Hi guys,

I already have the RF amp and my ed stealth box and the sq10(s4) should arrive tomorrow. I plan on using the sub in bridged mode (@ 4ohms) and I was wondering what a safe level would be to adjust the gain at so I don't blow the speaker? The birth sheet for my amp says that it puts out 534 watts rms x 1 @ 4ohms. I decided to get this speaker because I've heard so many great reviews on here about it. I currently have an old rf sub hooked up (its a 8 ohm sub) in bridged mode and the gain is at 4 and it hits really hard and I really could care less about blowing it out lol. Any advice would be great! Also, what kinda bass should I expect from this new ed speaker?

 

There are many methods to setting the gain, some better than others, but I'll just go over the quick non-technical way to do it.

1.Turn the gain control on the amp all the way down, so the sub produces no sound.
2.Turn your HU volume level to the loudest you ever use (usually where your main speakers, if HU powered, start to audibly distort).
3. Now start turning up the sub amp's gain until either a) the bass level matches your main speakers and/or b) you hear objectionable distortion from the sub.

If you listen, your ears will tell you when a speaker is in distress. At that point you can either lower the gain, lower the volume, or continue on and likely damage the speaker. You likely won't need much gain in this situation, as the SQ10 is only linear up to around 200w, and there's really not much point in giving it more than 300.

 

Thanks for your prompt response! I really appreciate it! I have the DNX8120 running all of the other speakers in my car and the loudest I can imagine that I'd ever listen to it is at volume level 25. The stock speakers still sound great at that level with that specific head unit. How would you say the sq10 will sound in there with that amp/head unit and in the stealth box? I'm guessing the gain will probably end up around 2 or 2.5 if I'm at 4 right now with an 8ohm speaker...

 

Anyone????

 

How will it sound? Compared to what? Can't say how it'd compare to what you have now, because I haven't heard your current system. Kind of an unfair question, isn't it?

Can't really guess where the appropriate gain setting will be, as it depends on the input voltage from the source, the linearity (or lack thereof) of the amp's gain control, how much power the sub can take before distorting, and the low-frequency content of the music you're playing.

It should produce more than enough bass to keep up with your main speakers, you'll just have to listen for distortion and discover the most appropriate gain setting for yourself. It's pretty safe, quick & simple, I'm sure you'll do fine.

 

The way to get your gains set properly for the sub is as follows......

first figure out how many watts you want to put to the sub......

I used 300 to my SQ10....then multiply that by the ohms you are gonna use.......4......then take the square root of that and that is how many AC volts that are gonna be needed off the sub terminals at the amp.......

Next to get the proper voltage at a steady rate burn a tone disk at 80 hz 0 decibles......Google it and you will find the site......put the cd player on auto repeat and also burn the tone that is like 15 seconds long about 10 times onthe disk.

Make sure the gains on the amp are at their lowest setting...use a voltage tester to read AC voltage onthe + and - on the sub outputs....you will probably get like 4-15 volts reading.....

Next turn your deck volume up to about 75%.......with the tone disk in or where it starts to distort at.....

turn the gain up slowly with the tone disk playing and you will see the voltage rise on the tester......when you get to the amount from your mathmatical formula you started with you are at the proper watts to the speaker......

I would not recomend putting more than 300w to the SQ10.....you can blow it up using max watts.....it is a little touchy....make sure you have your deck eq at flat and the loudness off and SLA at 0 or it iwll send a distorted signal.......always try to use the amp to set the crossover points and power into the speakers

Hope that helps.....my SQ10 sounds great......I do need to take out the false floor though and mount my amp on a differant one......I have the NINe.5 runnign everything and it pushes the sub pretty good.