Are you guys that are familiar with the RF amp setting your gains by using the little dot on the gain control button or the lines that are cut into the dial button? I'm wondering because I finally got my system back together with the amp and it doesn't seem much louder than without it. The Kenwood has something like 22 watts output so I assumed it would be MUCH louder. I have the gain set at what I believe is about 6, according to the little dot on the dial that you can barely see. I guess I really need to do the "set your amp by ear" procedure. I didn't have time to do it so I just set it at what I thought would be a good gain setting, 6 and put it all back together. All polarities are connected correctly, and I'm using the 4V pre outs.

 

Six is not enough. I say this because you have it set at 6 and its not enough...lol. Seriously though...make sure everything is hooked up properly and go ahead and turn the gain level up. And yes....use the white dot....not the ridges on the sides.

 

Thanks Eshaw. lol, I guess six isn't enough then. The main reason I'm asking is because I don't recall, ever, reading that anyone has had to go higher than 5-6 on the gain. Is this assumption incorrect? How high is too high for the gain?

 

Well, that all depends on a lot of factors. What kind of speakers are you using? I remember going up as high as 10-11 when I was pushing the kappas with that amp and I do remember that 6 was definitely not enough.

 

I run 2 PBR300X2 amps, my gain is set at 3 on both and my system rocks. I usually only turn the volume up to about 20 and you can hear it loud and clear on the highway doing 80mph and I also have loud pipes.

 

I stand corrected about 10 or 11. I meant 7 or 8. I have changed so many amps over the past few months and easily get em all confused.

 

I recently got gains adjusted properly with my DVM. I’ve got 4ohms speakers so adjusted to ~20 volts AC volt scale (100watts x4 ohms=400 take sq. root 400=20vac) at 75% volume setting. Amp gain is right about 7. I' am running RCA inputs and have HU with 4 volt pre-outs. Check out the top sticky by UltraNutz to set the gain using DVM.

 

Thanks, thats about exactly my setup. I guess I'll pull out the trusty multi meter and do it right. I'm hoping it's not too hot this weekend, if so I'll pull off the fairing again. After some more reading yesterday, on this awesome forum. ;-) I realized I probably put too much poly fill too. I did 3 layers of what I think is about 1 inch thick. so about 3x too much.

 

I typically get it to 7-8. Though you may start to hit distortion if you also crank the radio. The difference between 6 and 7 should be huge as gain adjustments are really sensitive.

 

Good to hear. each day I'm getting more encouraged that this will turn out awesome with some more gain. ;-)

I knew I was setting it on the low side. I just can't believe that at a setting of 6 out of 11, and it's about the same as the 22 watts I was getting straight from the HU?