Different amp on my zcon

[noble brown]

So I was pushing the Zcon with a modded mtx81000, kept during off at loud volumes. I had a nominal .5 load on it and my trunk is hot as hell. It seemed like a no-brainer. So I plugged in a vfl4480. Guess what? Same ****. And on top of it, if I turn it up it sounds like I'm bottoming out the coil or something. This never happened with the mtx and it was noticeably louder. I don't know if the vfl will get as loud, I would expect it to but idk cause I can't get that level of output before the bottoming out happens. it might be clipping but it's doesn't sound like clipping. I have a scope and a clamp and will get to that this weekend but my question is why am I bottoming out at lower output levels on a direct swap. Could this be a difference in dampening?

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[jordon]

Check your filters on the amp.

 

[Slobalt]

So just swapping amps, you went with lower power but it's louder and bottoming out?

 

[gckless 5,000+ posts]

Those small vfl's don't do clean rated. If you set with a DMM, you're probably clipping.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

So I was pushing the Zcon with a modded mtx81000, kept during off at loud volumes. I had a nominal .5 load on it and my trunk is hot as hell. It seemed like a no-brainer. So I plugged in a vfl4480. Guess what? Same ****. And on top of it, if I turn it up it sounds like I'm bottoming out the coil or something. This never happened with the mtx and it was noticeably louder. I don't know if the vfl will get as loud, I would expect it to but idk cause I can't get that level of output before the bottoming out happens. it might be clipping but it's doesn't sound like clipping. I have a scope and a clamp and will get to that this weekend but my question is why am I bottoming out at lower output levels on a direct swap. Could this be a difference in dampening?

Define bottoming out, If its just making noise, its not bottoming out. If the coils are slapping against the bottom of the motor and you are reaching maximum xmax, then its bottoming out. Otherwise its something else.

 

[noble brown]

Check your filters on the amp.

Did that. That was my first thought. I've got it on a pretty narrow bandpass right now like 60 - 30hz.

 

[noble brown]

So just swapping amps, you went with lower power but it's louder and bottoming out?

Direct swap, from mtx81000 @ 1500rms @ 2ohms to vfl4480 @ 2240rms@ 1ohm. My set up runs at .5 so I would think that the vfl would be a better fit. Not as loud and "bottoms" out. Which doesn't make sense cause the mtx got louder with no coil slap (if that's what it is, I think it is). Only thing I can think of is the vfl has less dampening then the mtx and can't control the coil as well.

 

[noble brown]

Those small vfl's don't do clean rated. If you set with a DMM, you're probably clipping.

So I hear but even at clipping, on that power my Zcon shouldn't be even close to bottoming. I was driving my mtx to soft clipping and it was definitely louder w no problem.

On a side note I will clamp this with a scope and video to settle the debate on these amps.

 

[noble brown]

Define bottoming out, If its just making noise, its not bottoming out. If the coils are slapping against the bottom of the motor and you are reaching maximum xmax, then its bottoming out. Otherwise its something else.

Yeah I'm not 100% sure. I will look over the soft parts today to be sure but it really sounds like the coil's hitting. I would also suggest my box might be allowing it to unload but it was a direct swap and the other amp got louder with no issues.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Direct swap, from mtx81000 @ 1500rms @ 2ohms to vfl4480 @ 2240rms@ 1ohm. My set up runs at .5 so I would think that the vfl would be a better fit. Not as loud and "bottoms" out. Which doesn't make sense cause the mtx got louder with no coil slap (if that's what it is, I think it is). Only thing I can think of is the vfl has less dampening then the mtx and can't control the coil as well.

No the vfl hybrids are junk in general. Same **** happen with my old 4480.1 vfl hybrid too. My hifonics bxi 1610d was way louder in every sense in a direct swap both at 1 ohm at all times. Some people claim it does power but many MANY have complaints about this amp. Guessing its a quality control issue or something. Idk why others would keep recommending something thats a wildcard.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Yeah I'm not 100% sure. I will look over the soft parts today to be sure but it really sounds like the coil's hitting. I would also suggest my box might be allowing it to unload but it was a direct swap and the other amp got louder with no issues.

Let me guess, it'll play normally then all of the sudden when you hit a certain note, it'll make some nasty @ss noise. Its not bottoming out its a different noise. Bottoming out is when you are pass your mechanical limits in excursion. This noise from the vfl amps is totally different.

 

[noble brown]

Let me guess, it'll play normally then all of the sudden when you hit a certain note, it'll make some nasty @ss noise. Its not bottoming out its a different noise. Bottoming out is when you are pass your mechanical limits in excursion. This noise from the vfl amps is totally different.

Close... I've messed with music production a little bit and bass notes contain three parts. An attack, sustain and decay. Basically just sections of the wave form. That big punchy bass has a fast attack, and a decent sustain. A fast attack always produces a huge spike at the front end of the wave form which will clip big time if it's not compressed. It sounds exactly like it's not compressed. At first I thought it was just the decaf I was listening to. But it's not. Your suggestion sounds likely. That the amp is introducing this distortion right?

 

[noble brown]

No the vfl hybrids are junk in general. Same **** happen with my old 4480.1 vfl hybrid too. My hifonics bxi 1610d was way louder in every sense in a direct swap both at 1 ohm at all times. Some people claim it does power but many MANY have complaints about this amp. Guessing its a quality control issue or something. Idk why others would keep recommending something thats a wildcard.

The Brutus was louder huh? I was gonna go that route but wasnt sure. This came up for sale first and I thought it would be way better. Smh

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Everytime I say those amps are trash I get flamed.

Hell Everytime I say anything that makes sence I get flamed

 

[noble brown]

I'm not ready to throw the towel in on em yet. But it is definitely suspect right now.