ook I got two sounstream T5 10" subs in a ported box, and a 3000 watt powerbass ASA amp powering them. I just had them installed yesterday afternoon, and as I was walking out to my car with the sales guy, he tells me to keep the bass level around 50% for about a week to break them in properly. Well right after that one of the installer guys meets us out there and puts in his "bass cd" so show me what kind of power the subs have now, and just about maxes them out, and leaves it cranked up for about 2 minutes straight.


I left with it, and left it set at 50%, and only cranked it up again this morning when my mom wanted to hear it, and I noticed that only one of them makes a very noticeable buzzing sound when the real low bass notes hit. This morning I very gradually increased the bass to probably like 85-90% of the max, and it was buzzing. I'm gonna take it back to the shop tomorrow and get them to look at it, but what are some thoughts on it ? I am going to be pretty PO'd/surprised if its blown already.

 

When you say you turned the "Bass" up what do you mean? Like the bass boost or the gain?

 

Gain. sorry about that, I have a remote gain **** up next to the head unit.

 

It sounds to me like you were clipping those subs pretty good. The gain is NOT a volume ****. You should set your gains properly and then leave it alone.

 

This should help...
http://mobile.jlaudio.com/support_pages.php?page_id=143

 

great info to know. I normally keep the gain a little below half way

 

When you turn the gain back down does the buzzing continue? Where did you have your stuff installed?

 

That does make sense, but I made sure with the sales guy I work with there, and he said everything should be tuned and set properly so that everything could (in theory) be maxed out, and still not blow anything, or get any distortion/clipping at all...



Unless they forgot to tune it

 

It sounds to me like that guy has no idea what he is talking about.

 

well also...if it was clipping or distorting, shouldn't it be both subs? I know for a fact its only one of them.

 

yeah you're installer is retarded. but no one sub can thermal before another one its just a matter of time. i garantee both of your subs are hurting tho.

 

never turn your gains past about half.
Most amps will clip terrible after half.

I knew a guy with 4 15's in a chevy.
He told me he always blew amps cuz they couldnt handle the subs. I just nodded and smiled. I asked if I could look at his amp and his gain was all the way up,bass boost +10 and lp set at 500hz.
I never told him about the sttings.
I think he has bought about 5 amps

 

depends.

you really need to set the amps with a dmm if you want to be correct. i think my gains are set a bit past half

 

incorrect.
My gains were set correctly using a DMM and I am slightly passed half... on the conservative side!

 

How far you turn the gain on the amp doesn't matter as long as it is matched properly with the input voltage.

For example if the source unit is putting out 5v then the amp gain will likely be close to all the way down depending on the amp. An the other hand if you have a cheaper source unit that only puts out 1v or less the gain will most likely be well past half way.

The best way to tune an amp is with a oscilloscope but if one is not available then look up that the input sensitivity is of your amp and the output of the source unit and try to match it.

 

even with a dmm it can clip, they will only check wattage (or ac volts). do it by ear, if it sounds bad stop. and there is a limit on how high u can turn up the head unit as well. turning up the headunit too much can also cause clipping. if your installer can really "tune" then they have an oscilloscope. tell them to use it to set your gains and then never touch them again. and unplug that remote gain setting, you're only going to cause more headaches for yourself.

 

meh...... you use an equasion to convert volts into watts.

in fact its:

volts = watts / current

but since most people can't measure current

volts = sqrt(watts * ohms) or watts = volts˛ / ohms

 

how does knowing the watts help you tune your amp? never heard anyone measure volts to tune an amp. Since the watts has nothing to do with the setting of the gains.

 

hahahaha are you serious?

 

yeha a DMM will read voltage and such ,just like a RTA. It only knows numbers not what sounds good to you.
And yeah I know you are supposda set your gains properly ,as some amps can take up to 8v ( some take more)