L7's breaking -in

[apexi5 10+ year member]

Is the L7 easy to overpower and blow the sub? How much wattage should I use to break it in?

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[Zash 10+ year member]

Well most people seem to think that breakin isn't a big deal. I'm fixing to install a kicker 12 inch L7 in the next few weeks. It will have 600 watts running through it at 4 ohms. I plan on running it fairly low for a week and then gradually start cranking it. I've also heard that it is better to run an L7 in a sealed box for a while before switching to ported...

 

[woahloud 10+ year member]

L7's DO require a break in period. If you don't, you'll be buying another.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

L7's DO require a break in period. If you don't, you'll be buying another.

Proof?

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

Proof?

the kicker tech manual....

Important Break-In InformationDue to the complex nature of the Solo-Baric® L7s they require a little extra time to break-in. Especially in sealed

enclosures, break-in is a must in order for woofers to produce optimum low bass response. Due to the high

performance suspension system incorporated in the Solo-Barics they are very stiff out of the box. Approximately

two weeks of daily playing will allow the suspension to break-in and reach its optimum equilibrium. The broken-in

sub will exhibit stronger bass performance, smoother response, and greater low bass extension.

For those of you with more sophisticated audio equipment, the Solo-Barics can be broken-in on the test bench

overnight with the following procedure.

Solo-Baric Freeair Break-in Procedure

1. Connect the speaker to a power amp of about fifty watts or more. The speaker should not be mounted in any

enclosure - just freeair. Please make sure it will not walk off the bench while it is playing!

2. Connect an audio generator to the input of the power amp, and adjust the generator to approximately 45Hz for

the S8L7, 35 Hz for the S10L7, 30 Hz for the S12L7, and 20 Hz for the S15L7.

3. Now adjust the gain on the amplifier and generator so that the cone is moving to Xmax. This can be determined

visually by looking at the blur depth of the logo on the ISD. A close approximation will do. On the S8L7 this will be

about 3/4", on the S10L7 about 1", on the S12L7 about 1", and on the S15L7 about 1 1/4".

NOTE: Keep in mind that as the speaker is used under normal conditions the break-in will continue, so if you don't

have time for the complete break-in period the speaker will still break-in itself under normal usage.

of course there is a "note" but that only if you dont have time for the COMPLETE break in period. not if you dont have time to start it at all. of course i dont see anything that says the sub will get screwed up without a break in period. so you could argue both ways.

 

[kjwiehoff 10+ year member]

all subs require a breaking in period to some extent.... Do you race an engine you just finished building?

 

[jtomsic 5,000+ posts]

i broke my pair of L7s in for like 2-3 days just because that surround is a pretty thick rubber and felt stiff until after a day or two.

 

[Termlab 10+ year member]

L7's DO require a break in period. If you don't, you'll be buying another.

this is where myths and misconceptions come from....... yes you can check the tech manuals and they tell you that they recommend but you dont HAVE to do anything.

i've owned many kicker subwoofers and i dont use a break in procedure period. i also dont play them at half volume for any given time, and im not "buying another" any time soon.

the tech manuals also dont say its imperitive that you break it in........ that they will do it on thier own. yes i've read them..... several times.

 

[Polecat 5,000+ posts]

for optimum SQ, we prefer they get broken in, but really no 'need' to to make the woofer last longer.

And yes, i've built race engines and broke them in, set the valve lash, ran until warm past cam brake in, change oil and filter, and went racing... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

for optimum SQ, we prefer they get broken in

Not picking a fight; but do you (Kicker) have any proof of actual measureable data showing significant differences between pre-"broke in" and post-"broke in" subs??? Feeding my own curiousity, and I know I'm not the only person who would be interested in such data, assuming the changes were actually significant enough to matter //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Termlab 10+ year member]

for optimum SQ, we prefer they get broken in, but really no 'need' to to make the woofer last longer.
And yes, i've built race engines and broke them in, set the valve lash, ran until warm past cam brake in, change oil and filter, and went racing... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

how are you doing mr. kicker chat mod......... who isnt even in the room half as much as i am //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[Spkrman]

Not picking a fight; but do you (Kicker) have any proof of actual measureable data showing significant differences between pre-"broke in" and post-"broke in" subs??? Feeding my own curiousity, and I know I'm not the only person who would be interested in such data, assuming the changes were actually significant enough to matter //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I noticed a difference in the audiobahn aw150q's that I had a while back after they were broken in. Sounded a heck of alot better, more of a low end. But farther back in the day my cousin had a pair of RF power subs... the SVC ones (lol). They just didn't seem as loud after they were broken in... and there was a *noticeable* difference. They went from rock hard stiff to pretty loose, which seems the trend with some subs.

Most people at dbdrag finals were using *fresh* l7's... older ones (even though not broken) weren't as loud.

 

[jtomsic 5,000+ posts]

fresh as in 2004 model or just a new woofer period?

 

[Polecat 5,000+ posts]

Not picking a fight; but do you (Kicker) have any proof of actual measureable data showing significant differences between pre-"broke in" and post-"broke in" subs??? Feeding my own curiousity, and I know I'm not the only person who would be interested in such data, assuming the changes were actually significant enough to matter //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

they have listened to them in cars and in the lab. I have spoken to Mark E and Gary B alot about this, and thye say all SQ setups should be 'warmed up' before actual judging. Same speaks for the R&D guys. For optimal Q, loosen the suspension some. Now for SPL, we have tested and seen in many demo and competitor cars, new ones actually are louder, right out of the box.

 

[Polecat 5,000+ posts]

how are you doing mr. kicker chat mod......... who isnt even in the room half as much as i am //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

I can only do so much for free, at home, while I should be with my family. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif