Does my sub need to be broken in?

[napkin]

I just installed a Lanzar MAXP154D and it sounds distorted on low frequencies. My friend said that I just need to play it on lower volume levels and after the sub is broken in it will sound fine. I have the gain and whatnot tuned on my amp, and it is distorted at lower volume levels so its not that im playing it too loud. I have heard that the whole breaking in a sub thing is a myth but maybe 15'' subs need to be broken in?

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[Lil Poot 5,000+ posts]

i imagine it sounds distorted because its a lanzar. they aren't exactly the greatest equipment, aside from the old optidrive amps.

could be a box issue though, what size box, and tuning if its ported?

 

[T9X 10+ year member]

I personally would break it in with a hammer.

I thought the whole 'breaking a sub in' thing was BS for the most part.

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[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

I just installed a Lanzar MAXP154D and it sounds distorted on low frequencies. My friend said that I just need to play it on lower volume levels and after the sub is broken in it will sound fine. I have the gain and whatnot tuned on my amp, and it is distorted at lower volume levels so its not that im playing it too loud. I have heard that the whole breaking in a sub thing is a myth but maybe 15'' subs need to be broken in?

You've told us what amp you're using but not what 15" sub you're using, what kind of enclosure it is in, etc.

We need a bit more information here other than the amp that's being used.

If it distorting at lower voume levels then to me it sounds like possibly what 1meanGTA suggested - some sort of enclosure issue.

It could also be from a myriad of other causes....improper settings on the source unit, the gain on the amp could be set wrong for the input signal it is receiving, or who knows what else, really.

As far as whether or not a break-in period is required ~ it's urban myth.

 

[napkin]

k well i just set it to the volume i normally listen to music at and figured if it doesn't break in and sound better i would send it back but then it started hissing and now doesnt work at all and smoke came out of the port so ya.....im guessing it was defective

 

[CRAZYCORNUTS18 10+ year member]

k well i just set it to the volume i normally listen to music at and figured if it doesn't break in and sound better i would send it back but then it started hissing and now doesnt work at all and smoke came out of the port so ya.....im guessing it was defective

wut kinda sub?

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

All signs point to amplifier clipping.

 

[napkin]

amp clipping would cause the sub to burn out? im kind of a noob so can someone explain what clipping is and how to prevent it? the amp i'm using is a Profile AP2000.

 

[cotjones 10+ year member]

amp clipping would cause the sub to burn out? im kind of a noob so can someone explain what clipping is and how to prevent it? the amp i'm using is a Profile AP2000.

if it was clipping its probably because your gains where set to high... the gain isn't a volume knob...

the gain is designed so that you can adjust it to match the voltage that your inputs to it are (preouts from your head unit)...

the best way to set your gain is to find out where the Maximum gain setting is and then adjust it by ear or real time anaylizer(as long as you don't exede the maximum gain setting you figured out)...

most head units will tell you what voltage they put out, and most amps have the voltage on the gains labled, so if it says 4 volt preouts, you set the gain to a maximum of 4 volts, you can go less but no more..

if the voltages aren't labled you will have to use a DMM

EDIT: CLIPPING: is when the voltage going through your amp is higher than its electrical components are designed to handle.

the reason is because the gain's purpose is to attenuate signals that are too strong for the amps components, (picture it as an adapter) if it's set too high, then the signal surpasses the amps capacity to regulate it...

in cheaper amps the unregulated signal may amplify and distort unpredictably and uncontrolled, thus sending a higher level signal to your sub than the amplifiers max rated rms output. that is how it can burn your subs.

in many subs this is where the MAX output comes from. generally properly set gains result in the amp rarely exeding it's max RMS rating