Subs Barely Moving... Searched Everywhere....

[chronicblazen 10+ year member]

I've searched all over the forum for people with the same problem with a couple of finds, but no luck. I'll describe the problem as simple as I can...

(2) 4ohmDVC 12" Kicker CVR's

powered by Kicker SX900.4

I got the kicker bridged down to two channels (it's a 4 channel amp). The specs don't show a power rating if wired to 2ohms, so I assume it isn't stable at that level. So right now I have the subs at 4ohms (only one voice coil hooked up).

The amp starts up normal, but the subs are barely moving as if wayy underpowered. Here's a little background information which makes this confusing...

I had two DVC 4ohm Pioneer Subs that I had for a really long time. One day (after I had taken them out of my car for a couple of days) I put them back in my car and they barely moved (just like the kickers I have now), so i assumed they finally kicked the bucket.

I bought these two kickers mentioned earlier from a friend, that had them hooked up and running ( i heard them going before they got taken out, and was there during the process). Then I hooked them up to my amp, and the same thing happened (they were barely moving). So i assumed that it was my amp that was bad, I went out and bought the kicker amp that i mentioned earlier (once again I seen it work before I bought it) and put it in. Still the same problem.

I haven't messed with the settings on my headunit (from before, and after the problem happened). Although I did go in and adjusted all the settings for the sub output plenty of times after. I changed all the settings on the amplifier (which are a little confusing because they aren't knobs, it's all digital). Turned the gain up, crossover lo pass, everything.

So I've pretty much done everything. Don't know what else to do. Any ideas before I take it to a car audio shop and waste money for these guys to test my equipment?

Click to read more...

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

make sure the rca's are plugged in the input....

also

test the rca voltage to make sure your hu's pre-amp is working

 

[CJL 10+ year member]

Didnt read everything but make sure their wired up right and not out of phase,make sure your amp's gain is set correct.

 

[chronicblazen 10+ year member]

thanks for the quick replies guys...

double triple checked the RCA's... even used a different set thinking that may be the problem. my head unit (pioneer premier, forgot the model) has three RCA outputs (front, back, and subs) tried all of them. and also made sure they were in the input not output on the amp.

took subs out of the box and checked wiring couple of times also... i am dumbfounded...

 

[ThatChevyGuy 5,000+ posts]

DONT EVER

run one voice coil.

 

[CRXBMPN 5,000+ posts]

do you have it set to high pass filter so there are no lows?

 

[benchambers80]

make sure the light on the amp is on. make sure you input selection is set to 2 channel... pics of the side of the amp would help ( where the swtiches are)

 

[CRXBMPN 5,000+ posts]

nevermind you mentioned it at the end

 

[benchambers80]

if you are running them in parralel the amp is seeing a 1 ohm load per channel, it could be in protect.

 

[benchambers80]

I would wire up to 8 ohm and then bridge it to 2 channels.

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

DONT EVERrun one voice coil.

it can be done with no problems:fyi:

 

[benchambers80]

it can be done with no problems:fyi:

I heard against it.

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

I heard against it.

a DVC subwoofer rated at 800 watts is 400 watts per coil....it will run all day long on 400 watts on one coil

I can back this with articles and plenty of experts

 

[chronicblazen 10+ year member]

i'm headin' off to work, when I come back I'll try these things out...

one question though, if you can't just hook one coil in a DVC up, is it impossible to run a 4ohm DVC sub at 4ohms? (by itself)

the amp is on, and running. i can hear the fan when it starts, and it has a digital display that remains on, that tells me the voltage, temperature, and all that crap.

the crossover is set to lowpass.

 

[benchambers80]

I can back this with articles and plenty of experts

Please, feel free to enlighten me.