Sub popping, amp in and out, dimming lights
10-09-2009, 10:43 PM
#1
Sub popping, amp in and out, dimming lights
So I had a 600w Kenwood hooked up to a Soundstream SS12 Reference sub (~300w) in a ported box. This setup was working perfect for the past 8 months or so.
Today I just remembered that i had another subwoofer, and I figured lets put it in and see if it was better. This is a no-name "FP audio" 600w sub.
So I disconnected the power, ground, remote wires from the amp (amp is attached to sub box), and swapped the subs and put it back in. The sub worked fine for a few hours (drove around) and then it suddenly started coming in and out. The lights in the car would dim everytime there was a 'boom' and the power led on the amp would also dim. At points the sub didnt even work.
At this point i got the old sub (didnt put it in the box) and I hooked up the terminals and I tested to see if it was the sub or the amp, and the sub worked, but it made popping noises (the coil was moving way too much, up and down).
I dont know what to make of this situation. Is it the sub that's the problem, the amp, the alternator, battery, etc. Anybody has any ideas? I think it's the amp, but any opinions?
Today I just remembered that i had another subwoofer, and I figured lets put it in and see if it was better. This is a no-name "FP audio" 600w sub.
So I disconnected the power, ground, remote wires from the amp (amp is attached to sub box), and swapped the subs and put it back in. The sub worked fine for a few hours (drove around) and then it suddenly started coming in and out. The lights in the car would dim everytime there was a 'boom' and the power led on the amp would also dim. At points the sub didnt even work.
At this point i got the old sub (didnt put it in the box) and I hooked up the terminals and I tested to see if it was the sub or the amp, and the sub worked, but it made popping noises (the coil was moving way too much, up and down).
I dont know what to make of this situation. Is it the sub that's the problem, the amp, the alternator, battery, etc. Anybody has any ideas? I think it's the amp, but any opinions?
10-10-2009, 11:43 PM
#3
well when you put power to the old sub for the second time, but outside of the box, i'm going to geuss and say it was popping because of the lack of an enclosure. with no back pressure i'm pretty sure the sub will reach its mechanical limits with very minimal amounts of power.
i'd say put the original sub back in the box and try again. if it works fine, its the second sub thats messed up. if its still messed, than i would think your amp is messed up. ...thats where i would start anyways. not necassarily going to solve it, but it doesnt hurt
if all your headlights and leds are dimming, there is too much drain somewhere in your car somewhere.....could be from many things
...also if your voltage drops too low your amp may shut off and on while its in an out of its operable range i would think.
i'd say put the original sub back in the box and try again. if it works fine, its the second sub thats messed up. if its still messed, than i would think your amp is messed up. ...thats where i would start anyways. not necassarily going to solve it, but it doesnt hurt
if all your headlights and leds are dimming, there is too much drain somewhere in your car somewhere.....could be from many things
...also if your voltage drops too low your amp may shut off and on while its in an out of its operable range i would think.
10-11-2009, 12:17 PM
#4
Yankee
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,599
So let me paraphrase and correct me if I am wrong:
things work for a while OK then they stop working well and this happens with every sub I use. and here is a guess the first sub has a lower operating impedance than the second sub.
IF this is correct it tells you what is NOT wrong- sounds like the subs are fine, sounds like the wiring is fine, which means it could be the amp or it could be the electrical system. How is the system voltage when everything is working... if fine (and I think it is) then your amp is having issues.
things work for a while OK then they stop working well and this happens with every sub I use. and here is a guess the first sub has a lower operating impedance than the second sub.
IF this is correct it tells you what is NOT wrong- sounds like the subs are fine, sounds like the wiring is fine, which means it could be the amp or it could be the electrical system. How is the system voltage when everything is working... if fine (and I think it is) then your amp is having issues.
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