Power amp channel gain setting

[Pauli363]

I searched but can't see any posts directly related to this.

I have a KAM KXR1000V2 power amp, being fed by an American Audio VMS4.1 and I am wondering where the channel gain knobs should be set to on the KAM for mobile DJ use.
When at the 12 o'clock position, then individual decks set to about 11 o'clock on the mixer, I find that the VU meter on my VMS4.1 is running too much in the red when I jack up the master volume to gig levels.
I am pretty sure I can run the amp with the gain on both channels at max. At this setting, with deck gain at 11 o'clock, I can keep the VU meter in amber, just touching red at big volume.

Is it advisable to run the amp with the gain set at max, or should it "ideally" be at another level?

[fullcontact68]

Hi,

I run my amp at max, and my mixer master at max, just using the channel sliders to control the output volume. (This way I don't mess up my microphones / feedback when changing the volume)

[Excalibur]

Can of worms. I like to run gains virtually at max on the amp, master around half to threequarters on the VMS, adjust the channel trims, and that gives me plenty of volume without going into the red. Longer answer later.

[Pauli363]

Great. I seem to be on the right track then, my settings would be largely as above.

[SamV]

Don't you have any kind of protection for your amp/speakers?

Anyways, in the absence of one, here's what I'd do. Put the channel gains upto 0db on the meters with the faders all the way up, then turn the amps all the way up and use the master volume on the VMS4.1 to control the speaker volume.

[Pauli363]

Don't you have any kind of protection for your amp/speakers?

Anyways, in the absence of one, here's what I'd do. Put the channel gains upto 0db on the meters with the faders all the way up, then turn the amps all the way up and use the master volume on the VMS4.1 to control the speaker volume.

Thanks. What sort of protection do you mean? I'm sure like most mobile dj's, my laptop connects to the controller, the controller to the amp and the amp to the speakers. There is clip protection on the amp.

[Excalibur]

Thanks. What sort of protection do you mean? I'm sure like most mobile dj's, my laptop connects to the controller, the controller to the amp and the amp to the speakers. There is clip protection on the amp.

He means some sort of limiter, to prevent too large a signal going through the system, and damaging something.

I know why he suggested what he did. With the faders all the way up, and the amp gains at max, itstops anyone pushing a fader up to the max when it's already giving a big enough output at the halfway point.

His suggestion is logical. It may suit you, it may not. It wouldn't suit me, but that's just me.

[SamV]

Yep, granted it's less of an issue if you're the only DJing.