WS420 Tuning Thread -- Calling Gurus

[Jeff T]

Ok, so I'm man enough to admit when I might be in a little over my head. I have this ws420, and I bet it is amazing. That said, I haven't a clue how to actually tune it to max its potential. I've come to the realization that I'm completely lost and in need from those smarter than me. The directions are pretty vague. So, I'm just going to list some questions that I have and hopefully you guys can help me tackle them.

I feel like I have 4 layers of gain settings/volume control to deal with: 1) HU volume, 2) Amp Gain, 3) 420 Input Gain, 4) 420 main cabin/tower volume.

1: Amp Gains: Am I supposed to set these first at what I would run them w/o the 420 or turn them down? How do I manage this piece of it? This leads me to question 2.
2: 420 Input Gains (top of unit): I haven't a clue. How do I know what to set this to and how does it/should it affect my amp gains?
3: Volume controls: Am i supposed to set the volume controls on the 420, then use the HU/remote to manage the overall volume levels as needed (I.e. while anchored, or in between riders, etc.) and only using 420 for minor tweaks (volume balance between deck and tower)?

Then, there are controls to adjust the 4 frequencies for each cabin & tower (bass, mid bass, mid, & high).

4: What is the best way to tweak these to get the best sound? Is there a science to this?
5: High/low pass filters on amps: Use them?

I guess to sum it up...I do not know the order of operations and how to make the HU, Amps, and 420 all work together appropriately.

Just for reference, I have the following:
-Wetsounds Pro 80s (1 set).
-Kicker Solo 12in L5 in vented box.
-Stock Kicker KM series deck speakers
-3 Kicker amps (650.4 bridged for tower, 750.1 for sub, and 350.4 for deck)
-Stock Clarion HU

I know this isn't the sexiest topic, but any advice is appreciated.

[Moki]

Were your questions not answered in this thread?

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/show...highlight=tune

[Jeff T]

Not really. It is a good thread as it explains how to set the gain on amps. My questions are more about the next step...the 420. If I set the amp gains, what do I do with the input gains on the 420? My question is more like...Ok, my amp gains are set. I have plugged in the 420. Now what? I'm electronically challenged and unfortunately, I don't have much help here locally. My ws dealer that sold me the 420 had never previously sold a 420. He never even ordered one until i showed up.

[wetsounds1]

Here is a step by step.

1) Unplug all the RCA’s from your amps. Turn all the amp gains down.

2) Turn the radio up to find the maximum volume. Set the system with the head unit volume at 85% of max. This is the loudest the radio should ever go. Radios will create distortion the higher the volume is turned up. Which will create distortion on the output signal before reaching the amps. So find a safe easy to remember volume. If the head unit is 35. Max should be 30. If the head unit is 40. Maximum should be 30 to 35 and so on.

3) Once you have found the maximum volume set point. Turn the radio back down. Use a test CD that you are familiar with for tuning. Something that has highs and lows and vocals.

4) Make sure the settings on the radio are flat. You should not tune a system with the treble or bass up.

5) On the top of the WS 420. Set the gains at the mid level. Make sure to adjust both the main gain and the aux gain. Set them both to this mid level. This is the level where most systems will be. The WS 420 has the ability to provide more voltage if there are long rca runs but most boats will be in the middle as this is a safe setting.

6) Make sure all the eq adjustments are flat. Right in the middle. Plug in all the rcas from the eq to the amps.

7) Plug in just the RCA’s for the in boat speakers amp. Set the high pass crossover at around 80HZ to 100HZ.

8) Turn the radio up to the max safe level found in step 2. Turn the eq up to about ¾ of max volume.

9) Slowly turn the gain up until you hear the speakers distort. Slowly back off the gain from that point a small amount until you hear the speakers play as loud as they can with no distortion.

10) Unplug the RCA’s from that amp and plug the RCA’s into the amp running the tower speakers. Set the high pass crossover on the amp for the tower speakers at 80HZ to 100HZ.

11) Slowly turn the gain up until you hear the speakers distort. Slowly back off the gain from that point a small amount until you hear the speakers play as loud as they can with no distortion.

12) Unplug the RCA’s from that amp and plug the RCA’s into the amp running the subwoofer. Set the low pass crossover on the amp for the subwoofer at 80HZ. On the WS 420. Turn the bass level to max. The ring is a frequency adjustment. All the way down to the left is 30 HZ. You will want to put this around 60 to 80HZ. So about ¼ of the way up.

13) Slowly turn the gain up until you hear the speakers distort. Slowly back off the gain from that point a small amount until you hear the speakers play as loud as they can with no distortion.

14) Turn the radio back down and plug in all RCA’s and do a final check with everything playing. You should now have the gains set at “unity” Meaning they are all at the same level and you are matched across the board.

15) Note that you can adjust the high pass and low pass filters to tailor the sound to each boat. As you can set the high pass higher to get more volume but at the expense of losing some low end mid bass.

16) You can then fine tune the sound on the eq as well. Using the knobs and rings. Most systems will not need much in terms of boost.

17) You can then leave the eq volume set and use the radio as the main volume. And then turn the in boats down with the towers up or vice versa depending on you goals.


Tim
Wet Sounds

[dogbert]

If you have an iPod, you can download some of the test sounds from iTunes. I think someone posted them to this board as well in the form of MP3s.

[philwsailz]

Tim-

Awesome explanation!

[Jeff T]

Perfect. Thanks!

[Ks]

Can anyone suggest a REALLY good song to tune to? one that covers the spectrum.

[chpthril]

Can anyone suggest a REALLY good song to tune to? one that covers the spectrum.

You can download tuning tones off of Spharis' site!

[Ks]

I dont understand the tuning tones, I did get some 80 and 100 hertz tunes from I tunes and really don't know how to use those.

I am looking for a song that I can DL off of Itunes that will provide a baseline for tuning. I need a starting point.

@ Jeff sorry for the Hijack, hopefully this info will help you as well.

[Jeff T]

This does help me. I ask so many questions i was scared to ask that one!

[dogbert]

I dont understand the tuning tones, I did get some 80 and 100 hertz tunes from I tunes and really don't know how to use those.

I am looking for a song that I can DL off of Itunes that will provide a baseline for tuning. I need a starting point.

@ Jeff sorry for the Hijack, hopefully this info will help you as well.

Those tones are used to help you hear the cut-off frequencies so you can set up your pass filtering on the amps properly. For example, if you wanted to filter the bass below a certain frequency from your in boat or tower speakers, you could play that tone and adjust the amp until you don't hear it any more.

spharis has a whole how-to section on his Wakeboatworld site.

[philwsailz]

Can anyone suggest a REALLY good song to tune to? one that covers the spectrum.

Use a good well recorded tune you are extremely familiar with. If you really know what something is supposed to sound like, you can then manipulate controls to get the sound to what you know it should be.

A few years back I was doing front-of-house pro-sound concert engineering. Some of my best test tunes were from concerts I had recorded. I totally knew what those were supposed to sound like.

If you are tryig to tune with an unfamiliar track, you might get close, but you will do the best with something you are familiar with.

[philwsailz]

Those tones are used to help you hear the cut-off frequencies so you can set up your pass filtering on the amps properly. For example, if you wanted to filter the bass below a certain frequency from your in boat or tower speakers, you could play that tone and adjust the amp until you don't hear it any more.

spharis has a whole how-to section on his Wakeboatworld site.

Just be aware that the crossover's center frequency is its "3 db-down" point. This is simply described at the point where the volume is halved, not gone. If you are setting up a sub amp with a low pass crossover set at 80, and you turn the crossover down until you CANNOT hear the 80 Hz one, you might find you are centered at 50 Hz or lower.

[Ks]

K that kinda makes sense.

So for my 80 and 100 H test tones, I can play them until I don't hear them and the turn the xover just a hair over that so it does not "center it " and that will get my xover dialed in pretty close?