SETTING UP SYSTEMS AFTER INSTALLATION FOR BEST PERFORMANCE
6
General:
At this point you are ready to get more specific on the settings for your amplifier.
Subsonic:
This setting acts as a low frequency cut off for your system bass reproduction. The point that you set it at cuts off any frequencies from reproduction
beyond this point. The 12 o’clock position is a great starting point. EXAMPLE: If you adjust the Subsonic to 25Hz, the amplifier will not play
frequencies below 25Hz but will play frequencies from 25Hz to the chosen Low Pass frequency.
Bass EQ:
This setting is a fixed bass boost at 45Hz that is variable from 0-10dB. This feature provides impact to your bass, but if not adjusted correctly, it can
be over used and cause damage to your subwoofers and amplifiers. It is best to slowly turn this setting clockwise until the desired punch is felt. It is
not recommended to exceed the 12 o’clock position unless listening at a low volume or a low recording quality as this can result in high distortion and
possibly clipping.
Low Pass:
The Low Pass control acts as a ceiling and doesn’t allow frequencies to the right of the desired setting to be reproduced. The 12 o’clock position is a
great starting point. EXAMPLE: If you adjust the Low Pass to 80Hz, the amplifier will not play frequencies above 80Hz but will play frequencies from
80Hz to the chosen Subsonic frequency.
Phase:
The variable Phase adjustment allows you to change the relative time that the waveform meets your ear. With standard subwoofer installations
where the subwoofer is behind you, the Phase should generally be at 0. When subwoofers or woofers are in the kick panels or door panels, the
Phase adjustment is useful in delaying the timing of the wave meeting your ear by adjusting the potentiometer to 180 degrees.
Level Control Setup:
Ensure that the Level is turned completely to the left prior to turning the system on. Next you should insert a CD or cassette that you are familiar with
to use as a reference, and turn the head unit volume control to about 80% of its full setting. The system sound level will of course be very low, and
the following procedures will help you to match the amplifier input sensitivities properly to the head unit output signal level.
It is important to match the amplifier
LEVEL
input sensitivity to the Radio/CD output sensitivity. This can be located in the Radio/CD manual.
If the Radio/CD output sensitivity is 2 volts, then adjust the amplifier
LEVEL
input to 2 volts.
If you are not sure what the Radio output sensitivity is, follow these general guide lines:
Turn the level control up slowly, till you hear distortion, then back off a few degrees on the control. If at any point your amplifier goes into protection,
you will need to turn the Level to the left a bit and then try again. If you reach a point where the output does not increase, stop turning the Level
control to the right as the amplifier/subwoofer combo has reached its maxx output in this application.
