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J/K about the bleeding, but my ears are disappointed:

Anyway, I recently installed a Rockford Fosgate Amp that pushes 65w x 4 RMS into two 6.5" Pioneer speakers in the front, and two 6x9" Pioneers in the rear. Both pairs of speakers are 4-ways. Anyway, with the gain settings on the amp at factory default, I had low noise with the volume all the way down. So, I tried to adjust the gain using my own ears like everyone says to do it. After trying to adjust the gain, now I have more range with my volume settings, the noise is gone, but I noticed that sometimes I get a pop when the bass hits in the rear. The bass isn't as strong as i had hoped, it seems less than when the gain settings were at default position. I don't think I could have blown the speakers because they are rated at 350 max power, 80 RMS.
What do you think could be causing the pop?
Did I set the gain correctly? Should I have a professional do it?
Also, I heard that 6x9's don't really produce that much bass and that bass should be left for the subs, is this true?

Any help is greatly appreciated

 
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Four ways front and back is overkill. I never liked rears. Switch on the crossover and try driving the rears as subs. Listen to it for a few days. You might like it better.

 
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Alright, but what is causing the pop?
Do you think my speakers are damaged?

 
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that pop is clipping
you gotta turn the gain down even lower

 
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so if i turn down the gain, i will have to turn the volume up more to get more sound,
won't that cause clipping?

I want my audio to sound good with the windows down on the freeway.

 
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The gain has no effect on clipping, total power output, or anything. The gain is an adjustment to match the amplifier to any number of speakers or HU's. Basically it sets how quick changes on the volume **** increase the speakers volume.

Having the HU at 10 w/ the gains up is no different than having the volume at 20 w/ the gains down. The advantage is that you get more control over the volume. You also prevent overdriving the speakers since the volume can't go too overboard. Helpful if some fool in the car cranks the volume on you.

Having the LOUD and Bass ***** cranked up will really cause the speakers to distort quickly. Avoid these ***** as much as possible.

To set it correctly, turn the gains all the way down.
Turn up the HU to 85% of full volume.
Turn up the gains back up until things just start to distort.
Now all speakers should max out at 85% of full volume on the HU.

 
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when setting the gain,
what levels should the following be set at:
Bass: (-6 - +6)
Treble: (-6 - +6)
Loud : On/Off

normally i use the loud function for a fuller sound. Treble normally at 2-4, Bass 2-5

 
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by distort, do you mean the popping noise caused by the clipping?

 
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the gain has complete control over clipping, power output, and lots of stuff...

if the gain is low enough, he could set every **** on full, every loud function on, etc. and not clip - theres its control on clipping

again, same scenario, amp with a 0-8v sensitivity, headunit with 4v max out, gain set on 0, that amp wont put out its full power with every **** set on high - theres its control on power output.

no, it matches voltage output from the source unit to the input stage on the amp

that was once correct, but these days you have all sorts of headunits that clip, distort, do everything at levels you dont want, and you have headunits that will not clip if their life depends on it

1 - turn gain to 0, turn headunit as far up as you can before you hear distortion. then go down a notch or two, thats your max number. dont exceed it. thats where the actual headunit cant go about handling any more output.
2 - continue as regularjoe said

 
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This is totally the problem. Those ***** should be outlawed.

Loud is +10db on bass and +7db on treble, then add on 5 bass which is another 10db, and 3 treble is 6db, etc. Things are totally screwed. Thats a +20db bass and +13db treble. All that while leaving the rest of the spectrum flat.

Believe it or not its best to leave Loud off and things as flat as possible. Then if you must up the bass and treble no more than 2, 3 at the most. With 4-ways all around on an amp you shouldn't need to add any treble.

Do it this way:

To set it correctly, turn the gains all the way down.
Put the bass on +2, treble +1, and loud off.
Turn up the HU to 85% of full volume.
Turn up the front gain back up until things just start to distort.
Turn up the back gain back up until things just start to distort or the balance is good w/ the fronts .... whichever is first.
Now 85% of full volume on the HU is the new majic number to turn it up to.

Now here is key. Just leave it like this for a day or two. Give yourself a chnace to get used to it. Overall it should sound a lot better. If you still don't have enough bass .... getting a sub would be the best solution.

 
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My oversimplified explanation: “ Basically it sets how quick changes on the volume **** increase the speakers volume. ”

Ludlams technical explanation: “ no, it matches voltage output from the source unit to the input stage on the amp ”

Same end result

 
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thanks,
regularjoe

1 more thing, i guess an EQ will help to smooth out the whole freq spectrum for a better sound all around.
is this correct?

 
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Yes and no, it can help some, but it can't make your 6x9's put out crazy bass like a sub would. Overall you'd be better off getting a sub.

That way you will have the bass you want without adjusting the bass, treble, or the loud buttons.

 
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or seal up your 6*9's in the back to improve response.

i'd deaden your car before i bought an equalizer. def. some of the best results for money spent.