Car subwoofer question.......

[GT578]

I have an RCA cable running from my head unit to this two-channel amp. The amp(only 200watts) is then connected to two Visonik V10KA subs. The subs are enclosed in a box and its inside my trunk ( 96' camry). Is....the reason I get distored sound at higher volumes or rap music due to the amp?? Or ....is it due to the trunk rattling...which it does ......but there are songs with really deep bass....which causes rattling noises.....any help with wiring or general help would be appreciated....thanks.

 

[minendo]

Are you RCA cables run on the opposite side of the car as the power wire?

 

[sohcrates]

what kind of amp is it?

"distortion" at high volumes is *usually* the amp...assuming you're subs are half decent and properly enclosed

 

[GT578]

Do you mean the power wire that is connected to the battery?? ....

THe wire from the batter is going through the driver side...and the wires from the head unit is on the other side.

I'm using an MTX box ....so I guess enclosure is fine......so I guess it is the amp.....its by precisionpower or something like that.....

 

[Ns1]

waht kinda distortion?

chances are you're clipping your subs by not giving them enough power


and ppi makes great amps btw

waht are the sepcs on the subs?

 

[BigLance]

yea precision power amps are pretty nice, good sq. probably not the problem. are the rca's real cheap ?
also check your gain, if its two high it can cause a lot of distortion.. bad for the subs too.

 

[GT578]

Wait...i found the amp name.....its Phase Linear PL200 ...... 2x50watt RMS .....2x100 max....etc.

Sorry for the name mixup....i don't know anything about subs......my friend gave/installed it for me for me building him a computer.

I'm using Monster audio cables for the subs.....also ....what do you mean by the gain??? ........

 

[Ns1]

okay, you are definately clipping your subs


2 subs powered a 2x50 amp?

might as well get rid of 1 sub and then just do 1x100 on the remaining sub

 

[Adul]

gain increase the signal strength coming in. Before it gets amplified. Try turning down the gain on the amp.

Phase linear is a so so amp.

 

[GT578]

Can you explain to me what clipping the subs mean???? ....WHat exactly happens if the subs don't get enough power??




Thanks for all the explanations.....I really appreciate the info.

 

[Ns1]

sound is a sine wave yes? meaning it's nice and curvey

when you clip a sub instead of being nice and curvey it ends up being like a box

this results in damage to your subs


clipping is caused by driving your subs too hard with too little power, which is what you are probably doing

you're much better off driving 1 sub with enough power than 2 subs with minimal power


(please correct me if i'm wrong)


GT578
Senior Member

Posts: 420


AHAHAHAH GO GT578!!

 

[kt]

what's the size of your sub? 2x50W is way too little to power any size sub anyhow. I would suggest you disconnect the sub before you kill it.

 

[GT578]

10"......I guess I'll switch to mono......and disconnect one of the subs.......until I get a better amp.....
I just wanted to know what would be the best for my situation since it was all free....so I can't complain~.

 

[Lucky]

yer gonna ruin those things running 2x50 on them, but judging by the amp I doubt the subs are really *that* good. (correct me if im wrong, never heard of the brand)


edit: good decision.

 

[glen]

Ok, since you ask me to, I will try to help.
The MORE surface area, the MORE efficient, therefore the LESS power you need.
I have 50 going to 2 12"s in my car.
The biggest culprit with subs, is them makign somethign else rattle.
Next, they are bottoming out.
Amplifier clipping..might be your trouble.
Turn the gains down a bit, or add some subs so you can have the same loudness at lower power.

 

[Ns1]

<< The MORE surface area, the MORE efficient, therefore the LESS power you need. >>



uhm right

using your logic i could power a 34" sub with a radio shack 10watt @ 2ohm amp and break world records

 

[kt]

you know, i am surprise no one asked if he had the low pass filter on. if full range is being feed to the sub, you'll hear a lot of distortion since subs are supposed be used for low frequency sound only.

 

[tigerbait]

heheh... Phase Linear is nowhere near the amp PPI is... wishful thinking I guess

I concur with the others that say your subs are underpowered and that is driving your amp into clipping, causing lots of distortion; but also, make sure you have a low-pass x-over like kt said.

 

[Mrburns2007]

<< you're much better off driving 1 sub with enough power than 2 subs with minimal power


(please correct me if i'm wrong) >>



Having two subs with the same power is better because they "couple" if they are placed next to each other and will produce 6db additional output. It's also better to drive them with your amp in mono mode because slight phase differences between two amp channels could actually cause cancellation.


The reason the subs may be distorting at certain frequencies while other frequencies sound loud and strong has a lot to due with the box there in. A sealed box will bottom out faster at any particular frequency then a ported box will, accept that the ported box becomes unloaded below it's tuning point.

If the seal box hits a low note it will bottom the driver out, the lower the bass the sooner it happens. So at 40 hz it sounds loud and clean while at 20 hz it breaks up.

 

[Viperoni]

<<

<< The MORE surface area, the MORE efficient, therefore the LESS power you need. >>



uhm right

using your logic i could power a 34" sub with a radio shack 10watt @ 2ohm amp and break world records >>



Not world records, but it's true.
You dont win world records without being able to displace a ton of air.
How else do you think home theatre subs are supposed to shake up a room.....they have to move a ton of air.

Viper <-- love his 15inch Dayton DVC, thath as 32mm of stroke, and gives him 115db @ 20hz from listening position in room.

Also a guy with quad 15inch Adire Tempests in a CRX pulled off 152.3db in a SPL competition with only 500watts.


GT578; basically yes, your amplifier is clipping (running out of power), and that's causing the distortion.
The rattles in your car are caused by the subs, and are perfectly natural to happen. You can try to stop them (tighten down your trunk lid, add dynamat to the rattling panels) but its still going to vibrate. I just let it vibrate