How to Set Amp Gain with O-Scope | Part 3 of 3

Learn how to set the gain on your amplifier using an oscilloscope (also called an O-Scope)! In this video we teach you how you can set your gain the professional way by using an oscilloscope to visually see the clipped signal. The goal is to properly set your gain on your car amp without any clipping or distortion, which can damage or destroy your car audio system. This is a must for tuning any car audio system.

How to Set Gain Series:

Make sure to watch the other videos in the series to learn about other ways to set your gain, as well as check your gain to make sure that it is properly set.

[SonicElectronix]

When you add bass boost you will start clipping the signal. Play your music at the volume you want and with an O-Scope, turn up the bass boost and see where it clips the signal at. Bass boost should rarely be used, to be honest. It is known as the "Amp Killer"

[SonicElectronix]

We will add it to the list, thank you HAMMERHCA!

[boris]

Question. If the gain is set too high to the point its clipping the wave, will it only do this when the volume is turned up quite loud on the head unit, or could you turn down the volume on the head unit and the clipping goes away, or is that wave constantly clipped even at lower volumes?

[bcrack-sujz]

How do u set the oscope i got one but cant figure how to use it no noe can tell me how to set the oscope itsself

[CJT]

Okay this is cool but here's my question. And don't attack me with negative comments. You don't know until you ask, this is how to get a perfect gain setting, but what about the perfect frequency setting? I know you can play it by ear somewhat but is the a device that takes the guess-work out of that as well?

[DavidGarcia-pnik]

Do you have your oscilloscope set to read ac or doc volts? And how do you set the other knobs like frequency and eq?

[benjix]

Great video well how do you set bass boost after this stage by ear or is there no way of telling?

[Aarn]

how do you know when your head unit clips the signal to the amplifier??

[SonicElectronix]

JBL does make quality amps and they are CEA-2006 compliant.

[SonicElectronix]

Same concept as we showed here. Connect an O-Scope or SMD DD-1 to the headunit RCA output and slowly turn the volume up. Once it shows clipping, you know you shouldn't pass that volume level.

[craig]

i just borrowed one from work, but what setting does it need to be on?

[gabzor]

you should have one with a dimm too :D thanks for the videos though very helpful! props to you

[javybusa]

How do you do this for mids and highs by ear? Im getting hizz noise on volume 1. But not on mute or after volume level 2.

[trev]

I have a powerbass sta-10 and it has a built in amp amd no output to connect a oscope to, what would be the best way to set the gain on a unit like this

[KINGIJANNEE]

what settings you use in o-scope? i got same o-scope and there is way too many settings

[SonicElectronix]

You will run the risk of clipping your output signal, thus also running the risk of blowing your amp, subs, or speakers.

[esmokebaby]

Will i use a 40hrz tone for mids and highs as well

[acuratyper]

get a smd dd-1, its much easier to use, theres a video of it in the description.

[Osurielp]

so what happends if you go over 3/4 of the volume in your head unit? like if you go all the way up what is gonna happen?

[outkast]

Wouldn't the wave change when under load?