What the hell, is one of my subs broken or am I just tripping?

[tf3090 10+ year member]

So, I have been using a Skar VVX-12 for several months now, powering it with 400wrms @ 4 ohms and it has sounded great. Just recently ordered another VVX-12 off the B-stock along with a custom box for two. I have had the new sub for a couple weeks now, and decided while waiting for the box I would test it out. Took my old sub out, left EVERYTHING on the amp the same, and plopped the new sub into the box. The only change I made was tightening up some of the speaker wiring.

With the old VVX, I would turn the volume up to 36 and it would get loud enough to somewhat flex my windshields and sidemirrors, and I figured since this new one wasn't broken in, it wouldn't be as loud. Boy was I shocked when I turned it up to 30 and my roof started flexing, what the hell? Quickly turned down the HU because I thought I wired it wrong or something and checked everything. Sub was wired to 4 ohms, my gains were exactly the same, but it sounded way louder for some reason

Is there any logical explanation behind this or am I just going crazy? My other sub sounded great, so I doubt it was broken, could tightening up the speaker wires have made it that much louder?

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[TitoThePirate 10+ year member]

same awg size of wire?

could be the sub was made slightly different?

 

[Dirtrider4eva 10+ year member]

unless they were loose as heck, no.

one sub had a much more broken in suspension versus the other woofer. the b-stock was probably their beater, and is nice and loose, where as your new one wont great broken in off 400 watts and stays stil. press down on the cones of both, i gurantee one is easier than the other.

 

[murph 10+ year member]

A stronger connection definitely gains db's but I wouldn't expect that much. Put your old sub back in and see if it is the same.

 

[tf3090 10+ year member]

unless they were loose as heck, no.one sub had a much more broken in suspension versus the other woofer. the b-stock was probably their beater, and is nice and loose, where as your new one wont great broken in off 400 watts and stays stil. press down on the cones of both, i gurantee one is easier than the other.

The old one is noticeably looser, and the new one is still pretty firm, which makes it even weirder

 

[KyleBechtold 5,000+ posts]

what does tighten up connections entitle exactly?

 

[tf3090 10+ year member]

A stronger connection definitely gains db's but I wouldn't expect that much. Put your old sub back in and see if it is the same.

I'll definitely try it tomorrow. It's night time right here and don't really want to wake up the neighbors.

what does tighten up connections entitle exactly?

Took out the speaker wire from the terminals, twisted the wire more, and made sure it all fit in the terminal. The wiring before wasn't very loose, I could pull on it and it would firmly stay in there.

 

[KyleBechtold 5,000+ posts]

I'll definitely try it tomorrow. It's night time right here and don't really want to wake up the neighbors.

Took out the speaker wire from the terminals, twisted the wire more, and made sure it all fit in the terminal. The wiring before wasn't very loose, I could pull on it and it would firmly stay in there.

did they possibly come out with a new model since your first one?

 

[tf3090 10+ year member]

did they possibly come out with a new model since your first one?

I don't think so. The old one says Skar Audio in the center with VVX-12 below it, the B-stock one is the same but doesn't have the VVX-12 on the bottom. I looked at them side by side and everything else looks exactly the same. I also told Kevin my intentions of using the two subs together, and he didn't say anything that would imply they were different subs.

 

[Dirtrider4eva 10+ year member]

weigh the subs, use a DDM, you might have a lower impedence.. if your original was a d2, and you got a D1, and wired it in parallel like you did the first one, now you got 2 ohms, hence more power.

 

[tf3090 10+ year member]

Already checked them out, both are D2 subs, and both were wired to a 4 ohm load

 

[VisceralSound 10+ year member]

weigh the subs, use a DDM, you might have a lower impedence.. if your original was a d2, and you got a D1, and wired it in parallel like you did the first one, now you got 2 ohms, hence more power.

I think skar is only d2/d4

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

suspension is getting worn out on the old sub.....

 

[sundownz Pro Seller]

They are all the same from first to newest runs.

Depending on where your vehicle peaks the fresher sub may be noticeably louder around the typical vehicle peak frequencies. The response is going to shift downward as the suspension breaks in -- in the case of the VVX the Fs gets very low. I wouldn't expect the kind of difference you are describing, though.

Most likely it has something to do with the connections or how well the woofer was seated to the box. It's not 100% applicable but in our single 8" woofer testing we gained over a dB by trimming the speaker wires to fit better in the terminals and variance in screw tightness has changed it nearly a dB as well.

 

[xmakeafistx 10+ year member]

They are all the same from first to newest runs.
Depending on where your vehicle peaks the fresher sub may be noticeably louder around the typical vehicle peak frequencies. The response is going to shift downward as the suspension breaks in -- in the case of the VVX the Fs gets very low. I wouldn't expect the kind of difference you are describing, though.

Most likely it has something to do with the connections or how well the woofer was seated to the box. It's not 100% applicable but in our single 8" woofer testing we gained over a dB by trimming the speaker wires to fit better in the terminals and variance in screw tightness has changed it nearly a dB as well.

Some really good facts right there, good to know before I start on my new build.