Upgraded Subwoofer & Amp-Sounds like Crap when cranked

[FOMOCOTOSHO]

So I have a'95 w/ the JBL system and I have upgraded most of the entire system.

1) I installed a high-powered Kenwood Excelon head unit & bypassed the factory amp to utilize the deck's
2) I replaced the front door speakers with a Kenwood 6.5" component system w/ 1" tweeters installed in the door panels
3) I replaced the stock subwoofer sub & amp with an MTX Thunder 8" Single VC sub (Model # T4508-04) powered by an MTX Terminator 150w Continuous RMS Power (2-channel but bridged)

The sound is great, including the bass, until you really crank it up. Then the bass starts to really vibrate when punched hard, almost sound like it's blown... but of course it's not. The rest of the speakers don't distort at all & still sound great. I don't even have the sub turned up that high.

I've been reading & doing some searches on here for info... what I'm thinking is the stock sub enclosure box is too small? I can't find any specs on what size of box would be recommended for it if that is the problem.

Any ideas or recommendations from anyone?

 

[kikkinasphalt]

ok

1) turn the bass to "0" or lower on the HU

2) turn the gain down on the amp.

3) if your HU has an internal crossover, use it.


turn the volume up half way on the HU, and readjust your gain on the amp. it should really only be about 1/2 way or less.

leave the bass at or below zero on the HU.

try that and report back.

 

[SuperHO]

two piece plastic sub enclosures are not the best choice when trying to drive a healthy sub...

 

[FOMOCOTOSHO]

My bass level on the head unit is already at 0, but I know the person who installed it set my gain on my amp to "max", so I'll try turning that down first & recheck. I will let you know. Thanks Kikkin'

 

[Toul]

Setting the sub amps gain correctly is key. Sounds like the sub is being over driven or sent a clipped signal.

I made a long winded post on how to easily and properly set the gain level for an amp before, here it is. http://www.shoforum.com/showpost.php?p=909311&postcount=7

 

[Erick]

I would recommend getting a bigger sub like a 12"

 

[FOMOCOTOSHO]

Thanks for your help everyone. I turned the amp down to halfway, which I found was too little. So I turned it up to roughly 3/4 of the way and tweaked the settings on the head unit... now it rocks! It thumps great- loud & clear.

Thanks for your help!

 

[kikkinasphalt]

Thanks for your help everyone. I turned the amp down to halfway, which I found was too little. So I turned it up to roughly 3/4 of the way and tweaked the settings on the head unit... now it rocks! It thumps great- loud & clear.

Thanks for your help!

your welcome!

 

[SHOspazz92]

I would recommend getting a bigger sub like a 12"

You don't need a 12'' Sub to sound good. I know many Folks who run 8'' & 10'' Subs who would put most folks who run a 12'' to Shame.

It's all in how you have it setup.

-Sam

 

[Toul]

Theres no replacement for displacement!

 

[raff18]

12" + is for lower bass
10" responds faster than any 12" and gives a more chrisp bass
8" are more for higher end bass

my fav setup ive done was 2 10" and 2 8" would put any 12"+ setup to shame i should know ive installed 100's of systems in all kinds of cars it realy comes down to what kinda sound ur looking for and what the user likes
one thing i can say too all is NEVER turn ur amp gains all the way up u run the risk of poping the amp or the sub

 

[kikkinasphalt]

12" + is for lower bass
10" responds faster than any 12" and gives a more chrisp bass
8" are more for higher end bass

my fav setup ive done was 2 10" and 2 8" would put any 12"+ setup to shame i should know ive installed 100's of systems in all kinds of cars it realy comes down to what kinda sound ur looking for and what the user likes
one thing i can say too all is NEVER turn ur amp gains all the way up u run the risk of poping the amp or the sub

this thread has been solved and should be closed.

 

[whiteguy3]

I know many Folks who run 8'' & 10'' Subs who would put most folks who run a 12'' to Shame.

Dude really...LOL...That's a pretty funny statement. I know many folks who run 12" subs that would put most 8" subs to shame.

Sorry, but you just can't substitute or reproduce a 12" sub by using a 8" or 10" sub.

 

[SuperHO]

not to add fuel to the fire, but with current technology, 8 and 10 inch subs can sound just as good, if not better than an older 12. as for being louder, well, i happen to know of a single 6.5" JL sub that hit 140db. don't be so quick to judge...

 

[whiteguy3]

Obviously there is a lot of optimism in here with 8" and 10" subs...it's pretty funny

 

[walser]

You don't need a 12'' Sub to sound good. I know many Folks who run 8'' & 10'' Subs who would put most folks who run a 12'' to Shame.

It's all in how you have it setup.

-Sam

very very true!!!!

 

[walser]

Theres no replacement for displacement!

your sounding like a chevy man now!