Yes, its essential that you start back at the HU first. Turning the amplifiers down intially allows you to find the HU maximum gain without exposing the amplifiers. Since the most recent Wetsounds EQ has no input gain, the EQ will be an extension of the HU. Then, if you sense that there is any form of clipping from the EQ, which is unlikely, then turn down from full the master EQ inboat or tower control. Then return to the amplifiers as you described. Wetsounds has a unity gain tuning procedure for the WS420 EQ so that all phases of the signal path reach their full potential simultaneously. Its step by step just like Phil's prescription.

David
Earmark Marine