ford302redneck

It allows the user to adjust the alternator charging voltage.

I didn't mean like a full blown SPL sub, cause there really is only a few that's not made for no music at all.(And still people play music on them) What I consider a SPL sub, is one more geared towards SPL than anything else, even if it can be a good daily.

Damn, why didn't I think of that? Will try this later and report back. Who needs a dustcap? That can be another port for my box. Heck the cone will act as a flare for the port and help move the air in and out. Great thinking!

I am curious as to what causes you to say that. I have yet to see or hear where optima actually lasts in someone's vehicle that is into car audio. Also, I believe the charging requirements for optima is stricter than xs so if he ever got a high output alt that charged closed to 15v, that could be another problem. I have a buddy who bought 4 Group 34 yellow tops used 3 years ago, and they are still holding up strong. And he used them for car audio the whole time, and as did the guy before him. And they have had a HO alternator charging at 14.9ish the whole time also. Still no problem. Seems you heard of a few insists of Optimas failing and now thinking they all must be the same way. Sound kind of ignorant to me. A good percent of the time when something fails, its user error. And usually on the internet, people rarely tell the whole truth when talking about a problem they had with a product, so they can blame the company instead of theirself. Now, if you have had countless amount of Opti's and have countless problems, I could understand. But going direct on hear say isn't always truthful. Not trying to single you out, but people read a few bad things and automatically think the product sucks. And sometimes the own company.

My corn is around that tallness, well was, now its going downhill getting ready to harvest. Most varieties these days with good rainfall with get 7-8 foot easy. And that's on the South East, I'm sure in the Midwest, its even taller. I'm surprised my corn is doing as well as it is cause of how the weather has been this year.

I mean I'm not downing XBL^2, as I hope to own a 05 RE XXX one day. I actually should start looking for one, I could really use it now.

Ask scottie about the extremes I knew Scottie used XBL^2 to compete, but didn't know they was "SPL" subs. I have seen SPL XBL^2 prototypes made, but no production yet.

Oh I like slutty power, that's the best kind to have.

How do you know its dirty? I cleaned everything before I installed it. And the wire I have is suppose to wash all the dirtiness away just incase I missed some. Just kidding man. I do hate the word "dirty" power though, but this is because the local idiots use to say it all the time and had no clue WTF it meant. And claimed a highend amp as dirty power, and a cheap POS as good "clean" power.

I know there is a lot of variables, not really looking for a exact answer either. More along the lines so I could come up with the conclusion. I may try what you said, can you explain more though?

But its quieter to the ear, not that I didn't hear a overall difference. From the setups I've had in the past, I've heard audible difference in changing impedance. Like Originally when I got my original SAZ1500d back in 06, I had this same sub wired in series for my previous amp. So I tried it out that way first, then changed to 1ohm for a huge difference. I really wish I had another sub/box that could handle that amp no problem to swap. Because the Q is really past its limits. Even wired in series.

I may let Sir-Lancelot take a look, well explain *to the old man* what's going on, then let him see what's it doing, just to show somebody else. Thing about it, this thing has been past its limits and over excursion countless of times without any sort of problem. Tough sub, I don't see how people break them. If any sub can survive what I put them through, they should be given a award. Not saying I'm super hard on my stuff, I just push stuff to its limits. And usually when that happens, you go past them quiet a few times by mistake. And for it to hold up means something.

This is what I thought. Basically, I played a song I already knew how the sub reacted previously wired in series, and basically close to its mechanical limits. Then wired to 1ohm, and changed my sub control to where it could play near its limits just like before, but the output was drastically cut. Its like the sub is out of control before it can get loud. See, when I originally done this with the AA 500.1, I figured it was just to much power. Then when it happened again with this amp, I got curious. Its probably something I'm overlooking, but wanted to come to a conclusion.

Wired wrong how? As I check it today, and it was correct. I can still get loud, but it reaches its limits before its as loud as wired in series. That's what I don't understand. Why is it moving more but not as loud. Only thing I thought of is damping factor. Because it seems it doesn't have the same control. Also, I turned down my sub level control and turned up the gains, it got louder but still does the same thing. Basically feeding it less input voltage and turning up the gains helped? Strange. None the less, this just a strange thing that happened I wanted to post to try and figure out for future reference. It doesn't have anything to do with fixing my install because I don't plan on running this sub in my truck. I'm considering making a detailed video showing how I have it and the problem. Wish I had a termlab to show the difference in loudness, but out of luck on that one.

I understand the basics of XBL^2. I just don't understand the reason to come on here claiming a 500 watt sub to outperform a 1000 watt sub. I could say more, but like I said, I'm not a expert, and just because I'm thinking it, doesn't mean its correct. I will ask this, if XBL^2 is so great for making louder than normal subs on less power, why doesn't companies use it anymore? And yes a select few do, but none are known for being louder than the others.

Check there forum for latest info, last I heard they was just started testing protos. And unlike some company's, they test their amps a good bit before starting production.

Since when does having a High Xmax sub mean its going to be louder than one with normal? I'm not a expert when it comes to this by no means. But how can you definitely say these subs will be louder than whoevers buddy's setup with twice the power? Basically seems like your saying this is some wonder sub that's super loud, to be what it is.

2.8ohms. Its a D2(1.4). I figured most people would understand... And its wired to .7, (I listed that as 1 ohm.) This is my point/question. Why is it louder wired in series but a lower impedance is quieter and causes the sub to go peak to peak. And also, its not just this amp that's done it, so that's one reason I asked. I'm not trying to say in the wrong way, but did you read anything I posted? Or just seen 2ohms, and 1ohm from the same sub and thought I was being a idiot? But ok.

It is louder, but every setup I've ever listened to seemed to increase if roll down the window on the opposite side your listen to it on. I roll down my passenger and hear a noticeable difference. Then if I roll the driver, it seems to decrease a little, or little change to me in the drivers seat. Also, another thing I want to note is, I played one song that's 32hz, its pretty steady, then has a 60hz punchy while playing the 32hz every couple of seconds. And when it does the 60hz, it goes full peak to peak and causes bottoming out. Also, I'm not trying to fix the problem persay, just want to know why. I'm planning on running this setup, its just in there to test the amp, and haven't took it out yet.

I'm 99% sure I didn't wire it out of phase, as this is the second time with two different amps. And I've switched back to series since the first time. And I free aired it before putting it back in the box, just to make sure. I usually don't do that, but didn't want to have to take it out the box again. Plus, it doesn't sound like out of phase coils. As I think most people who have installed a good bit has done that once or twice by mistake. Don't get me wrong, it gets "somewhat" loud at 1ohm, but its going peak to peak anywhere from 27hz-60hz. I know that because I recently got the peaks for the songs I played today. At tuning is a "little" better, but still reach mechanical limits before reaching the same SPL as it did wired in series. I'm tempted to try the setup in another vehicle to see if its a loading problem. Because I had the same sub on a Sundown 1500d at 1ohm, and it took it like a champ. But that was in a trunk. I do got to admit this is one tough sub. Its been pasted its limits numerous times repeatedly, and has yet to fail. I don't see how people break these things so easy.

First, I'm going to go through and list the equipment I have then example and ask the questions. Ride- 01 Ford F-250 CrewCab Headunit-Kenwood X789 Sub Amp-ZX1500 Sub-12" Fi Q Box- 2.3cuft Net with two 4" Aeros tuned to ~30hz Ok, so I bought the amp off Craigslist for $50, and only thing it needed was sent off for warranty repair. And had the original receipt, so I got a basically refurb ZX1500 for $65($15 to ship). So when I got it back from Kicker, I wanted to test it, so I through my box in the back seat. The sub was wired in series, so 2.8ohms. Played it for a good little while, the sub showed no sign of stress, and was quiet loud. Not 150dB, but you get the picture. So I decided today to see if the amp would run at 1ohm. So I rewired it, and played where I had setting before. Now the sub reaches mechanical limits very easily at any frequency. So I turn down the sub control, until it could play without any problems, and it is terribly quite. And after 30 seconds, I could smell the coils getting hot. Not saying that's a problem, and I know why coils get hot, but why isn't it near as loud, yet its putting out more power? I have this happen before when testing my old Addictive Audio 500.1, in series the sub was fine and had zero problems, then I rewired to 1ohm(noted those amps do 5k+), it was super quiet and reach mechanical limits super easy. I knew the sub wouldn't handle it, but just tried it for giggles. Noted, at 1ohm, I seriously doubt the Kicker is clipping, I scoped my headunit, and had the gains all the way down. And didn't have near full unclipped preout voltage going to it.(Which is around 5volt) Now, with coils wired in series, its more possible its clipped.(No need to lecture me on clipping, I haven't blew a sub cause of clipping yet. I know the early warning signs if a sub is under to much stress.) This is kind of been racking my brain, which I know some of the mechanical problem is the sub doesn't have anything to load off of since its just sitting in the back seat. But why is series A LOT louder, but parallel seems to be putting out more power to cause the sub to go peak to peak easily. ***Note to those who want to post and act like I'm a noob, I'm not(a full noob anyways). We all have questions from time to time, and only way to learn is to sometimes shut up and just listen.

Also, raise your hand if anybody is running 16 volts because they wanted to draw less current vs 12 volt.

I know what your saying, but in a unregulated amp, if you raise the input voltage, your usually going to increase the power. And also, your going on 100% efficiency to compare both, but in real world, their not going to be the same. It could favor either one really. I mean, come on, you think I don't have any idea about I=V*A? If you would of read my post, instead of assuming I didn't know what you was talking about, maybe you would of gotten my point. Most people who have good common sense, knows if you raises the voltage it doesn't take as much current to produce the same power. That's just simple math. But like I was pointing out, Take XS Power D3400, and D1600, exact same size, but ones 12 and other is 16. XS Power gives there batteries a max wattage ratings, I'm not sure how they come up with this, but doesn't matter if its measured the same, which I'd assume they would. D3400 is rated for 3300 "watts" D1600 is rated for 2400 "watts" Now, your saying that the 16volt will produce more power vs the size, but according to that rating they don't. Now take into account "watts", and not just how much current the battery can handle. Your just thinking the size of the battery is based just on current, but you have to consider the extra size it needs to make higher voltage. And going by XS specs, the 12volt will make more power than the 16 for same size. And I'm assuming its because the 16volt battery has more but smaller cells, that are less efficient(physical size). So basically the 12volt can handle enough current to make the same power as 16, it actually makes more overall power. 16 volt needs 150 amps to make 2400watts. While 12 volt needs 200, but the 12volt can handle 3300, which is 700 more watts, which is 58 amps, so actually the 12volt can handle 258 amps, while the 16 can only handle 150. So overall, I say a 12volt battery is quiet stronger, even though it takes more current to make same power.

What makes a 16 volt battery smaller than a 12volt? to produce the same amount of power with a 16v/14v you pull less amps. When you're pulling less amps you don't need as large of batteries to support the same current load. Volts X amps = watts Say you have 1000w to produce that you would need 71.4285714 amps on a 14v system, on a 16v system you would only need 62.5 amps which is a considerable difference. and no that's not accounting for efficiency. The way you wrote it sounded like 16 volt batteries was smaller but was stronger. Which isn't the case, cause if you compare specs, the 12 volt has better specs. That's not comparing the difference between them, just spec for spec. Now, usually when people run 16 volts, they aren't looking for a more efficient way to make the same power. Its usually to increase there power. But like you said, your going on 100%, which never happens, and how do you know a amp doesn't lose efficiency above 14volts? Most company's don't have a rating for efficiency other than 12 volt and 4ohms. You got to take into account a few more details before making such a bold statement IMO.

What makes a 16 volt battery smaller than a 12volt?