What just hapenned to my sub?

Brett Creider · 10-28-2003, 03:17 PM

I was listening to that "I like big speakers" song...moderate volumes...up close watching the sub...

It's doing fine not bottoming or anything then suddenly it just dies. Amp is still on, no sound out of sub...

.....did I just kill it?

Darren_T · 10-28-2003, 03:19 PM

Amp got too hot. Let it cool down and see if it starts up again.

Brett Creider · 10-28-2003, 03:21 PM

You're right...I just felt back there and it's pretty hot...any way to cool it down more while it's running so it doesn't cut off more often?

Darren_T · 10-28-2003, 03:26 PM

Quote:

You're right...I just felt back there and it's pretty hot...any way to cool it down more while it's running so it doesn't cut off more often?

Which amp are you using? Is this a DIY sub or a commercial unit?

Chances are you have the sub calibrated too high. I'm assuming you like your bass so this paired with the hot amp leads me to that conclusion. You could buy a small computer fan and mount it so it blows on the heat sync. You are basically tripping the protection circuitry on the amp causing it to shut down.

Brett Creider · 10-28-2003, 03:27 PM

It is the Parts Express 250watt remote control amp with a Tempest...

It's sealed and there's 60oz of polyfill in the box too.

**HTF Ads**

Darren_T · 10-28-2003, 03:31 PM

I have the same amp. I had this happen once also when I was running successive 20hz tones. Basically, if you must have the sub calibrated too "hot" you'll have to mount a small fan or calibrate your sub to "proper" levels. I know, "proper" levels don't give you the bass impact you desire. I had to adjust my expectations also. You'll find the music to be much more balanced though

Home theater will still have tons of impact but music will be more natural.

Brett Creider · 10-28-2003, 03:39 PM

It is used mostly for music....like 90% of the time....I was just wanting to see what she'd do

Brett Creider · 10-28-2003, 03:41 PM

It did it again

lol I'll just put a fan back there somehow...

Darren_T · 10-28-2003, 03:42 PM

You'll be fine then. You gotta test the limits or it will always be in the back of your head... I did the same thing with my sub. Just be glad the amp had protection circuitry.

Darren_T · 10-28-2003, 03:43 PM

Quote:

It did it again lol I'll just put a fan back there somehow...

It will keep doing it until you lower the gain sufficiently. The protection built into the amp isn't fool proof though. It may hose your amp, the driver, or both sooner or later so be careful.

PaulDF · 10-28-2003, 03:45 PM

Brett, I went through this exact same scenario after I completed my Tempest sub. I'd crank up the bass to feel the house shake, and my amp would get quite hot. I just set a fan in front of my separate plate amp box, and all was well, when I needed to really crank on the bass.

And, just as Darren says, I eventually learned to turn the bass down. Music does sound a lot better when its not dominated by the subwoofer. Mine is by no means at calibration levels for music, as it is still 8-10 db hot. Its tending to go down, as time goes on and the novelty wears off.

Since my box is an EBS, I chose to add a parametric equalizer to tune the bass to my liking, for music. This works very well for me.