Help, First time tuning sound system, some pointers please.

[Burto89]

Ok guys well recently I installed a sound system in my ute consisting of:

Option Audio OAX502 500wrms mono amp, OAA160 2x160wrms two channel amp, PolkAdio DB series 6.5" Component System DB6501, Option Audio OA12SM sub and JVC KW-AVX826 head unit.

The install was a complete success and I have sound coming out of all speakers, but of course its not perfect as nothing has been tuned!

Just chasing some pointers or a step by step to tuning my sub and splits....

I know you have to match the Frequency responses eg. my sub takes 10-180, but do I dial that frequency in first then the gain? also my mono amp has a sub frequency dial to tune out 10-50....? do i use this or what.

Well any info from you guys would be helpful,

Cheers

[HCVP]

Allrighty, because you have a sub, you would want to run your fronts on a HPF (high pass filter) to releive them from their bass duties. How high you run your HPF, will depend on the quality of the speakers, and how loud you want them to play, and also a bit to do with your listening preferences. The higher you set it, the more low fq's you are stopping from going to them. But set it too high, and you will have a fq gap between your sub and your front speakers.

A good starting point would be somewhere between 80-100hz.

Once you have set your HPF, it's time to dial in your gain settings. Without getting too complicated, i'd suggest setting your headunit to about 3/4 volume, then adjust your amp's gain setting until your speakers begin to distort, (be careful here not to let them distort too much, first sign of audible distortion and you need to stop) then back off the gain just slightly to be on the safe side.

Set the freqeuncy filter on the sub to around the same as your fronts, and follow the same procedure with the gain as listed above. Ideally you want your sub to reach its full performance at the same volume level on the head unit as when you set your fronts. So eg if it was volume 37, then tune the sub at volume 37 also.

Last piece of advice, i find it best to disconnect either the fronts, or the sub, and then tune them one at a time, allowing you to focus in a little more on what your hearing. Because your not familiar with car audio, i would write all your settings down somewhere once you achieve something you are happy with. If at any time you disconect the battery, you will lose all your settings, so it could help if you have something you can refer back to.

Hopefully i didn't make that too complicated, i'd rather give you less info and you achieve something than get too technical and you can't understand or make anything of what i have said.

( a bit off topic) - Because you did the install yourself, and are fairly new to this, might i suggest taking a few pictures also of your work, and post them up. There may be something we might see whch we could advise you on, some improvements you could make ect, or maybe even something thats just out of place.

[Burto89]

HCVP thanks alot mate! Also should mention I have a fluke multimeter here.... does anyone know the nominal volts for my amps?

Cheers