How do i set the Gain control, Low pass filter control and bass boost on my amp?

Question

I have a Pioneer 7300 M mono channel amp, i want the best quality of bass. my sub woofer is Alpine type E.

Answer 1

A method I use to set the low pass level on low-end systems:

- Start by turning it all the way up. This way you are passing the most amount of signal to the subwoofer.

- Now listen to a bunch of test tones around the crossover range (~60Hz - 150Hz). Make a lot of them and get as little separation between them as possible (ie every 5Hz or 10Hz).

- Sit down in your listening position, close your eyes, and start from the 60Hz test tone. What you are listening for is whether or not you can hear where the tone is coming from. As you step up in the frequency you will begin to be able to tell better and better that its coming from the direction of the subs. This is a starting point for where you want to set your low pass filter.

However, you also want to figure out the lowest frequency your fronts can produce cleanly. Set the high-pass filter on your fronts to prevent anything lower from getting to them and then tweak the low pass on your subs up to fill in the gap.

---- Basically ... set your low pass on your subs low enough so you can't tell that any sound is coming from your subs.

Set your high pass on your fronts high enough so they don't distort or try to produce any sound which your subs are already producing.

Answer 2

First you'll want to turn off all the bass boost and other eq'ing options on your HU and any other processors you have.  Turn the gain on your amp all the way down (turn it as far to the left as it will go).  Now you'll want to turn your HU up to about 3/4 volume, or at what point it distorts, if you happen to know what that is.  Usually around 3/4 volume.  Now you'll start to turn the gain up on the amp until the sub sounds like it's distorting, then back it off a touch.  

That's the non technical way.  If you want to be much more accurate with it, you'll need test tones, a DMM and even an O-scope if you're willing to go so far.  But that should get you there.  

Oh, also, on setting the low pass filter, I prefer 80 hz on the average system.  On my own systems I drop it down to about 60 hz.  For you I'd say 80 or so though.

Happy tuning.

Answer 3

Set the head unit to your normal listening leave.   Set your LP X-over in the 68-80hz range (depends on preference, just put it were it sounds best to you).  Turn bass boost off, and start with the gains all the way down.   Slowly turn the gain up until you hear distortion or clipping.  When you hear this, turn the gain down 1/8 or 1/4 turn.   Thats the easiest way but not the best.   Your next best option is a dmm.   Just play a 60hz tone and adjust the gain to desired voltage.   The best and most accurate way is with an o-scope.  Just turn up your gains until the signal starts to clip (sqaure off), and back it off slightly until the signal is clean.