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Hey, I know what the gain does, but i don't really understand truely what the gain is (if that makes any sense). I have read lots about it and talk to my friend about it, but it is just one of those things that doesn't make sense. I personally think that the gain is a way to set the cap on the maximum volume that your speakers can put out without distortion. I read that some people refer to it as a volume control. Others say that it is just a way to match your amps voltage to you HUs output. [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/IMG]

I am just curious about this because my components seem to sound better with the gain more then halfway up, but I have a HU that puts out 4.5 pre-amp volts (even though it probably doesn't Really put that much out, but still to have my amp half way up?). With my amp at more then halfway up my speakers start distorting at 27 (out of 35), and at 35 it gets really distorted. Which I think is the norm when setting the gain, right? I may also have to set the gains up higher because my subs probably drown out the highs and they sound muddy if I don't turn the gain up higher. For my subs I don't even bother sound checking it because my neighbors would kill me!!! [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/IMG] I just have it set to a between 2/3s of the way. This is probably to high, but I have yet to turn it up all the way, and I have my bass boost at zero. Sorry to ramble on...just want to know what everyone else's definition of the gain is? [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

 
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to my knowledge, the correct definition would be a way to match HU output to amp input... if youre a DJ, then its kinda like your trim ****...

 
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the AC voltage gain of an amp is pretty complicated... basically there is a max and min voltage that the signal can be at, and they aren't always balanced. ex: max voltage could be 8V above the input, min could be 6V below the input. SO when figuring where to set it at, consider the smaller number (in this case 6V). setting the gain too high would cause clipping of the amplifier.in this case, set the level so that you would have a swing of 6V. now figuring that swing is not really possible for us w/out knowing the internal resistances of the amplifier, so people just recommend the old using your ears, or some magical position of the gain ****, like all gain ***** are the same.

so yes it does set the maximum volume by setting up the maximum voltage gain...hope this sheds some light on the matter. tried to upload picture, but file too big.

 
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you gain like your HU volume **** is nothing more than a variable potentiometer...It controlls how much the signal it receives is amplified..

If you amplify a signal too much it loses integrity and causes clipping. With the gains set too high..your also amplifying any noise the RCA's are picking up along with the music. If you have a 20db hiss coming from your RCA's(very minor noise in cars) and your gains are all the way up..yur going to be really really amplifying that noise to the point where it can be over 90 decibels..With the gains at zero...the noise will be amplified much less..

 
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Thanks for the input yall. I was really curious as to an accurate definition of what the gain is, and you guys covered it pretty well

And also, I am not to assume that just because my amp says it is 4.5 volts that I am supposed to set the gain to the lowest setting of 4 volts? Just use my ears, right [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

 
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http://www.installer.com/tech/gains.html There ya go..gains for dummies [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]



http://www.installer.com/tech/index.html Great source for general info

 
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Thanks for the links Mohawk! [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG] I have read stuff buy Eddie Runner before, and he is so full of himself it is disgusting [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-puke.gif[/IMG]

 
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he is...but he's also fairly good at explaining things in a way that everyone can understand and grasp pretty well