Why does my new sub sound like its "maxing out"

[Jlaudioeh]

I have a new JL audio 13.5" TW5 Shallow driver in an enclosed box. Im powering it with Alpine MRP-M350

Class D Monoblock Amplifier. It sounds fine at low and mid range volume but when i turn it up it sounds like its "maxing out" The sub should be able to handle twice what that amp can put out.....Any ideas?

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[garychoffmann 10+ year member]

Sounds like it might be the amp clipping. If the bass changes audibly chances are you are over driving the amplifier

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

You might be clipping it into distortion. Maxed out = bottoming out where the voice coils are slamming against the magnet and losing control hearing a lot of mechanical noise. Distortion from clipping just sounds like cr*ap. You either need more power if you expect more out of it. It could also be you are expecting too much out of a shallow sub. Try repositioning the subwoofer, subwoofer placement can actually make you a lot louder depending on where you put it.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

How did you set the gain? I'm thinking you have it wrong.

 

[Jlaudioeh]

Amp apparently tops out at 350W RMS @ 2ohms, sub is 600W. Could be that i am "clipping". I will try playing with the gain but more than likely I am asking too much of the amp

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

max gain does not mean max power from the amp. Use a multi-meter to set the gains properly. Google how to set gains with a DMM