Trying to pick a new sub

Kehrer923 · 12-25-2003, 03:27 PM

I have a 10" w3 Jl right now and I only have 200watts rms on it. But it seems like my amp is giving it more than it can take and I would really like a louder sub. Any ideas...I have thought about trying a Kicker solo baric L7, I would use a w7 but i know i dont have enough power.

Kale · 12-25-2003, 04:17 PM

200 watts isnt more than it can take... not at all... what problem are you having with it?

with 200 watts you arent just giong to swap subs and get louder.. i mean.. you can increase displacement and gain a *little* volume (by going to a 12 for example)

or you could Port the sucker, and gain at least 3 decibel.

My IDMAX went from "nice moderate bass" in a sealed box to "vision blurring, body panel flexing, bone shaking bass" in a ported box.
(mostly from the low end gain)

[Modified by Kale, 12:42 PM 12/25/2003]

Kehrer923 · 12-25-2003, 05:43 PM

I have it sealed in the storage compartment. I dont think I can port that.. :confused: It seems like it gets really disorted when i turn the bass all the way up like it has to much power

Kale · 12-25-2003, 06:29 PM

if you overpower it, and run it into Mechanical Distortion, you'd likely have smoked it by now.

it usually gets distorted because it doesnt have ENOUGH power and you're just sending clipping to it.

could be that you have your gains set too high, and you're clipping the living snot out of the subwoofer. (real easy to do when you expect a lot out of a sub)

also the storage compartment is a terrible place for it. you can make it MUCH louder if you have it in a box facing the rear wall.

but if you say "turn the bass all the way up"... do you mean the sub volume control, or an actual "BASS" control? Bass controls do nothing but add clipping/distortion. ..potentially damaging your sub by causing thermal failure. (Melting it)

[Modified by Kale, 2:32 PM 12/25/2003]

Kehrer923 · 12-25-2003, 10:43 PM

I mean turn it up, by turn the sub control up on my d900. Changing the location of the sub is not an option. How would i change my gain? My amp is a 5 channel and the sub is on the specific sub 5th channel. Do you think i coul build a box behind the sub that would fit in the storage compartment

Kale · 12-25-2003, 10:47 PM

wait.. how big of a box is this sub in? is it perfectly sealed? if its not air tight, bad things happen.

EatRice · 12-26-2003, 02:58 AM

The gain is dial control on your amplifier. It will indicate that it is for the 5th channel and you might need a small screw driver to change it. What is your crossover set at?

What kind of bad things happen to an enclosure that is not air tight? Many subwoofers just because of the contruction of their surround will not allow a perfectly sealed enclosure.

Kale · 12-26-2003, 03:34 AM

distortion, for example. Bad enough leak, you could actually damage a subwoofer.

Kehrer923 · 12-26-2003, 04:13 AM

I dynamatted the entire inside I really dont know if it is airtight or not.

EatRice · 12-26-2003, 10:02 AM

Kehrer........you dynomatted the inside of the enclosure? I bet that took a little time...lol. That is will help with the bass response and SQ but not with you any of your rattles. It was a good idea to that. In the future what I have found to work the best is spray on sound deadner. Goes on very easily and bonds tighter than an adhesive backed dynomat will.

I have never heard of a woofer being damaged by an air leak. I tried looking it up in The Loudspeaker Design Cookbook and a couple of others but they made no mention of actual damage.

Kale · 12-26-2003, 01:01 PM

Same principal as a ported box.. basically it can be damaged by over excursion, if yourerunning enough power. it would ha ve to be a significant leak tho..

EatRice · 12-26-2003, 02:23 PM

That is not a leak...that is a gaping hole in the enclosure lol

Kale · 12-26-2003, 07:46 PM

Quote:

That is not a leak...that is a gaping hole in the enclosure lol

you should see some of the home made boxes I've seen.. even "profesionally done ones" have had 1/4" gap at one end on the board. :eek:

EatRice · 12-27-2003, 01:59 AM

I am sure you have seen a few. You also mention "professionally" done enclosures. There is a big problem with the car audio retail industry and that is any person with a few bucks can open a store and now be a "professional installer." That is a load of crap. Some people will argue that MECP makes you a professional....no that makes the MECP certified installer a person that has time to get on the right track to be a professional but MECP gives no hands on experience. I have worked in the industry for 15 years. I started sweeping shop and doing the crap work when I was 15 years old. I have managed and owned several installation bays and stores. I currently own a successful fabrication business that ventures out of the realm of car audio and into home theater and custom cabinetry. I live in a state where car audio shops are a dime a dozen and they open and close every day. So if you have seen a professional built crap enclosure it is time to find another professional. Sorry I had to get that off my chest since there are o many more so called professionals that drag a true professional 12v installers title through the mud. Happy holidays