Make it loud: Amp or HU
 

This is not a car audio question, but I more of a general audio question but it's easier for me to use car audio as an example. And please excuse my newbie terms.

A HU has a "build in amp" to pushes sound. When you want it loud, you turn it up. When you turn it up to max, sometimes you loose quality.

The main purpose of an amp to push, to "make it loud." And even that has it's limits.

So my question is (for any audio system), how does one know the perfect balance between when to turn the HU up or when to turn up the amp?

Does my question make sense?

We can use our ears to decide. But is there an general rule that audio experts would recommend?

TIA

Re: Make it loud: Amp or HU (GoLowDrew)
 

I dunno if this will answer but turn the volume up to about 3/4 the max volume of the stereo limit and adjust the amp so that it doesnt distort is that what your asking.

Re: Make it loud: Amp or HU (deerman2701)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by deerman2701 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I dunno if this will answer but turn the volume up to about 3/4 the max volume of the stereo limit and adjust the amp so that it doesnt distort is that what your asking.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes. Sounds simple I know. Thanks. Just wondering what others would do.

Re: Make it loud: Amp or HU (GoLowDrew)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GoLowDrew &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yes. Sounds simple I know. Thanks. Just wondering what others would do.</TD></TR></TABLE>Np.

Re: Make it loud: Amp or HU (GoLowDrew)
 

Ditto the above^^^

As a general rule, when adjusting the input gain on the amp, " to turn up the amp?" you should set the preamp output of the HU, " turn the HU up " at about 75%, [volume 3/4 of the way up] turn the gain up until you hear the amp "clip", [distort] then back off a little.
With a multimeter you can adjust gain more accurately...
http://mobile.jlaudio.com/supp...d=143

With either of the above ways to work properly it assumes everything else has been done properly, speaker installation, proper and adequate, [wire gauge] wiring and properly working equipment https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emwink.gif 94

Re: Make it loud: Amp or HU (fcm)
 

tuning a system takes a lot of practice to to train your ear. Mine sucked when I started 8 years ago but I feel pretty confident now when I tune a system up, that it sounds the best it can. Never use the LOUD button either, I hate that damn button....

Well the amp inside of a head unit is the size of a Lego, An amp allows you to have Clearer, and louder sound and a lower volume,


If you have a 4 Channel amp to the speakers, and you set it once, you should not have to set it again, so lets say you turned your radio up to 40. and the amp was set right, the clarity will sound as if the radio is at lets say 15, but the volume will be louder without distortion or anything like that

But with a 4 channel amp you pretty much loose all the lows and mids...

Re: (standbackimapro)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by standbackimapro &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">But with a 4 channel amp you pretty much loose all the lows and mids...</TD></TR></TABLE> What? http://is.rely.net/1-92-30008-l-au16...EFX98SjN8A.gif
Don't quit your day job, what you said made very little sense, but the above statement makes no sense at all, and is incorrect. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...es/emdgust.gif 94

Re: (standbackimapro)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by standbackimapro &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
But with a 4 channel amp you pretty much loose all the lows and mids...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Now I've read everything... For a "pro", you don't appear to have a clue.

Re: Make it loud: Amp or HU (GoLowDrew)
 

Would the same rule apply to PC power audio source? PC and external powered speakers.

Re: Make it loud: Amp or HU (GoLowDrew)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GoLowDrew &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Would the same rule apply to PC power audio source? PC and external powered speakers.</TD></TR></TABLE>What rule, and who are you asking? http://is.rely.net/1-92-30008-l-au16...EFX98SjN8A.gif 94

Re: Make it loud: Amp or HU (fcm)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fcm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ditto the above^^^

As a general rule, when adjusting the input gain on the amp, " to turn up the amp?" you should set the preamp output of the HU, " turn the HU up " at about 75%, [volume 3/4 of the way up] turn the gain up until you hear the amp "clip", [distort] then back off a little.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

So do I turn the volume on my PC at 75% (input), if I'm using the external speakers to adjust my volume?

Re: Make it loud: Amp or HU (GoLowDrew)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GoLowDrew &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

So do I turn the volume on my PC at 75% (input), if I'm using the external speakers to adjust my volume?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Really your preference... Personally I would turn the PC volume up 100%, and adjust the volume on the speakers instead.

Re: Make it loud: Amp or HU (JDM_Ej)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDM_Ej &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Really your preference... Personally I would turn the PC volume up 100%, and adjust the volume on the speakers instead.</TD></TR></TABLE>

same here

Re: Make it loud: Amp or HU (GoLowDrew)
 

Set the volume of the source, [in your case the PC] to about 75% adjust the gain on the amp, [in your case amplified speaker system] for best sound, then use the volume control on the PC to set preferred levels. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emwink.gif 94

the correct way to tune a system is with audio equipment specifically you need an oscilloscope to see when clipping occurs.

Take a look at this.
http://www.termpro.com/articles/levelset.html

Re: (sqsi)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sqsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Take a look at this.
http://www.termpro.com/articles/levelset.html
</TD></TR></TABLE>LOL, a scope, yea just run out and pick one up. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...es/emdgust.gif 94