Amplifier Tuning Help

[drisso88]

So new stereo setup is installed, now on to the fun part..... tuning. I think I understand the basics after some YouTube videos, but would like to get some feedback from someone who has more experience than me. Including pictures of everything so that you can see what I'm working with and where my thought process is. Not trying to buy and tuning devices, just want to get it as good as I can by ear without damaging parts, so here goes.

I have the 255 FSH, and replaced the stock 6.5's with Kickers, specs below.


Powering those speakers is a Kicker 6 channel, specs and controls below.



I'm only using Amp 1 for inputs, because each of the 6 is getting the same exact inputs and I want them as 1 zone. I don't know what to set the "input level" knob to, so advice there would be great. For amp 1 settings, I think I just set my volume to 75-80% and turn the gain up until the music distorts, then back off a little. My understanding of the freq setting is the I should set the x-over to "HP" and because of the specs of the speaker, set it to 35 hz. Is that correct?

Next on to the 8" tower speakers


and 10" subwoofer


Both of these are powered by a 4 channel amp, specs and settings below



The 8" tower speakers will be zone 1, and the sub zone 2.

I'm a little lost on what to do with the tower speakers. Being that they are larger than the 6.5's, I would think they have the capability to go full range, but looking for input on that. Since this amp only goes down to 32 hz and the speakers are rated for 30, I believe I leave that all the way down. Same process as the 6.5's in regard to gain.

For the sub, same process on the gain. Set to LPF, and turn freq all the way up since the sub is rated for 500 and this amp only goes to 320. Side note- I bridged 2 channels on this amp for the sub and I am aware that the sub is rated for 400W RMS and that bridging puts out 440W RMS. Definitely don't want to blow the sub, so thinking maybe back the gain off a little more than I do on the other speakers. Thoughts?

I know it was a long post, but hopefully I provided all the info for some good input. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!!!

 

[Btsnhos]

Use chat GPT it will tell you. That’s what I did, sounds great.

 

[drisso88]

Use chat GPT it will tell you. That’s what I did, sounds great.

What parameters/prompt did you give it?

 

[AZMark]

I’m not an expert but you should read more on setting the crossover filters. You don’t want your sub crossover anywhere near 320 or 500 and your cabin & towers will also probably perform better at least somewhat higher than their rated minimum response of 30 - 35.

Probably closer to 80 on each of those, maybe 60 on the towers.

 

[Btsnhos]

What parameters/prompt did you give it?

Basics of the setup and a photo of the amp. It gave me the basic tunes and I adjusted each one from there, the hardest for me is the sub it was either no bass or all bass

 

[drisso88]

I’m not an expert but you should read more on setting the crossover filters. You don’t want your sub crossover anywhere near 320 or 500 and your cabin & towers will also probably perform better at least somewhat higher than their rated minimum response of 30 - 35.

Probably closer to 80 on each of those, maybe 60 on the towers.

Yeah I’ve done a lot of research since posting this a couple months ago. I think I’m pretty dialed in at this point!

 

[drisso88]

Basics of the setup and a photo of the amp. It gave me the basic tunes and I adjusted each one from there, the hardest for me is the sub it was either no bass or all bass

I gave it the model numbers of the amp and subwoofer and told it what I wanted to do. On the sub I ended up at about 75% gain, 80 hz, bass boost to +6db, and LPF

 

[Cambo]

The biggest problem with these boat systems is they need to be adjusted by zones its not set it and forget it especially with everything amplified. A perfect example of this is listing to 70s rock then go and put some newer music on that has all types of bass enhancements you need to be able to quickly adjust the bass frequency response and bass volume to balance it out. The best way to accomplish both of these things is with EQs it will take one pre amp and split it to front rear and sub . For the boat front can be the tower and rear can be the cabin speakers. Car audio guys don't understand boats and marine guys don't understand audio equipment and who ever installed yours sent it out with out being tuned ? I can sit at the beach turn down all the cabin speakers then turn up the tower subs and swim deck speakers. To try and change anything in the head unit like treble and base is annoying, difficult and not linear. This is my 4th boat system and after the first I realized the eq can maximize and improve the efficiency of the sound.

 

[drisso88]

The biggest problem with these boat systems is they need to be adjusted by zones its not set it and forget it especially with everything amplified. A perfect example of this is listing to 70s rock then go and put some newer music on that has all types of bass enhancements you need to be able to quickly adjust the bass frequency response and bass volume to balance it out. The best way to accomplish both of these things is with EQs it will take one pre amp and split it to front rear and sub . For the boat front can be the tower and rear can be the cabin speakers. Car audio guys don't understand boats and marine guys don't understand audio equipment and who ever installed yours sent it out with out being tuned ? I can sit at the beach turn down all the cabin speakers then turn up the tower subs and swim deck speakers. To try and change anything in the head unit like treble and base is annoying, difficult and not linear. This is my 4th boat system and after the first I realized the eq can maximize and improve the efficiency of the sound.




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I installed it, which is why I was looking for amp advice. I already have 2 zones, one is my 6.5’s and one is my tower speakers. I can easily use one or the other or both. I can use the head unit to switch some EQ on the fly, but still needed to have base settings on the amp as a 90% solution.

 

[AZMark]

Yeah I’ve done a lot of research since posting this a couple months ago. I think I’m pretty dialed in at this point!

Great! I didn’t notice the date of your original post. Sorry you didn’t get more responses back then.

 

[Btsnhos]

I gave it the model numbers of the amp and subwoofer and told it what I wanted to do. On the sub I ended up at about 75% gain, 80 hz, bass boost to +6db, and LPF

Nice. How does it sound?