Correct 1000hz test tone for setting gain
#1
03-04-2022, 08:03 PM
#4
03-05-2022, 04:05 PM
Road Warrior
Music is not recorded at 0 db. It very rarely (if ever) hits 0 sustained on playback. Remember that music is dynamic in both frequency and level. If you are going to use a single frequency at a static level to set gains then 1K Hz at -5 db is a good test tone for setting mids.
#5
03-06-2022, 05:42 AM
Cruiser
#6
03-06-2022, 06:33 AM
Music is not recorded at 0 db. It very rarely (if ever) hits 0 sustained on playback. Remember that music is dynamic in both frequency and level. If you are going to use a single frequency at a static level to set gains then 1K Hz at -5 db is a good test tone for setting mids.
Intuitively I would think setting it at -5 may get some more volume but that may be wrong.
#7
03-07-2022, 01:53 AM
Road Warrior
The level of the test tone used in setting gains does not affect the sound quality. It does play a roll in how loud a specific song will sound at a given volume setting on the HU. If you set the gains using a -5db tone a song will sound louder than when played on the same system where you used a 0db tone to set the gains.
As music is recorded at levels averaging around -5db and lower you are, in effect, getting more from your amp when setting gains using -5db tones. If you want to play it safe and never see any clipping at all when playing music then use 0db tones. It'll act as a bit of a safety net and yes, you'll be leaving some headroom on the table. If you are ok with transient spikes in level causing the amp to clip you could try using -10db tones (unless it's a very bass-heavy tune you'll typically not hear the clipping distortion and your speakers won't suffer as the transient spikes are so brief)...but I don't recommend this if you typically always have the volume cranked on your HU.
As music is recorded at levels averaging around -5db and lower you are, in effect, getting more from your amp when setting gains using -5db tones. If you want to play it safe and never see any clipping at all when playing music then use 0db tones. It'll act as a bit of a safety net and yes, you'll be leaving some headroom on the table. If you are ok with transient spikes in level causing the amp to clip you could try using -10db tones (unless it's a very bass-heavy tune you'll typically not hear the clipping distortion and your speakers won't suffer as the transient spikes are so brief)...but I don't recommend this if you typically always have the volume cranked on your HU.
Last edited by hamah; 03-07-2022 at 02:11 AM.
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#8
03-07-2022, 05:41 AM
The level of the test tone used in setting gains does not affect the sound quality. It does play a roll in how loud a specific song will sound at a given volume setting on the HU. If you set the gains using a -5db tone a song will sound louder than when played on the same system where you used a 0db tone to set the gains.
As music is recorded at levels averaging around -5db and lower you are, in effect, getting more from your amp when setting gains using -5db tones. If you want to play it safe and never see any clipping at all when playing music then use 0db tones. It'll act as a bit of a safety net and yes, you'll be leaving some headroom on the table. If you are ok with transient spikes in level causing the amp to clip you could try using -10db tones (unless it's a very bass-heavy tune you'll typically not hear the clipping distortion and your speakers won't suffer as the transient spikes are so brief)...but I don't recommend this if you typically always have the volume cranked on your HU.
As music is recorded at levels averaging around -5db and lower you are, in effect, getting more from your amp when setting gains using -5db tones. If you want to play it safe and never see any clipping at all when playing music then use 0db tones. It'll act as a bit of a safety net and yes, you'll be leaving some headroom on the table. If you are ok with transient spikes in level causing the amp to clip you could try using -10db tones (unless it's a very bass-heavy tune you'll typically not hear the clipping distortion and your speakers won't suffer as the transient spikes are so brief)...but I don't recommend this if you typically always have the volume cranked on your HU.
#9
03-07-2022, 09:33 AM
Seasoned HDF Member