Sub or Amp problem? (Orion Cobalt 2100 & Clarion PXW1024 10s)

[RedMosquito]

Hi there, this would be my first post, but I've lurked around for a while.

(cliffnotes at the bottom)

Anyways, here is my problem. I have a Orion Cobalt 2100 Amp that was powering 2 Orion XTR DVC 10's in a ported box. I've had this for about 10 years and it's been great for my needs. I had this hooked up in 2 channel mode wired to show the Amp 2 OHM's on each channel.

A few weeks ago, the subs started to sound bad, they would clip at high volume and struggle to produce deep lows without distortion so I decided it was time to replace them.

So last week I picked up a pair of Clarion PXW1024 10's. They are 4 OHM, DVC, 300W continuous, 600W peak. I wanted to just unhook my old subs and pop these ones in their place.

So I hook them up and they sound like total crap! I am barely getting any bass out of them, and if I turn up the volume, they clip like crazy (or violently, if you will). All I am looking for here is what I had, wasn't looking for improvement, but certainly didn't want any worse.

So anyways, I rewired the subs to run at 4 OHM mono/bridged to my Amp (which will put out 400W RMS in this configuration) and it's even worse. I have to crank the gain all the way, then put my deck at like +15 on the sub control to just get some moderate base at low volume, forget trying to play it loud.

So, I guess my question is, firstly, I understand subs need a certain amount of time to get 'broken in', am I just being too impatient? I can't imagine that drastic of an improvement though. Secondly, could the problem be my Amp here? It's been like a rock for all the time I've had it, and I really have not abused it too much over the years.

Any thoughts would be appreciated, sorry for the novel length post

cliffnotes: dude bought subs, new subs sound crappy, dude is wondering if it's his amp that is the problem.

Click to read more...

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

i'd try out the amp.....probability that both sets of subs are bad and they just happen to be doing the same thing is very unlikely

 

[RedMosquito]

I think it is the head unit. I rewired the subs and the amp to run in 2 channel mode (subs wired to show 2 OHM's per channel).

Now, when I connect the 2 sub outputs from my deck, I get little or no bass. If I disconnect either the left or right sub input on the amp, everything is fine (one sub runs fine). If I disconnect the left sub output from the deck, the right sub pounds like it should, if I diconnect the right sub output and reconnect the left, the left sub will pound like it should. If I connect them both, little or no bass. I hooked up a different 2 channel amp and the exact same thing happens.

Any ideas? Does this sound like a HU problem?