Subwoofer Heat???? Please help

[JettaGLI 10+ year member]

I just got a new pair of 12w6v2's and I was pounding them for a while tonight and noticed that the frame (where you screw the sub to the baffle) is quite warm, plus there is a smell in my car (I have the rear seats down for now) that only comes around when I really drive the subs hard. Is it normal for the baskets to heat up like that?

And the smell..... would that just be because they are new and breaking themselves in?

I am powering them with a JL 1000/1, and, I am aware of how to set the gain and listen for distortion.

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[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

Well might be that they are just breaking in. What kind of smell is it? I used to smell glue in my old car cause the box was built for sh it!

 

[JettaGLI 10+ year member]

Well might be that they are just breaking in. What kind of smell is it? I used to smell glue in my old car cause the box was built for sh it!

It does have kind of a glue smell, but the box was used for about a month before I put these subs in.

I am more worried about the basket heating up.... is this normal?

 

[iagrdshaka 5,000+ posts]

I think you will be fine since you said you just got the subs. Just be easy with the gain.

 

[JettaGLI 10+ year member]

Ok, so the smell is ok, I figured it was becaue of new speakers, but.. what about the sub basket heating up? This is what is really bugging me.

I can tell by sound when the gain is set too high. THere is no audible distortion, and... I could probably go a little higher on the gain.

 

[JettaGLI 10+ year member]

Either:
1) You're just smelling the excess glue burning off the voice coil

or

2) You're pushing the sub too hard and the glue is actually melting off the voice coil (not good)

If you're worried, turn the boost/gain down ...

By the way, the boost is off, as well as JL's Parametric EQ.

Bakset heating up????????? Driving me nuts!

 

[JettaGLI 10+ year member]

Speakers are extremely inefficient ... The 12W6v2 is about 0.25% efficient, meaning 0.25% of the energy that is sent through it is converted into mechanical motion while the other 99.75% is converted into heat. The basket is made of metal. Metal is a good conductor of heat ...

SO.... I should not worry about the heat then? The reason I am so worried is because these are ebay purchases, and we all know what that means when it comes to warranty.

 

[JettaGLI 10+ year member]

Well, I'm saying it's perfectly normal for a speaker to create heat ... however, I'm not sure if it's creating too much heat ...
Like I said, if you're worried, turn it down. Reducing power output (and, as a result, heat) by 26% will only result in an up to 1 dB drop (barely audible). This can easily be done using your subwoofer control and turning it down 1 dB (i.e. going from +1 to 0).

Thanks, I tuned my amp with my sub level set to 3. I would do the volt tune that JL reccomends, but everytime I have done it, it has resulted in way too much gain, so I am sure that I am below the reccomended output voltage, plus I can just tell buy the way the subs sound, that it is not overgained..... UNLESS, it is possible to be overgained and still have sharp and accurate bass response.

Ahhhhh, shit, maybe I should just get out the DMM and volt tune it just to make myself feel better. I know I will just end up turning it down anyway.

 

[JettaGLI 10+ year member]

Well, like I said, just turning the sub level down to +2 will reduce heat by 20% ... and that's not a very large difference in output ...

I understand, but from the SOUND of the subs, I still have room go up, it's just the smell and the heat that has me concerned. Can things sound good, shoot, GREAT, and not be right?

 

[JettaGLI 10+ year member]

Well, I guess time will tell. I am tired!

 

[BassAddictJ 5,000+ posts]

you'll be ok

 

[JettaGLI 10+ year member]

Thanks. I have an air leak in the box, I can hear it. I have to rip out the subs and I am going to go silicone crazy. Should be fun since it is a wheel well enclosure with lots of glass!

 

[AllStar1500bd 5,000+ posts]

Thanks. I have an air leak in the box, I can hear it. I have to rip out the subs and I am going to go silicone crazy. Should be fun since it is a wheel well enclosure with lots of glass!

you got any pics?

 

[JettaGLI 10+ year member]

you got any pics?

Yes I do, some good ones too... progress pics, before pics with the w3's, pics with w6's and 2 500/1's , and more pics coming of the newest beast.... a 1000/1. I am not posting any pics untill everything is complete. I have to rip out the HU and do the avic N2 Mod, I have to swap out XM receivers, I have to fix the air leak, the hood has to be painted due to a cosmetic mod, HID's are going in the projectors, the amp rack cover has to be re-cut to accomodate the 1000/1.

WHen I get it all done, I will load them all on my photo hosting service and let ya'll know.

I see your down south, where are all the sound comps around PDX? I have yet to ask a shop, but have been meaning too.