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Maximize amp power with gain overlap! #setyourgains @meade916

DIY Audio Guy

57,254 views

In this video we answer the age-old question, what exactly is Gain Overlap and How do you use test tones to set your gain? I also show how different test tones and overlaps look on both an Oscilloscope and an SMD DD1+.

Links* to products used in the video
Oscilloscope: https://lasso.to/amazon/RLAb4B2g3Q/20...
DD1+: https://lddy.no/14doe

Amplifier: https://lasso.to/amazon/lMo3zMMnA3/20...
Subwoofer: https://lddy.no/133e7

If you need a coupon code to use at Parts Express you can find one at my blog: https://www.diysubwoofer.net

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Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:08 Music Recording Levels Explained
2:23 Gain Overlap Explained
4:02 Test Tones Explained
6:28 Overlaps with an SMD DD1+
8:03 The Math Tax

*As an amazon associate marketer I may earn a small commission on qualified purchases. As an affiliate marketer I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase at Parts Express, Sonic Electronix or Down4Sound.

20 Comments

@DIYAudioGuy Creator 4 years ago Pinned

Get some good tools so you can set your gain: Oscilloscope: https://amzn.to/3hRy2oH DD1+: https://lddy.no/14doe

@magictoaster806 4 years ago

For mids and highs I always use 0 db of overlap. I prefer have the comfort of knowing that I’m not distorting whatever than it be a little bit louder. I personally like how 5 db of overlap sounds on Sub amps. If 5 db isn’t loud enough than I think the equipment should be upgraded instead of adding even more overlap

@toocozycanti 1 year ago

It’s just keeps on going this wormhole of cat audio hahaha I love it over u let you realize you know even less

@KeeneBraden 4 years ago

Just wanted to pop in and say congratulations on the well deserved growth of your channel. Almost 4K views after just a day or two! Thanks for the content and have a great day. I always tune to -5.

@MisterEE100 4 years ago

Love your technical videos, you explain things so clearly for everyone. Thank you!

@oldbuddyben 1 year ago

If memory serves, I used to setup subs at -10dB and high end was at 0 for customers. But for myself, I just tuned by ear. I plan to check my current setup with a scope soon to see how far off my (likely way out of calibration) ears are. Thanks for the refresher on how to set the overlap. That info is starting to get pretty far back in the old brain filing cabinet.

@greggarner4477 4 years ago

I am an SQ guy and have set my Fosgate amps at 0 db with my Osciloscopes since 1992.. Still use my old school Trans Anna amps daily

@docsspot 4 years ago

Very impressed with your videos. I belive you have about the perfect balance between helping understanding the basics of how it works, and not so complex one might be lost. Anyone lost in your videos really shouldn't be messing with anything, rather be due to safety or damaging equipment. Anyway doing a great job

@hughjass545 2 years ago

Thank you. I’ve been watching your videos and learning a lot. You’re laying down facts and math in a super easy to understand format. Props. I have been teaching myself about car audio through YouTube and experience working on my own cars through the years. Installation is only half the battle. You’ve been the most informative when it comes to the adjustments on amps, learning about waveforms, and box building. You are awesome, and I really want your channel to continue to grow. ❤🔊

@snytty 4 years ago

You're teasing me with the math! Let's get all of it!

@markroberts715 4 years ago

Another great video,thanks man!! ✌️

@1sthawaiian11 2 years ago

Best explanation about overlaps 🫡💯

@WolferAlpha 3 years ago

Before I knew about Overlap, I regulated it with 0db of overlap, as my sound system does not have a car radio, but a Bluetooth receiver from Qualcomm to use with the smartphone, I used a tone generator app to adjust the gain, but it always stayed with very low volume, using mathematics to calculate the power it only delivered about 60w (10%) so I had the brilliant idea of choosing the songs with the strongest bass from my spotify playlist (because spotify has a volume normalizer and it is standard for all devices, making the use of any smartphone safe) and regulate based on them, the cool part is that today I understand overlap well to make some tests and incredibly I regulated my system like this and resulted in +10db of overlap... adjusted by intuition without knowledge. And I found that tone generator apps with the smartphone at maximum volume is equivalent to -6db

@nickstalhood5380 4 years ago

Really like your vids man great job!!!

@VoltzIsSalty 4 years ago

Running a 3000w rms sub system. I use -7.5db because the music I listen to the bass is recorded anywhere from -13db to -7.5db

@paulgood2218 4 years ago

Another Great video !!

@kayone8571 1 year ago

And thanks to this vides much appreciated

@cwnarron72 4 years ago

Great explanation. Thanx 4 the info.

@cartruck1070 4 years ago

Good info. Thank you.
😎👍👍

@jkstdstang 4 years ago

Great vid! Ive been running a -3DB overlap on my 12” sub but am in the process of upgrading to a beefier sub. going from a D4 sub wired at 2 ohms to a D2 sub wiring it at 1 ohm so I can extract 1200 rms output from my amp where currently im “only” getting 800 rms with the D2 12” (of course then theres battling impedance rise). since I have to re-tune I’ve been wanting to try -5DB. I did know the basic principle behind gain overlap and music recording levels but didn’t fully understand it 100% so thank you for the easy to understand explanation! I learned some things also! Now with the upgrades and -5DB tune hopefully i will be satisfied with the new bass output (at least for a while lol).