umm, I'm not sure, but I know I need help.

[Syntax12 10+ year member]

So I just installed a 1000w amp, a new head unit, and hooked up a 10in tubed subwoofer. All went well, and it worked.

now, today driving around, I smelt burning in my car, like something on fire. checked my subwoofer when i stopped later, and it wasn't bumping like it should be, tapped hard a few times on the head, and it would start to bump, but scratchy, like it burnt out.

I figured it just was old, which it was. I just hooked up one of my 12's to it by touching the wires to the 12, and i smelt the same burning from where the wires touched to it.

The amp is up most of the way, it wasn't way loud though, right now I only have 1 sub hooked up to it until I get a box for both... and that 1 is hooked only into left side, and a switch is off, that apparently sets it for one. it's some crappy Sony XPLOD brand amp and 12's.

So my question is... why did I smell burning? is it because I have a low gauge wire?

(photo): http://i41.tinypic.com/29qfrm9.jpg

if I hook both 12's up (they are 400w each), will I be better off? can I still bridge them? should I turn down the amps power?

Thanks

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[SlabRider210 10+ year member]

i would turn the amp down and hook up both 12's. It is not good for the amp to be turned all the way up could be clipping.

 

[Sarthos 10+ year member]

I'd get something other than Sony Xplod. There's a reason why they're called Xplod, it's their destined fate.

 

[SlabRider210 10+ year member]

what kind of amp is it?

 

[Syntax12 10+ year member]

It's a Sony XPLOD amp, 1000w... purchased at my local walmart. my friend has it and it seems to power his two bridged 10's in a box fine... so i'm guessing it'll be alright for my 2 12's once i have them boxed and hooked up.

I'm not going for anything too killer, just wanted a little extra bump, and my local walmart was about all I had around for similar stuff.

Thanks for the help though.

Does the cable I used for the speakers affect the sound or amount of sound or anything? I mean bigger gauge to a certain point = better sound? In that pic as you can see, pretty small gague stuff.

also, think I shot that 10 now? think it's toast?

 

[SlabRider210 10+ year member]

Now i'm not trying to talk shit but the 10 is a vr3 if you want some thing cheap that still sounds good i would go with the Pioneer TS-W307D4. i ran these with a 16ga wire hooked up to a Pioneer GM-5400T with a 8ga wire going to it and it sounded good and i hit a 137.6db not bad for a 380 watt system

 

[Syntax12 10+ year member]

see here's the thing... not too much of that made sense to me. Don't get me wrong, i'm a very technical savvey person, as I work in computer programming and website design, however car audio, isn't my thing, so to speak.

so basically you're saying get different woofers? I'll try running those for now.

Is my amp probably okay though, i mean 1000w isn't bad for a starter system, right?

 

[SlabRider210 10+ year member]

yea not bad at all. i started off with the same thing i pick all my stuff up at a pawn shop for 50 bucks. i just want you to know that those VR3s are in my eyes the worst subs on earth.

 

[Syntax12 10+ year member]

kk thanks. I plan on getting some pioneer 600ws (peak 800) that my friend has that bump pretty **** good.

this will work for now though.

 

[BobbyDD 10+ year member]

Just so you know, that Sony isn't 1000 watts. What gauge power and ground wire are you using?

 

[Kyle. 10+ year member]

With the amp all the way up, You could have been pushing the sub to hard, Causing it to burn up.

How Many watts is the sub.

Also, Sony Blows.

 

[widgit117 10+ year member]

^I agree that Sony blows^, that said I have two Sony amps. Did you break the speaker in properly? I had that smell then it went away. You probably have an amp that might do say 800W peak and 400RMS. Thats why Sony blows. Well one reason. Get a class d monoblock and you should be fine.

 

[Sarthos 10+ year member]

ebay is cheaper and better than wal mart lol.