Free Air 6x9 Subs / Infinite Baffle

[Reckless]

I think I blew out my CDT 6x9 subs in 2 weeks using them in my rear deck with no box. I wasn't really pushing them too hard but they are clipping on and off.

I am about to order a replacement sub this time a free air sub. Can someone comment will these work for me?

Two 2 Magnadyne® LS69W 6"x9" Sub Car Audio Factory Replacement Subs 200W New | eBay

MAGNADYNE® LS69W 6"x9" Sub

I have a PPI amp that is giving out 115Wx2 at 4 ohm. I can't find any infinite baffle 6x9's but found these free air subs. Not understanding the difference completely but just want quality sound. Not interested in putting a subwoofer box as much as possible. This is going in my 1994 BMW 325is.

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[pickup1 5,000+ posts]

Infinite baffle and free air are about the same thing.

 

[pickup1 5,000+ posts]

All 6x9s are pretty much free air or infinite baffle.

 

[Reckless]

I had CDt Cl-6x9sub/cf and it blew in 2 weeks. I didn't have an enclosure behind it. I was only putting 115W to each speaker.

 

[Umbra]

No, they won't. RMS wattage on those is 50W a piece. Your amp is doing 115 and it sounds like you're clipping the signal. Those won't last a day.

You should look for something that can handle at least 100W RMS. You're better off with more than 115W if you're going to clip them. Redo the gains by following one of the numerous gain setting guides using the proper test tone (probably 40Hz, -7 or -10db to be safe). Here's a good guide with all the tones to choose from: Test Tones and Tuning Tutorial - All New Links, Again! - Tunez - All things music related - SMD Forum. There's no reason those things should've died on you in two weeks time.

Edit: Scratch that 40Hz number. The ones you blew only went down to 45. Use something your speakers can play. You're probably going to want to set a high pass filter or something. Sending low end sub bass to 6x9s won't help their longevity.

 

[Reckless]

I called the manufacturer Magnadyne and they said they can handle 115W RMS. In some other ad it has it listed as handling 90W RMS.

I don't understand how the CDT's blew. Did they need to be in an enclosure?

 

[Umbra]

No, they need to not play really low-end notes and be sent a clean signal.

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

CDT CL-69SubCF is rated at 190W RMS. They do not require an enclosure, and deep bass is not the reason these woofers would/could fail unless it was severely overextending the soft parts. If they are in fact blown, which I'm not certain they are from your first post in this thread, that is because of improper amplifier gain settings. That is the most common reason anyone would blow those woofers. You need to make sure there is nothing else happening back there that would sound like a damaged speaker. Vibrations can be mistaken for a bad speaker. Badly clipping power from the amplifier can sound pretty nasty, and that can also be mistaken for a damaged speaker. The extra harmonics from clipping is very unpleasant, plus you get a lot more heat going into the motor.

Do me a favor and turn the gain down on the amplifier. If you have set it by ear it could have been turned too high to try to get louder bass.

 

[Umbra]

I may have been mistaken. I thought we were talking about these:

WoofersEtc.com - CL-69SUB - CDT Audio 6x9" Mid/Subwoofers

Are we talking about these:

CDT Audio Subwoofer CL-69SUB CF

 

[Reckless]

Not sure if they are blown yet. I am going back to installer over the weekend if I get a chance. It could be an issue with a loose connection or amp. The sound is completely clipping out in rear, not sure why - I assumed bad sub.

I have the CL-69SUB/CF. If there is something better for 115WRMS I would be interested.