Cooking Subwoofers

**2007GrandPrixGT** · 05-25-2012

I just put in a JVC R?620 head unit, an alpine MRP-500 amp & a sealed 12" sub.

This isn't a car problem im assuming, I seezed the 12" in just an hour, I put in a ported 10" and it's starting to fry... It smoked MAD until i shut it down to stop it from seezing up.

I just had the system installed Thursday... Basicly I got screwed and the people that put it in are saying its not their problem...

Im not putting the sub to extreme volumes, I'm putting it to high levels but nothing that should fry two different subs, my amp is not hot at all, not is my head unit, should I have something set different on the amp or should I have something differently set in the head unit settings? I'm not looking to have to buy another subwoofer considering I fryed my upgrade!

**Sven the Sexman** · 05-25-2012

Sounds like the death caused by clipping. Did the audio shop properly tune your system?

**jteske88** · 05-25-2012

^this and always check grounds. Make sure they grinder to Bare metal. If you got a dmm check for serious voltage drops when playing.

**BKA05GT** · 05-25-2012

More than likely your clipping the s**t out of it. Also make sure when you swap sub out, that it is wired to the correct ohm load requied by your amp. If you have the correct ohm load, and a good ground, then definitly need to tune it in properly.

**KeithGTP03** · 05-25-2012

A few weeks ago, 1800 opened my eyes to the "clipping" fallacies. So upon reading up on it, I decided to test it. I clipped an amp for 6 straight hours until the amp failed. The sub was absolutely fine. What sub are you running?

**2007GrandPrixGT** · 05-25-2012

I have no idea what they did exactly they installed my set-up, and when I brought it back they "found no problems." what is clipping exactly? I'm going to check the ground... I have the alpine mrp-500 (single chanel 2oms at 500w or 4oms at 300w or vis versa) the sub i fryed was a sealed 12" alpine type s dual coils (upgraded from a 10"), but I'm running what I originally had installed in a different car alpine type s dual coils 10"

There are 3 different ajusting nobs on the amp but I have no idea what does what... My 10" didn't seize which is good I just want to stop it from smoking again...

**2007GrandPrixGT** · 05-25-2012

Also my info display shows the voltage meter steady @ 14.5 volts when the car is on an running

**KeithGTP03** · 05-25-2012

Clipping is when your amp is trying to supply more wattage than it can produce. You are not clipping your amp. You are doing the opposite and overpowering your subs. That type S is only rated for 300Rms. Whats the gain on your amp set at?

**2007GrandPrixGT** · 05-25-2012

I'll tell you in a minutes no just going to check now

**2007GrandPrixGT** · 05-25-2012

It's set almost to max

**KeithGTP03** · 05-25-2012

That is your problem. What head unit are you using (important so I can see what your sub pre-out voltages are). AND, if the people that installed your equipment tuned it that way, they are at fault. But good luck trying to prove it.

**2007GrandPrixGT** · 05-25-2012

JVC KD-R620, also I turned the amp gain to halfway, right in the middle... Is that gonna help?

**KeithGTP03** · 05-25-2012

That HU puts out 2.5V to its sub pre-outs. You want to match your gain to that. Its a little confusing because your amps gain will probably be 5 or 6v at the lowest setting and .2v at the highest. I would say between 1/3 and 1/2 gain would be pretty close.

**2007GrandPrixGT** · 05-25-2012

Dose that gain have an affect on the subs porformance? But yeah the hz meter matches maybe he set it backwards, the 2.5 volts notch is in the same spot as the lower volts notch

**KeithGTP03** · 05-26-2012

Originally Posted by 2007GrandPrixGT

Dose that gain have an affect on the subs porformance?

In your case, yes. The full gain is popping your subs like orville redenbacher.

Originally Posted by 2007GrandPrixGT

But yeah the hz meter matches maybe he set it backwards, the 2.5 volts notch is in the same spot as the lower volts notch

What do you mean by this? Is the lowest setting 2.5V? And if you're running a dual coil 10" type S, it is rated the same as the 12" dual S type.

**2007GrandPrixGT** · 05-26-2012

Haha its hard to explain but i set the dial to the 2.5v spot or as close as possible to it.... The notch it was set at was .5 or less :s

**2007GrandPrixGT** · 05-26-2012

But it's 2am where I'm at! Thanks a lot bud for helping me with my audio problems!! Add me as a friend as I'm not sure how, I may need your expertise when I eventually upgrade to infinity kappas...

**KeithGTP03** · 05-26-2012

Originally Posted by 2007GrandPrixGT

Haha its hard to explain but i set the dial to the 2.5v spot or as close as possible to it.... The notch it was set at was .5 or less :s

Yeah, at .5v you were damn near maxed on gain. Keep it at 2.5v. There is no need for your gain to go any higher unless you change your deck and your preout voltage changes. If you want more out of your sub, bump up to a type R. Thats really what that amp was made for.