BL 15 problem

[rob682e 0]

Hey all....in the past month or so I've had an issue on going with my standard BL 15". On a certain low note it will make this clanking, metallic type noise. I took the sub out today, not that I know what I'm looking for but apparently I shouldn't let it do this anymore since it could become damaged. I have a Kicker ZX1000.1 hooked to it. Would this be an issue with my box or is it something I would need to send the sub back to the factory to fix?

Thanks

-Rob

[JimJ 11]

How large is your box? How much power are you sending the speaker?

[rob682e 0]

Pretty sure it's around 4ft^3 and tuned to 35hz...it's a prefab.

Here's a pic...

Gain is at 50% on the amp.

[JimJ 11]

Gain is at 50% on the amp.

Doesn't tell me anything...how much power are you sending it

If you don't know, that's clue #1 that there's a problem. Get a true RMS clamp meter and don't play it loud again until you can answer that question with a specific number

Check your amp's manual for mention of a subsonic filter, as well, and turn it on. 4cF is on the large end of Fi's recommended range, it doesn't surprise me you're bottoming it out if you don't know how much power you're running and don't have a SSF set with an enclosure tuned that high...

[rob682e 0]

The subsonic filter is and has been on since the install.

I can't give you an exact number and I don't have the money to buy a meter I'll use once...college isn't cheap.

I'm about 3 hours away from home where the shop I usually go to is.

[JimJ 11]

I can't give you an exact number and I don't have the money to buy a meter I'll use once...college isn't cheap.

Do you have a DMM?

There are some tools that are necessary if you want to do DIY things in audio, and knowing voltage, impedance, and current is crucial Unless you have a shop do everything, that's something you'll deal with in every audio setup you'll encounter.

It's also possible to set your gains solely by ear, but picking up distortion isn't the easiest thing at first for subbass.

[rob682e 0]

There is no distortion at all. It seems to be a specific low note and it's not the lowest note. If you're implying that I'm overpowering the BL, I doubt it but as I notice you've figured out, I don't know my stuff all that well.

And yeah, pretty much I got to be friends with the shop and they take care of it for me...I don't do well with math and hands on stuff, might explain why my major is computer forensics, not auto tech.

[NDMstang65 403]

Your unloading the woofer playing below tuning frequency of the port.

Few things you can do, either lower the tuning of your enclosure, don't play that music, or pick up a set of harrison labs f-mod's

It's not the woofers fault or an issue with the woofer, it's a simple tuning issue...

Thanks!

-Nick

[jonbearsmt 919]

didnt you have a problem with this install the day you drove it home from the shop??? the settings were maxed out and the sub was sounding like trash?

a prefab box is never a good idea to me.

[rob682e 0]

No that was just me being a nub...I haven't gotten to door speakers yet so there was a note in a song that I thought was a low the sub/box wasn't hitting but it ended up being a high that just sounded chitty through my speakers. And I adjusted the settings wrong, not the shop, when I got it.

I told the shop I wanted a box made, I had the specs already drawn out but he didn't think it was necessary and went ahead with the prefab...him being the professional he should know but oh well. I have been happy with it so far but this issue is kind of iffy. I don't have the money to have him build a box nor the skills to do it myself...or the resources/time now that I'm away for college.

[lee 2]

I know those kicker zx1000s bench around 1100-1200 watts, you're good there. However, you are on the higher side for volume. Together, big box plus big power = bottoming out on some low notes. I suggest you raise the subsonic filter frequency until the sub doesnt bottom out at those frequencies.

Only other thing I think it could be, is two or more panels smacking together causing a claking sound due to the thin wall material or joint construction they use in pre-fab boxes, (usually 5/8). This has happened to me in the past, but would be the last thing to check due to the top issue more than likely being the problem you're having trouble with.

Edited October 12, 2008 by Earthman

[rob682e 0]

The subsonic frequency isn't adjustable on the ZX1000.1. Call me crazy, stupid, whatever but I put the sub back in today and it doesn't make the noise anymore for some reason....

[christobear 0]

first sub i got was an Alpine type r. a similar thing happened to me, after a little while it strated making a slapping noise on certain notes. i finally took it out of the box and it turned out it was this clear sticker that protected the chrome part of the sub. it had come loose and was flapping around.

[KU40 173]

it may have been an air leak from somewhere around the sub on the mounting baffle and when you took it out and put it back in, it sealed better.

[rob682e 0]

Well the installer only put screws in the top 5 holes and not the bottom 3....So that could have been it.

Edited October 13, 2008 by Rob682e

[Duran 387]

Well the installer only put screws in the top 5 wholes and not the bottom 3....So that could have been it.

HAHA! That would be it! What a dumbass...

[rob682e 0]

Yeah, the wiring job looked great (to me)...when I took the sub out yesterday I wasn't sure why I only found screws in those holes. Oh well, leave it to the noob kid to fix it.