Sundown SA-12 and Hifonics BRX1100.1D: I did something wrong?

[Golitan11]

I finally installed these in my car a few hours ago and there is something wrong. After seeing a lot of videos and reading a lot the Sundown is without a doubt really hard hitting. But, I just set with a DMM my gain to run it at 800W @ 1 ohm (about 28V) without any EQ on the headunit and no low pass/subsonic on the amplifier at about volume 45-50 (maximum 62 on my Pioneer deck) and the subwoofer is barely moving at that volume (if even not) and this is not loud at all (except the speakers). Visually, my gain was set at about 9 o'clock, my subsonic was at 30 and my low pass filter at 50. So I decided to set my gain to 12 o'clock (middle), my subsonic to 25 and my low pass filter to 80. It is now a bit better, it is louder and still clean, but there is still almost no excursion. Also, even if I crank my volume, my voltage always stays at 13,8/13,9 (no voltage drop at ALL) and I am running a weak stock electrical system. There is something wrong for sure. What did I miss? Thanks.

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[Side Show 10+ year member]

sounds like it just needs more power.... try some test tones

 

[av83 10+ year member]

^ this. What tone did you use?

 

[BrownVanMan 10+ year member]

I've run into stuff like this before, what test tone did you use?

 

[Side Show 10+ year member]

type of box too? ported sealed? free-air lol

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

I finally installed these in my car a few hours ago and there is something wrong. After seeing a lot of videos and reading a lot the Sundown is without a doubt really hard hitting. But, I just set with a DMM my gain to run it at 800W @ 1 ohm (about 28V) without any EQ on the headunit and no low pass/subsonic on the amplifier at about volume 45-50 (maximum 62 on my Pioneer deck) and the subwoofer is barely moving at that volume (if even not) and this is not loud at all (except the speakers). Visually, my gain was set at about 9 o'clock, my subsonic was at 30 and my low pass filter at 50. So I decided to set my gain to 12 o'clock (middle), my subsonic to 25 and my low pass filter to 80. It is now a bit better, it is louder and still clean, but there is still almost no excursion. Also, even if I crank my volume, my voltage always stays at 13,8/13,9 (no voltage drop at ALL) and I am running a weak stock electrical system. There is something wrong for sure. What did I miss? Thanks.

is that brx 1100.1D powering one sundown? or two??

 

[Golitan11]

To answer your questions and possible uncoming question:

1. I am using a Pioneer DEH-X7500S (4V pre outs).

2. Here is what I did to set my first gain setting: set a 50 hz test tone on the headunit at around 75-80% volume (subwoofer disconnected), set the DMM at AC voltage and plug the right plugs into the amplifier speaker outputs and adjust the gain from that till you match the desired voltage (28 in my case).

3. It is brand new stock.

4. It is a Sundown SA-12 D2 wired in parallel. Also I tried to know the resistance to be sure with the DMM and I got 2 ohms from the speaker wires (connected to the amplifier and the enclosure), which is impossible for a 2 ohms dual voice coils subwoofer lol. I'm fucked

5. It is in a 2 cubic feet net ported L-Slot enclosure tuned at 35 hz.

 

[Side Show 10+ year member]

subs wired wrong or you've only wired up one voice coil

 

[Golitan11]

It is impossible. I did it right for sure I did this video said to do (100% sure).



It probably read this because the subwoofer was hooked up to the amplifier at the same time (which probably takes amplifier internals and DMM itself resistance in consideration).

 

[Golitan11]

Should I crank the subwoofer output level on my headunit to have the most out of my 4V preamps?

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Should I crank the subwoofer output level on my headunit to have the most out of my 4V preamps?

have your head unit bass EQ and levels set at 0, subwoofer level turned all the way up and redo the gain settings again.

 

[Golitan11]

Ok it's all right guys. I just did it again and it is all fine now (it pounds like never before lol). I just checked the resistance of my voice coils load again and I got 1,6 ohms (amplifier off). The DMM itself has a resistance of 0,7 ohms so it is close to 1 ohm in reality (which is what I want). I also set my gain again but this time with the subwoofer output level on the headunit to the maximum (+6) and it was at 0 before. The gain on the amplifier is now at about 1 o'clock (this position matched my voltage with a 50 hz test tone at volume 45 on 62) and then I set my low pass and subsonic. It pounds really hard, I have excursion and it does not seem to distort. Everything is fine! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

P.S. Should I try to set my gain with the subwoofer output level to 0 again or +6 is the best to minimize the amplifier work (lower gain) and use the full potentiel of my 4V pre outs? +6 was only to set my gain or I can keep it like this evrytime when I am listening to something? Thanks.

 

[Side Show 10+ year member]

set your gain with sub output at 0 not +6

 

[Golitan11]

Why? Is it not just an attenuation setting? Then it is useless to have 4V pre outs it is ridiculous.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

well its hard to say without a scope, but if you've found your sweet spot, just back off a tiny bit and you should be safe enough, sundown's a tough sub.