Kicker ZX amp controls

Question

I have a Kicker ZX 350.4 amplifier with 180 watt Polk speakers for front and rear. I have a Sony 208 watt head unit (52x4). Circuit City installed everything for me but I think they left the amplifier at factory settings. What exactly does Gain Control and Bass Boost do? Does the gain control increase the power output on my speakers if I have it on a certain valume? I have a Zune hooked up and I leave the volume on 10 so will increasing the gain control increase the power on the speakers if left at volume 10 and make them louder?

Answer 1

i would leave the bass boost alone if you don't have some bass blockers installed http://www.crutchfield.com/g_761/Bass-Bl...

and the gain is your "input sensitivity setting" its not power or volume, its used to maximize clean signal strength from your amp to your speakers so that you dont send them a distorted signal (becasue distortion is the main cause of speaker damage)--- it NEEDS to be set correctly so that you dont damage your speakers and/or your amp

here's how

Set the input sensitivity controls of your amplifier to their minimum level (counter clockwise).

Put in a CD and turn the receiver's volume control up (you might have to raise the amp's gain just a bit to hear the music).

When you hear distortion, stop. Turn the volume down until it disappears. As much signal as possible is passing from the receiver to the amp. This maximizes the signal-to-noise ratio, and leaves your system less prone to engine noise problems. Keep the volume setting here.

Now turn the gain controls on the amplifier up until it's as loud as you'll play it. If you hear distortion, slightly decrease the gain settings.

Now you've optimized the amp's output with the receiver's volume set near maximum. You can turn the volume almost all the way up and not damage your speakers or amplify distortion. If you're hooking up a subwoofer, a test disc (or bass-heavy CD) is helpful for making final adjustments.

so it may not make them louder if its up high, or make them quieter either--- dont worry about where the dial is set when you are finished just LISTEN to the sound quality