What causes the "fluttering" noise in subwoofers and how do I prevent it?

[SweetNZesty]

I'm new to car audio.

At lower volumes, my system's bass is very smooth, but at higher volumes it kind of sounds like trilling or rolling r's with your tongue - a rapid, fluttering mechanical noise. It doesn't sound good

I noticed this with my Rockford Punch P3s, which I returned because I thought maybe they weren't high enough quality subs and perhaps there was also port chuffing.

Now, I have two new Adire Brahma 12" subs in a sealed box (2.5 ft cubed, minus the volume occupied by the subs) powered by a Sundown SIA 2500W amplifier. I'm running them with a stock battery and alternator so I'd assume that they are underpowered.

The amp comes with a light that flashes when clipping is occurring, but the fluttering noise occurs before the amp indicates clipping. However, my lights also dim before the clipping light flashes, so I wonder if there may be clipping anyway.

I also wonder if the subs could be bottoming out, but these seems unlikely as they are 1000W RMS each and I doubt my car is really putting out that much power.

Or maybe this is just how even high-quality subwoofers sound and I have unrealistic expectations.

So, what causes the fluttering noise and how can I prevent it at high volumes? Would a 250 amp alternator fix my issues, or is something else going on?

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[Bobbytwonames 5,000+ posts]

You might be playing bass frequencies that are too low for your box. Are you playing rebassed music?

 

[ThxOne Premium Member]

Um.... did you run this SIA on the Punch P3's by chance?

 

[SweetNZesty]

Um.... did you run this SIA on the Punch P3's by chance?

No, I had a Kicker amp which I also returned as it didn't match the RMS of the Brahmas

 

[ThxOne Premium Member]

No, I had a Kicker amp which I also returned as it didn't match the RMS of the Brahmas

You put a Kicker on some Rockfords..........................

Anyway, how much power were you feeding those P3's? I ask because I have a pair I am running now and I only made them "flutter" one time. I was overpowering them in a ported enclosure. Once the gain was set correctly they haven't "fluttered" since.

 

[SweetNZesty]

You put a Kicker on some Rockfords..........................

Anyway, how much power were you feeding those P3's? I ask because I have a pair I am running now and I only made them "flutter" one time. I was overpowering them in a ported enclosure. Once the gain was set correctly they haven't "fluttered" since.

It was the Kicker 1800W monoamp. I thought Kicker was a reputable brand

 

[ThxOne Premium Member]

It was the Kicker 1800W monoamp. I thought Kicker was a reputable brand

They are very reputable. Kicker will also do more than their stated, rated power. You may have just pushed those poor P3's too hard.

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

I'm new to car audio.

At lower volumes, my system's bass is very smooth, but at higher volumes it kind of sounds like trilling or rolling r's with your tongue - a rapid, fluttering mechanical noise. It doesn't sound good

I noticed this with my Rockford Punch P3s, which I returned because I thought maybe they weren't high enough quality subs and perhaps there was also port chuffing.

Now, I have two new Adire Brahma 12" subs in a sealed box (2.5 ft cubed, minus the volume occupied by the subs) powered by a Sundown SIA 2500W amplifier. I'm running them with a stock battery and alternator so I'd assume that they are underpowered.

The amp comes with a light that flashes when clipping is occurring, but the fluttering noise occurs before the amp indicates clipping. However, my lights also dim before the clipping light flashes, so I wonder if there may be clipping anyway.

I also wonder if the subs could be bottoming out, but these seems unlikely as they are 1000W RMS each and I doubt my car is really putting out that much power.

Or maybe this is just how even high-quality subwoofers sound and I have unrealistic expectations.

So, what causes the fluttering noise and how can I prevent it at high volumes? Would a 250 amp alternator fix my issues, or is something else going on?

I would get the Big3 Done for sure

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[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Those subs may do much better Ported? Id would look into that also.
Kicker still make great amplifiers, They have been around for a very long time. Ive still got some old ZR240 amps that will run @2ohms mono and will push a 1k 10 or 12 all day long pretty brute

 

[SweetNZesty]

They are very reputable. Kicker will also do more than their stated, rated power. You may have just pushed those poor P3's too hard.

Maybe I just have unrealistic expectations. That's very unfortunate, it's really not even that loud before sound quality degrades. Can't even feel it in my chest. It does sound much better than with no subwoofers, but not for the amount if money I paid

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

Maybe I just have unrealistic expectations. That's very unfortunate, it's really not even that loud before sound quality degrades. Can't even feel it in my chest. It does sound much better than with no subwoofers, but not for the amount if money I paid

Was the same box used with both sets of subs? It really sounds like a box issue to me

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Maybe I just have unrealistic expectations. That's very unfortunate, it's really not even that loud before sound quality degrades. Can't even feel it in my chest. It does sound much better than with no subwoofers, but not for the amount if money I paid

Id build an enclosure close to specs ported for those subs and give them some breathing room. Thats me

 

[SlugButter]

You’re clipping the hell out of your subs probably. youre probably dropping really low on voltage as you push it. I had a fuse blow on my power wire recently but my second battery kept my system going for awhile before I noticed I had no alternator power. I kept hearing a metallic rattling sound from my subwoofer. Amp was running on only 11 volts and clipping my my subs as I turned up the volume. Replaced the fuse and getting full power to my amp stopped the clipping and the rattling.

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Maybe I just have unrealistic expectations.

I'd say so if you think that stock electrical system is up to the job of feeding a 2500W amplifier.

 

[SweetNZesty]

You might be playing bass frequencies that are too low for your box. Are you playing rebassed music?

I am not

 

[SweetNZesty]

I'd say so if you think that stock electrical system is up to the job of feeding a 2500W amplifier.

Is it likely that a 250 amp alternator and big 3 wiring would help this issue?

 

[ThxOne Premium Member]

Maybe I just have unrealistic expectations. That's very unfortunate, it's really not even that loud before sound quality degrades. Can't even feel it in my chest. It does sound much better than with no subwoofers, but not for the amount if money I paid

Something wasn't right. My P3 10's on a RF Prime 1200 mono amp just last night was bouncing my roof, my mirrors and I could feel it like crazy in my chest to Beastie Boys "Intergalactic"

 

[SweetNZesty]

Something wasn't right. My P3 10's on a RF Prime 1200 mono amp just last night was bouncing my roof, my mirrors and I could feel it like crazy in my chest to Beastie Boys "Intergalactic"

This is such a subjective question, but did it sound good to you? Like smooth bass, or do you accept that a certain amount of mechanical noise comes with subwoofers? Because mine does get kind of loud, it just doesn't sound good

 

[SweetNZesty]

Id build an enclosure close to specs ported for those subs and give them some breathing room. Thats me

I have heard that Brahmas perform better in a ported enclosure but I am hesitant on dropping another $400 on a custom enclosure just to find that it still falls short of my expectations.

 

[SweetNZesty]

Was the same box used with both sets of subs? It really sounds like a box issue to me

No, I was using Rockford's pre-built ported enclosure that comes with dual Punch P3s. Now I'm using a 2.5 ft3 sealed enclosure.