to the punch). The sound it clear and full but not as loud as I would think. Just curious, if this is all there is, that's fine as well because it is a nice sounding stereo for now but just trying to learn something new.
 
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2018 | 11:16 AM
  #2  
Babyboy's Avatar
Babyboy
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 574
From: Lockport Illinois
Default

What year bike is this system on??
Stock or aftermarket headunit??
 
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2018 | 11:17 AM
  #3  
slodsm's Avatar
slodsm
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 353
From: Tyler Tx
Default

All in my signature. 07 Ultra, Sony m70-bt head unit, pn4.1000D amp.
 
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2018 | 11:27 AM
  #4  
Roadie13's Avatar
Roadie13
Stellar HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,718
Likes: 1,822
From: In a house
Default

150% of RMS is usually pretty safe, tweak by ear from there.
 
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2018 | 11:31 AM
  #5  
SBates08's Avatar
SBates08
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,637
Likes: 1,246
From: Lake, Ms
Default

Forget the meter and tune it by ear!!!! You've left quite a bit on the table with both speakers. The Kappas will take 150 watts if tuned correctly.
 
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2018 | 11:41 AM
  #6  
slodsm's Avatar
slodsm
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 353
From: Tyler Tx
Default

Dammit. I tried to be all scientific instead of my normal way and now I gotta take the damn thing apart again hahahahaha.

Thanks guys.
 
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2018 | 01:54 PM
  #7  
Babyboy's Avatar
Babyboy
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 574
From: Lockport Illinois
Default

Originally Posted by slodsm
All in my signature. 07 Ultra, Sony m70-bt head unit, pn4.1000D amp.
Unable to access signature vis moble app as alot of us on here use
 
Reply
Old Oct 26, 2018 | 02:20 PM
  #8  
slodsm's Avatar
slodsm
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 353
From: Tyler Tx
Default

Ah didn’t think about that. I don’t use the mobile browser on my phone, I hate that interface so I just use full site on my phone as well.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 26, 2018 | 08:30 PM
  #9  
ultra_classic's Avatar
ultra_classic
Club Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 937
Likes: 22
From: Ontario, Canada
Default

Originally Posted by slodsm
All in my signature. 07 Ultra, Sony m70-bt head unit, pn4.1000D amp.
I would like to note that some of us are using the Mobile app and some of the desktop features like post number, signature picture, signature details are omitted.

Just a friendly FYI
 
Reply
Old Oct 27, 2018 | 11:20 AM
  #10  
ssmorga78's Avatar
ssmorga78
Cruiser
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 207
Likes: 11
From: Alabama
Default

Originally Posted by slodsm
All in my signature. 07 Ultra, Sony m70-bt head unit, pn4.1000D amp.
As long as you are sure you are not getting distortion from your head unit.... you can roll that PN4.1000D up to around 23v without getting any clipping out of it if you are playing a 1000Hz test tone at 0dB. I tuned mine with a 1000Hz test tone at -5dB to get a little gain overlap and have mine set at just a touch over 25v and my system is LOUD AS *****!!! I have mine installed on a '09 Road King, running a set of PRV 6MR500's up front in lowers and Cadence XPRO69CX's in saddlebag lids feeding the full 140w to each speaker(they are all 4ohms). I can ride down the road without my windshield on around 60mph and have the volume at 2/3rds and hear loud and clear. Miss some low end, but that's to be expected in an open air environment.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:01 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE