Problem with getting my 15" Fi Q to sound right.

[Trepkos 1]

I just got done setting my gains with the DMM, my main issue and area of concern is the subwoofer and the Hifonics Bxi1606d amplifier. The component set is working and sounding fine and so is the Sundown SAX 100.2 amplifier. The Hifonics amplifier and subwoofer on the other hand are just being a pain in the ass to get sounding decent.

To give you all the information I can on the subject we'll start here. I want that 15" Fi Q sound that we see and hear in videos, the smooth rumbling bass on all frequencies, well-reproduced, very loud, and sounding very good. To achieve this I have done the following.

I had the following set on my amplifier and head unit.

Amplifier:

SSF: 25hz

LPF: 80hz

Phase: 0

Bass EQ: 0

Bass Boost: 0

Gains: Adjusted with a DMM at their peak playing frequency to do 34.6volts(1200watts@1-Ohm)

Noted with a DMM, the impedance load on the amplifier is shown to be 1.5ohm's according to the DMM staggering at 1.3ohms every now or then. The DC voltage being sent to the amplifier is steady at 14.4volts.

Headunit:

Subwoofer Output = 15/15

Volume: 26/35

Volume Offset: 0

Loudness: Off

Crossover Frequencies For The Subwoofer is

60hz with a -12db/octave slope.

---------------------------------------------------------

I decided to use this song as a test song, "Put On" - Young Jeezy.

Well that, yielded no real decent results, the subwoofer sounded fine with no clipping and no distortion but also wasn't very loud at all. Heres a video of it.

http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll101/T...efaultsetup.flv

We will name that as the default setup, no enhancements, just pure gain and frequency tweaking. Shortly after that I decided max out the filter settings on the amplifier, setting the Sub-Sonic Filter at 15hz and the LPF at 250hz. And let the cross over settings on the head unit take over. There was a distinct increase in sound and performance from doing this, but nothing too great.

So a little satisfied with that but still not impressed I decided to play a game to see how to achieve that 'sound" that I defined above and by doing this I played around eight different setups and recorded them with a video camera so you can see the performance too.

--------------------------------------------

First Setup

Amplifier Gains = Maxed

Volume Offset = 0

Loudness = 0

Remote Bass Boost = 0

Bass EQ = 0

Video: http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll101/T...rent=Setup1.flv

Second Setup

Amplifier Gains = 3/4

Volume Offset = 3

Loudness = 0

Remote Bass Boost = 0

Bass EQ = 0

Video: http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll101/T...rent=Setup2.flv

Third Setup

Amplifier Gains = 3/4

Volume Offset = 0

Loudness = On

Remote Bass Boost = 1/4

Bass EQ = 0

Video: http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll101/T...rent=setup3.flv

Fourth Setup

Amplifier Gains = 1/2

Volume Offset = 0

Loudness = 0

Remote Bass Boost = Full

Bass EQ = Half

Video: http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll101/T...rent=setup4.flv

Fifth Setup

Amplifier Gains = 2/3

Volume Offset = +5

Loudness = On

Remote Bass Boost = 0

Bass EQ = 0

Video: http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll101/T...rent=setup5.flv

Sixth Setup

Amplifier Gains = 3/4

Volume Offset = 3

Loudness = On

Remote Bass Boost = 0

Bass EQ = Full

Video: http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll101/T...rent=setup6.flv

Seventh Setup

Amplifier Gains = 3/4

Volume Offset = 3

Loudness = On

Remote Bass Boost = Half

Bass EQ = 0

Video: http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll101/T...rent=setup7.flv

Eight Setup

Amplifier Gains = 2/3

Volume Offset = 5

Loudness = 0

Remote Bass Boost = 1/3

Bass EQ = 0

Video: http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll101/T...rent=setup8.flv

If you think you can really help me on this subject, I have MSN, AIM, and Yahoo and would really appreciate the help.

[jonbearsmt 919]

hifonics hifonics.

you have tryed alot of shit on your own brother.... do you have another amp that you can try?

[Trepkos 1]

Actually, no.

I was thinking of getting a Sundown 1000d, or a ED NINe.1, or even an AQ 1200d.

But I didnt think the Hifonics would make the subwoofer sound this off.

[jonbearsmt 919]

Actually, no.

I was thinking of getting a Sundown 1000d, or a ED NINe.1, or even an AQ 1200d.

But I didnt think the Hifonics would make the subwoofer sound this off.

could be a few things... whats that box like?

and if i were you i would scratch that ED off the list of things to buy.

[Trepkos 1]

http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll101/T...resubaction.flv

Another picture.

The subwoofer is a 3.35ft^3 ported enclosure tuned to 34hz. The enclosure looks like this:

53" L, 20" H, 11" BD and 7" TD

[SEBASTO 1]

[url="http://s286.photobucket.com/albums/ll101/Trepkos01/?action=view

[Trepkos 1]

Well, the box meets the air capacity and tuning qualifications, fits behind the seat in a single-cab pick up, so theres not much more I could ask for. Except a decent sounding sub stage and at the moment I am getting what your hear in that video, and thats not mic distortion, thats what it sounds like and sadly no fun flexes or t-shirt tricks or real air movement either... :S

[coobies5 43]

i'll shoot you an im later on today and maybe we can figure this out

[Adrian_D 520]

What did you use to set the gains ?

Music or a test tone ? Sorry if you wrote that and I missed it.

[tezin87 0]

First I would mess with your phase a little bit and see if you can get better reseluts that way. I would also go on ROE and download the 50hz test tone and burn it to a cd and then use your DMM from there. Or if you know a decent audio shop around your area you could go there and see if they have a o-scope.

[Trepkos 1]

I used test tones to set the gains originally.

Here is the process I used.

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=328095

Please read the entire thread if you want to know how I originally started tuning the system, really indepth.

[Adrian_D 520]

First, a couple things about your settings.

IIRC, the knobs are logarithmic, meaning the increments get larger and larger as you turn the know clockwise. If you want a specific frequency for the LPF or subsonic, use the tone you want to set it at and adjust the knob untill you see a small drop in the output. Let's say you want the subsonic at 30hz. Set it as low as possible and measure the output with a dmm. Rotate the knob untill you see a small drop in output on the dmm.

I've had the same problem with setting the gains. Unfortunately I didn't find the exact cause of my problems, but it must be the fact that music is recorded below the 0dB level of the test tones. You could use a -6dB test tone to set the subwoofer amplifier in order to avoid the trouble.

Look here :

http://www.soundsolutionsaudio.com/forum/i...ic=4256&hl=

Maybe it's going to help, maybe not. I still didn't get to the bottom of the problem.

[Trepkos 1]

Ok I'll try that, I also decided to step the bass boost back down to minimum and set the gains to where I previously had it set before I did all the test. Where it was set to have 34.6v output peak. Ofcourse there was very little bass so I decided to play around with the phase adjuster on the HU and the amplifier, went from 0 to 180, no change in sound and from normal to reverse on the HU and still no change in sound.

[95Honda 486]

If it goes from your sub to your door speakers (frequency range) then the phase control won't do anything to help with your bass output, all it will do is help you blend at your active crossover point (prevent a suckout).

Honestly, since you only have one sub amp you are wasting time with an O-scope, dmm, test tones, etc.... If it isn't distorting, turn the gain up higher, if it distorts before your mids and highs turn the gain down a little. Everyone will try and convince you to keep on with this mental masturbation to set your gains right.... But it really is a big waste of time unless you are trying to gain match multiple amps, which you are not... Just take it easy and use your head, you'll know when you are clipping the crap out of your amp, especially when the sub is about 2 feet from your head....

That cab is a bitch to get to sound right. I had a Titanic 10" MKII, a DLS 10 and a 12" Kicker comp in there, I know how to build boxes and they just never sounded right. Until I went with the 4 Tangband 8s in a really flat alignment with 5 gallons of sound deadening in there, it never sounded right. That thing rang like a bell and just sounded god awfull... Seriously, it is a tough vehicle to work with... Just keep playing with it... It took me 4 tries, but it was worth it in the end...

[Trepkos 1]

Well, I still don't understand why there would be such an issue with the sound reproduction from the subwoofer like it is. It just sounds like its not playing right at all.

[Trepkos 1]

Well, I still don't understand why there would be such an issue with the sound reproduction from the subwoofer like it is. It just sounds like its not playing right at all.

The problem is that it never seems to get loud enough and starts clipping or bottoming out well below the volume level it should be playing smoothly at. I think it may be the amplifier.

[NDMstang65 403]

said it once..i'll say it again

sub's are dumb, they do what they are told in the environment in which they are in...

Honestly probably some really weird loading issues going on there, you'd probably be far better off going with a gang of smaller subs spread across the cab, than one single big woofer.

[Trepkos 1]

Interesting, loading issues? Do you think it might be better off sealed, or both of them sealed in a similar enclosure with a 4.4ft^3 between them?

[Trepkos 1]

Oh by the way, heres a picture of the setup.

[TwistedMind 0]

Actually, no.

I was thinking of getting a Sundown 1000d, or a ED NINe.1, or even an AQ 1200d.

But I didnt think the Hifonics would make the subwoofer sound this off.

could be a few things... whats that box like?

and if i were you i would scratch that ED off the list of things to buy.

care to say why you would scratch the nine.1 ?

is it some logical reason or is it your biased dislike for the owner of the company?

I will be the first to admit their speakers suck period, however they make solid amps that are under rated. Ive been running a nine.1 @ 1 ohm pushing 1200 Wrms for 3 years and not had a single problem with it.

I am so satisfied with their amps that I just bought 2 more. a nine.2 and another nine.1, I gave my old nine.1 to my brother who is now running it at 1 ohm with 1200 wrms.

Plus they have a 5 year warrenty, id love to see another company come close to that. In my experiance as long as you dont abuse the equipment IE running it below the rated ohm, they honor their warrenty hands down. All your out is shipping.

[Trepkos 1]

Actually, no.

I was thinking of getting a Sundown 1000d, or a ED NINe.1, or even an AQ 1200d.

But I didnt think the Hifonics would make the subwoofer sound this off.

could be a few things... whats that box like?

and if i were you i would scratch that ED off the list of things to buy.

care to say why you would scratch the nine.1 ?

is it some logical reason or is it your biased dislike for the owner of the company?

I will be the first to admit their speakers suck period, however they make solid amps that are under rated. Ive been running a nine.1 @ 1 ohm pushing 1200 Wrms for 3 years and not had a single problem with it.

I am so satisfied with their amps that I just bought 2 more. a nine.2 and another nine.1, I gave my old nine.1 to my brother who is now running it at 1 ohm with 1200 wrms.

Plus they have a 5 year warrenty, id love to see another company come close to that. In my experiance as long as you dont abuse the equipment IE running it below the rated ohm, they honor their warrenty hands down. All your out is shipping.

I hear too much good stuff about the NINe.1 to scratch it off the list.

[TwistedMind 0]

Actually, no.

I was thinking of getting a Sundown 1000d, or a ED NINe.1, or even an AQ 1200d.

But I didnt think the Hifonics would make the subwoofer sound this off.

could be a few things... whats that box like?

and if i were you i would scratch that ED off the list of things to buy.

care to say why you would scratch the nine.1 ?

is it some logical reason or is it your biased dislike for the owner of the company?

I will be the first to admit their speakers suck period, however they make solid amps that are under rated. Ive been running a nine.1 @ 1 ohm pushing 1200 Wrms for 3 years and not had a single problem with it.

I am so satisfied with their amps that I just bought 2 more. a nine.2 and another nine.1, I gave my old nine.1 to my brother who is now running it at 1 ohm with 1200 wrms.

Plus they have a 5 year warrenty, id love to see another company come close to that. In my experiance as long as you dont abuse the equipment IE running it below the rated ohm, they honor their warrenty hands down. All your out is shipping.

I hear too much good stuff about the NINe.1 to scratch it off the list.

my point exactly man, I see this on all the forums. Not bashing any particular brands but company X comes out wit a amp rated at 1kw @ 12 v and it produces 1.2KW @ 14 V everyone rides companys nuts

eD produces solid amps for 5 years but in the case of edead V1 try to pass off asphalt based deadener as a cutting edge product. ( bad choice anyone will admit ) 5 years later they have completly scratched asphalt for butal based products and everyone still gives them crap as a company. Even though you will be hard pressed to find a BAD review for their subs or amps.

Are they the best money can buy? Definatly not. Are they best in their price range? IMHO yes indeed.

Id also like to add eD customer service is pretty damn good. Alex in particular. Props to you bro.

Edited July 6, 2008 by TwistedMind

[Trepkos 1]

Ok, well I did some testing today. I decided to set the gains nearly to max with all other volume offsets, bass boosts, and everything else at their lowest or flatlined and took the DMM out to see how high the voltage raised on different heavy hitting rap songs. This is with the gains set nearly at its highest.

The average DC voltage was 7-8volts, the highest it ever rose was 14volts. So according to that, with the volume at 75% and gains nearly at max, on most songs the amplifier was outputting around 50watts and maxed out at 196watts(I only saw the voltage rise over 12 maybe once or twice).

[Trepkos 1]

I did some test on a friend's vehicle who is pushing two Jensen 10" subwoofers in two separate bandpass enclosures. These subwoofers are being powered by a Profile AP1000 2-channel amplifier, with his gains a little over half, bass boost a little over half, and HU bass setting at 6, his amplifier maxed out on most songs at 22 ac volts, and even higher on other songs. Which is a little over the rated output of his amplifier but no real clipping and still got very loud.

Edited July 6, 2008 by Trepkos

[95Honda 486]

Unless you have a peak hold function on your meter getting readings while playing music is pretty useless, they can't respond and display fast enough to get you accurate readings. Even with a peak hold function this can still be a toss-up.

I seriously doubt you have amp problems. It's a 15" sub that is ported, it should get loud as hell off a few hundred watts.... Something is goofy with your set-up in there, like mentioned above you may have loading/tuning issues.

I'll say it again, that truck is a bitch. If it really begins to seem impossible to figure out, pull the box out and stick something in there smaller that you know works, doesn't matter what, maybe a 10 or a 12 abuddy has in a small box. Listen to it, move it side to side back there and see what it sounds like and the difference the position makes.

The box and tuning just may be all wrong for that truck. Like I said before, I had to go with the 4 8s and deaden the crap out of that cab to get good bass...

Edited July 6, 2008 by 95Honda