Performance at What Volume Level?
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Edmond, OK
Performance at What Volume Level?
Okay, here is the question: At what point on your volume control (using stock HU) does your custom system really produce power?
I have spent quite a bit of cash on professional installation of amps (JL 500/1 v2 & ARC Audio mini-4ch), subs (2-JL 10W3V3 in sealed boxes), 6.5 components (ARC Audio), 5.25 rears (Hertz coaxials), and sound deadening, plates for doors, etc. (from Rick at Raamaudio). My system seems to really begin to put out power with the volume control at half power or above. It seems to me that with all the good quality audio equipment I have, it should kick azz at volume levels way before this.
Am I expecting too much from this system? Have I just gotten used to the higher volume? Is there something I should check? I listen to only rock music (alternative, metal, hard rock, classic rock, etc.) and I like it really clear sounding and loud
If my clothes and hair are vibrating from the bass in the car, that is all too fine with me! It just seems that I have to turn the volume level too far up to get performance out of this system.
Let me know what you think?
Thanks!
I have spent quite a bit of cash on professional installation of amps (JL 500/1 v2 & ARC Audio mini-4ch), subs (2-JL 10W3V3 in sealed boxes), 6.5 components (ARC Audio), 5.25 rears (Hertz coaxials), and sound deadening, plates for doors, etc. (from Rick at Raamaudio). My system seems to really begin to put out power with the volume control at half power or above. It seems to me that with all the good quality audio equipment I have, it should kick azz at volume levels way before this.
Am I expecting too much from this system? Have I just gotten used to the higher volume? Is there something I should check? I listen to only rock music (alternative, metal, hard rock, classic rock, etc.) and I like it really clear sounding and loud
If my clothes and hair are vibrating from the bass in the car, that is all too fine with me! It just seems that I have to turn the volume level too far up to get performance out of this system.Let me know what you think?
Thanks!
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,295
Likes: 8
From: Issaquah WA
I think you need a volume control that goes to 11! 
Seriously though.... First, volume controls in today's head units are not usually linear. So halfway up, isn't really halfway up. Second, does it really matter at what point it begins producing power?? What really matters is at what point it makes full power. That point should be at (near) all the way up on the vol control.
You could increase the gains so that everything puts out more power sooner on the dial, but then you could create clipping at the top volume settings, and cause lots of damage to your system. You also potentially impact the signal to noise ratio if the input gains are turned up higher than they need to be.
If all the way up on the vol is all the way up in the power, everything is probably the way it should be. My Kenwood has a 35 step vol control. Normal listening level doesnt even begin until 22-23. At 27 it's loud. At 30 it's really loud. The decks output just isn't linear compared to the volume control.
(BTW... Vol controls may not be clean when turned up all the way, so most people don't use or tune to the highest levels... I was just simplifying things a bit)
Seriously though.... First, volume controls in today's head units are not usually linear. So halfway up, isn't really halfway up. Second, does it really matter at what point it begins producing power?? What really matters is at what point it makes full power. That point should be at (near) all the way up on the vol control.
You could increase the gains so that everything puts out more power sooner on the dial, but then you could create clipping at the top volume settings, and cause lots of damage to your system. You also potentially impact the signal to noise ratio if the input gains are turned up higher than they need to be.
If all the way up on the vol is all the way up in the power, everything is probably the way it should be. My Kenwood has a 35 step vol control. Normal listening level doesnt even begin until 22-23. At 27 it's loud. At 30 it's really loud. The decks output just isn't linear compared to the volume control.
(BTW... Vol controls may not be clean when turned up all the way, so most people don't use or tune to the highest levels... I was just simplifying things a bit)
Last edited by WAwatchnut; Jul 13, 2011 at 02:45 PM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 539
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From: Edmond, OK
I think you need a volume control that goes to 11!
Seriously though.... First, volume controls in today's head units are not usually linear. So halfway up, isn't really halfway up. Second, does it really matter at what point it begins producing power?? What really matters is at what point it makes full power. That point should be at (near) all the way up on the vol control.
You could increase the gains so that everything puts out more power sooner on the dial, but then you could create clipping at the top volume settings, and cause lots of damage to your system. You also potentially impact the signal to noise ratio if the input gains are turned up higher than they need to be.
If all the way up on the vol is all the way up in the power, everything is probably the way it should be. My Kenwood has a 35 step vol control. Normal listening level doesnt even begin until 22-23. At 27 it's loud. At 30 it's really loud. The decks output just isn't linear compared to the volume control.
(BTW... Vol controls may not be clean when turned up all the way, so most people don't use or tune to the highest levels... I was just simplifying things a bit)
Seriously though.... First, volume controls in today's head units are not usually linear. So halfway up, isn't really halfway up. Second, does it really matter at what point it begins producing power?? What really matters is at what point it makes full power. That point should be at (near) all the way up on the vol control.
You could increase the gains so that everything puts out more power sooner on the dial, but then you could create clipping at the top volume settings, and cause lots of damage to your system. You also potentially impact the signal to noise ratio if the input gains are turned up higher than they need to be.
If all the way up on the vol is all the way up in the power, everything is probably the way it should be. My Kenwood has a 35 step vol control. Normal listening level doesnt even begin until 22-23. At 27 it's loud. At 30 it's really loud. The decks output just isn't linear compared to the volume control.
(BTW... Vol controls may not be clean when turned up all the way, so most people don't use or tune to the highest levels... I was just simplifying things a bit)
In any event, I will check out amps' settings to see where the gains are set. May want to adjust these up a little to get more power earlier into the volume dial if that would help.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,401
Likes: 52
From: Norman OK
Hey, thanks for the explanation! It really doesn't matter to me at what number on the volume dial the real power begins. I guess I was just thinking that if the system is the loudest I could listen to at halfway, then it would be twice as loud at level 10 (or so). Being aware of distortion and possible speaker damage, I have never turned the system up more than say, 3/4 of the way, as it is really rocking loud at halfway to 3/4.
In any event, I will check out amps' settings to see where the gains are set. May want to adjust these up a little to get more power earlier into the volume dial if that would help.
In any event, I will check out amps' settings to see where the gains are set. May want to adjust these up a little to get more power earlier into the volume dial if that would help.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 539
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From: Edmond, OK
Okie makes a good point. I may want to just leave the amp adjustments as is knowing that the volume adjustment provides the power I need without risk to the speakers and overall system. The reason we have quality, custom sound systems is because we have an appreciation for quality sound reproduction AND prefer listening to music at higher volumes/power. For me, it is about creating a serious concert volume level with custom controls so that I can hear aspects of music that are lost in cheaper, less sophisticated sound systems. I grew up listening to rock in the early 70's and 80's and still thrive on it to this day. To me, nothing in this world compares to driving my vette and rocking out with a quality sound system! 
