Adjust your amplifier to achieve optimum sound quality.
To get the absolute best sound quality out of your audio equipment, you need to properly set the gain on the input signals. If your amplifier's gain is set too low, you will not be able to raise the volume beyond a defined point. If you set the gain too high, the sound quality will become clipped at a certain volume. Set your amplifier gain using a digital multimeter to obtain the optimum level of sound output.
Instructions
1. Find the power output of the amplifier by looking on the back of the amplifier or by referencing your amplifier's manual. Normally, a manufacturer expresses the power output as the number of watts per channel achievable by the amplifier. Typical values are 25W, 50W and 100W.
2. Use this equation to calculate the voltage output of the amplifier: square root of the product of the power output x resistance load of the speaker. For example, the voltage output of an amplifier rated at 50W per channel with a 4 ohm speaker is: voltage = square root (power output x speaker load) = square root (50 x 4) = square root (200) = 14.14 volts.
3. Remove the positive speaker wire. This will prevent the wires from getting crossed.
4. Make sure the amplifier is off and make the following settings on the amplifier: Turn the gain counterclockwise until it reaches zero, and turn the bass boost on or off depending on your preference.
5. Turn on the amplifier and move all equalizer settings, such as treble and bass, to zero.
6. Set the volume to approximately 90% of output. This allows a large enough range to make use of the equalizer settings without producing a clipped signal.
7. Insert the test tone CD for the range of 50 to 60 hertz. If you don't have one a test tone CD, play your favorite song.
8. Connect the digital multimeter to the output of the amplifier and adjust the gain control until you reach the voltage level that you calculated earlier. Change the gain slowly so that you don't overshoot the desired voltage.
9. Turn the volume on the amplifier down and then turn the amplifier off. Reconnect the positive lead on the speaker.
10. Turn the amplifier back on and adjust the volume to your desired level. Reset the equalization features to your particular desires.
Tags: output amplifier, power output, square root, your amplifier, sound quality, amplifier gain, digital multimeter