ive blown out 4 subs in the span of a month, whats could the problem be?

Question

the first set i think blew out because i had the bass maxed out on both the radio and the equalizer on the amp, the other two i have no idea, could i have damaged my apm when i blew out the first set or could the second set of subs i bought just be cheap? the second set were two MA150QS

Answer 1

Distortion is NOT what kills a sub or speaker. It's the TYPE of distrotion called clipping that does the damage as there are many types of distortion that do no harm.

Two things that will damage a sub.

1. Overpowering
2. Severe clipping

Each sub should be able to handle the power (watts RMS) that's supplied to them. If both subs are wired to the same channel, then each sub should be able to handle half of the watts RMS with whatever power is being supplied for the impedance they are wired for.

Clipping is having the gain set too sensitive for the input signal or the input signal too much for the input on the amp which causes the amp to try and push beyond it's limits sending a near square wave to the subs. This square wave has a DC signal mixed in with the audio signal and speakers don't tolerate DC very well.

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Answer 2

Speakers can be damaged by overpowering. They can also be damaged by being used with a poor box design.

Keep in mind that any amplifier can put out much more than its rated power if you don't take distortion into account. If you have a 200 watt amp and overdrive it, it may be able to put out the equivalent of 400 watts in terms of generating heat in a speaker's voice coil. If you're using an amplifier that's has a similar power rating to the speaker, then you need to make sure the gains are set correctly. Distortion is a sign that you're sending more than the amp's rated power to the sub.

If you set the gains for their maximum undistorted output, then turn up the bass boost, you'll be forcing the amp to put out more power than without the bass boost.

I don't really agree with the idea that distortion causes sub damage, or even that clipping can cause sub damage. An amp that's working properly shouldn't be producing a DC offset, even when clipping. There's really no difference to a speaker between a square wave produced by clipping and one produced by a test track on a CD; as long as the thermal content of the wave isn't too much for the voice coil, it won't damage the driver.

Also, a speaker's power rating is based partly upon being used in the proper box. If you're using a ported box and don't have a subsonic filter, you can damage the sub from over-excursion if you play very deep bass notes. The same can happen if you don't use a box, or use one much too large for the sub.

Answer 3

this should help you in determining the cause, look at your amp specs, what is the RMS output per channel, your speaker RMS should be more than it's rating, that way they don't blow, also the output gain should be set to 3/4 not full output, this also helps the subs. when you subs blow, nothing happens to the amp only your subs are damaged, hope this info helps. PS, another thing you might want to do is add bass coils to your subs that way only the low frequencies go to it and not the highs and mids.

Answer 4

Jeffy B nailed er'. Even though it's cool to watch ppls head turn at the "noise" The distortion put out by cheap amps that are pushed to perform like the good amps is the number one killer of any sub. Even if you buy a top end sub and hook it up to a cheap amp it's gunna sound like "noise" If your bass isn't crisp then there's a pretty good chance that you're just torturing the listeners and the sub.

Answer 5

Well MA Audio isn't the best products out there that you can buy. The only thing I think that they make that is half way decent in the HK series amps.

You should never max the bass out on anything... the sound of bass comes from the box. if its not deep enough or so on you should make a new box.

I am gonna say you clipped them to death.


Good Luck

Answer 6

The amp is too powerful for the subs. You need high watt subs(RMS). or turn down the bass! I've always had luck with JL audio subs.

Answer 7

I have a sub and have everything maxed out haven't blown it. they sound cheaply made. subs are something u have to spend a little more money on or they will blow once u turn everything up.

try out pioneer. the speakers sound great.
good luck to ya finding the right sub

Answer 8

The number one cause of speakers being blown is distortion. That can come from:
a) a cheap amp that has too much distortion.
b) over-driving an amp and causing distortion
c) the listener not being able to tell when the speakers & amp are being overdriven and turning it down.

Answer 9

Sounds to me like they aren't grounded right.

Answer 10

I couldn't say it better than kaezoo, what else could I say that hasn't benn post here?