I've got a Smelly Smell

[tanpatnode 10+ year member]

So I have a RF T0D215 or the 15" T0 that is rated for 800W RMS at one ohm, paired with it I've got a Hifonics Brutus 1200.1 (I know...), I know that the amp overpowers it and before say about a month ago I just sort of winged the levels of the amp and when it started to smell I know there was a problem and to turn it down.

Issue is now that I tested voltages with an accurate MM and found exactly 800W at just shy of 3/4 power on my Kenwood Deck (for those of you who knows Kenwood, 27-28) but I am still getting that horrible smell of like burning technology.

What did I do wrong?

What is the smell?

How bad for the sub is it?

As always thanks for any responses, guys are on here are always great!

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[SMS 10+ year member]

is it a clean 800w? i like to use an oscope. what is your lpf and subsonic set to? what are your box specs?

 

[tanpatnode 10+ year member]

Yeah definitely clean, all power and connections are all good with good clean wire. LPF is I want to say 26hz and subsonic i want to say something around 60-70? I've got 6X9's which fill some of the lower stuff so I like to leave it a little lower. It's a super ported or whatever they're called at I think 4.6CF?

 

[Sleeklsc 5,000+ posts]

Yeah definitely clean, all power and connections are all good with good clean wire. LPF is I want to say 26hz and subsonic i want to say something around 60-70? I've got 6X9's which fill some of the lower stuff so I like to leave it a little lower. It's a super ported or whatever they're called at I think 4.6CF?

Thats the xover setting(60-70), whats the ss set too?

 

[gckless 5,000+ posts]

What are your EQ settings on the HU? It's possible you're clipping even before it gets to the amp.

 

[tanpatnode 10+ year member]

Bass boost is entirely off on my HU and my bad, Lowpass is at probably 60-70 and my subsonic is at 26hz. Does that help? I feel like the smell has got to be bad have you ever experienced anything like this?

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

If your sub is getting smelly you're 100% definitely exceeding it's thermal limits. I've seen some subs that can play stinky again and again for years, and others it's a sign of imminent failure. My advice is to just keep on beating on it until it breaks and then buy a better sub.

 

[tanpatnode 10+ year member]

Ugh, I kind of figured I'd hear this... it was great until I amped all the other speakers, it holds in there but at loud volumes it doesn't exceed my expectations just meets them. Barely. Especially when it is smelling when I am listening to rock music not heavy bass or anything like that. Maybe I'll go back there and turn the dial down an 8th or so and maybe that'll fix it.

I was considering a pair of 15 L7's but man I don't know..

 

[garretttt4 10+ year member]

Ugh, I kind of figured I'd hear this... it was great until I amped all the other speakers, it holds in there but at loud volumes it doesn't exceed my expectations just meets them. Barely. Especially when it is smelling when I am listening to rock music not heavy bass or anything like that. Maybe I'll go back there and turn the dial down an 8th or so and maybe that'll fix it. I was considering a pair of 15 L7's but man I don't know..

Don't get l7s. Just.... Don't.

 

[AnthonyO 10+ year member]

Don't get l7s. Just.... Don't.

Agreed. For the price of L7's you can definitely get better and louder. With the power that you have I would definitely recommend an American Bass XFL15

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

So since you have clean wire you think you have a clean signal?

 

[tanpatnode 10+ year member]

So since you have clean wire you think you have a clean signal?

I guess you're right. I never gave it any further thought, figured with good wire means you have a relatively clean signal. Thanks everyone for all your help. What does one of those American Bass guys run? Be siked to swoop a used one but we'll see.

 

[Dirtrider4eva 10+ year member]

Your voltage could be low. Also make sure the ground on the amp is good I'm either calling it to be the enclosure or hu settings.

 

[JayDubb757 10+ year member]

is it a clean 800w? i like to use an oscope. what is your lpf and subsonic set to? what are your box specs?

Yeah definitely clean, all power and connections are all good with good clean wire. LPF is I want to say 26hz and subsonic i want to say something around 60-70? I've got 6X9's which fill some of the lower stuff so I like to leave it a little lower. It's a super ported or whatever they're called at I think 4.6CF?

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[PapaGeno21 10+ year member]

Clean has nothing to do with the install. Clean means the signal is not clipped which means the waves are not squaring off at the top, they are staying nice and round so to speak.

Clipping happens from a variety of reasons, but you really need to scope your setup. Using a DMM will not yield clean signal as your amp may clip at 800W or the deck could be clipping from the get go.

Too many variables. If the sub is smelly, back the gains down some. That may be your only way to tell for now. Just don't let the thing stink for long or she will not forgive you.