Well, got a new Kenwood KDC X794 headunit, set my gains with a dmm (BL 12 btw, powered by a SAE 1200d) to 34v using the gain setting formula here in the forum. And I still don't think my sub is reaching potential. At BEST I get an inch of excursion, and almost every video of other BL 12's ive seen do better than this.

I don't think the problem is a LACK of electrical, since my lights dim hardly at all and my voltage never drops below 13.5 (stock electric). But I think there could be a bottleneck somewhere in the electrical.

Could this be the problem?

I've done the Big 3.

I'm not sure what else it could be.

What is the sub level set to on the head unit?

What is the sub level set to on the head unit?

Zero.

What is the sub level set to on the head unit?

Zero.

Stop using a DMM, trust your ears.

Turn the level all the way up and slowly turn up the gain.

When you see the woofer is stressed, back off the gain.

The xmax on the BL is 18mm, not sure if that's one way, so either 0.7" or 1.4" of excursion, So your inch of travel falls in there just fine. Watching a youtube video doesn't dictate anything.

Don't want over-excursion now do you...

What are your amp settings?

What type of enclosure? volume, tuning?

Setting by DMM is not very correct, yes the forum gives you a number to set your amplifier to but it's a guess at best.

The gain is used to set the correct output voltage depending on input voltage (without clipping of course).

Example:5

Max Output Capable is 10.

you input 2, output is 10 (set correctly)

you input 3, output is cut while trying to produce 15. (clipped)

you input 1, output is 5. (not full potential)

^This is just made up, but do you get the idea of varying inputs causing varying outputs and clipping if pushed too far.

And then you throw in an adjuster (gain knob) to match the input to achieve max output.

The xmax on the BL is 18mm, not sure if that's one way, so either 0.7" or 1.4" of excursion, So your inch of travel falls in there just fine. Watching a youtube video doesn't dictate anything.

Don't want over-excursion now do you...

What are your amp settings?

What type of enclosure? volume, tuning?

It's one way.

But hmm, didn't realize 18mm was that. Thanks though.

What is the sub level set to on the head unit?

Zero.

Stop using a DMM, trust your ears.

Turn the level all the way up and slowly turn up the gain.

When you see the woofer is stressed, back off the gain.

So subwoofer levels should be all the way up on HU? Thought that was always a bad thing.

The level is sub volume. I always set gains with it on the highest setting. Some songs you want to be bass heavy and some you turn it down and chill.

The sub level is not boosting a certain frequency like a bass boost or loudness feature does it is a volume controll to aid in blending your subs to the rest of your system. That's why I say max it out when setting gains.

The level is sub volume. I always set gains with it on the highest setting. Some songs you want to be bass heavy and some you turn it down and chill.

The sub level is not boosting a certain frequency like a bass boost or loudness feature does it is a volume controll to aid in blending your subs to the rest of your system. That's why I say max it out when setting gains.

So I turned the sub level all the way up, and reset the gain again using my ear. It is much louder, but I am worried that I could be harming the sub. I hooked up the DMM to the speaker outputs and noticed that during some songs the voltage rises above 34 (what the gain setting formula gave me). Is this a problem? Also I'm not sure what clipping or distortion sound like from a sub >.<

The notes sounded clean to me.

Also the cone was warm after playing a few songs. Assuming this is normal?

so you want it louder, so you turned the gain up. now you're scared you're going to hurt something. Just gotta' find a happy median dude lol

so you want it louder, so you turned the gain up. now you're scared you're going to hurt something. Just gotta' find a happy median dude lol

I don't know how loud is TOO loud.

This is my first serious system. Have never heard a subwoofer clip before.

the sub would tell you if you think your going to damage then turn it down.

I'm going to call the local car audio shop and HOPEFULLY they'll have an O-scope.

Since you have a trunk car, set the gain where you like it and step back 5-6 feet from the trunk and listen to your subs, if they sound good give it a little more gain and repeat.

Just play around with it man, it's not rocket science. Your ears will tell you when something is not right.

You wont like the results of setting gains with a scope either. I will be it will be less loud than your original settings.

Since you have a trunk car, set the gain where you like it and step back 5-6 feet from the trunk and listen to your subs, if they sound good give it a little more gain and repeat.

Just play around with it man, it's not rocket science. Your ears will tell you when something is not right.

You wont like the results of setting gains with a scope either. I will be it will be less loud than your original settings.

Only problem I can see with that is that I have a good bit of port noise.

and by the way, what is the optimal tuning note?

Still waiting to see a response on what type and size box you built..

Still waiting to see a response on what type and size box you built..

Yeah he kinda ignored my questions about that... lol

Still waiting to see a response on what type and size box you built..

Yeah he kinda ignored my questions about that... lol

Sorry guys.

It's a 2.5 cu. ft tuned to 33hz.

Built by Andrew from Argent Audio.

Does the sub woofer get really warm - hot playing at a level where you think it might be "hurting" the sub?

Does the sub woofer get really warm - hot playing at a level where you think it might be "hurting" the sub?

Completely forgot to check that.

But I made a vid today.

Ignore the paper/bottle nonsense. And the horrible bass pick up mics have.

I think it looks/sounds decent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNI2rF0jguQ