Amplifiers
Amplifier Gain Setting
Test Tones
Free download
All amplifiers
MP3 & WAV
These tones are sine waves that provide a consistent, known signal for setting amplifier gain correctly. Use them with a multimeter or oscilloscope to match the output of your head unit to the input sensitivity of your amplifier. They work with any brand of amplifier. For the full gain setting procedure, see the amplifier gain setting guide or watch the gain setting video.
Before you start
Set all EQ, tone controls, bass boost, and crossover settings flat on your head unit before playing any test tone. Any head unit processing will affect the signal and result in an inaccurate gain setting.
50Hz Tones — Subwoofer Amplifiers
Use 50Hz tones when setting gain on a subwoofer amplifier or any low-pass channel.
50Hz Sine Wave
Subwoofer amplifier gain setting
1kHz Tones — Full Range Amplifiers
Use 1kHz tones when setting gain on a full range amplifier, 4-channel, or any high-pass channel.
1kHz Sine Wave
Full range amplifier gain setting
1kHz Left Channel
Left channel speaker check
1kHz Right Channel
Right channel speaker check
Pink Noise — Speaker Check
Use pink noise to verify all speakers are functioning correctly.
Verify all speakers are working
How to Use These Tones
These tones work with any amplifier using a multimeter to measure output voltage. See the gain setting guide for the full Ohm's Law procedure. The basic steps:
1
Disconnect speakers from the amplifier before starting.
2
Set all head unit EQ flat — no bass, treble, loudness, or processing of any kind.
3
Choose the correct tone — 50Hz for subwoofer amplifiers, 1kHz for full range channels. Choose your dBFS level based on your application.
4
Play the tone and set head unit volume to 75%.
5
Calculate your target voltage using Ohm's Law: V = √(P × R). For example, a 1,000W amp at 2Ω = √(1000 × 2) = 44.7V.
6
Connect multimeter to speaker terminals and adjust the gain until the meter reads your target voltage.
7
Reconnect speakers and slowly increase volume while listening. If you hear distortion, reduce the gain slightly.
8
If using bass boost or EQ on the amplifier, readjust gain downward after enabling those features to compensate for the increased output.
