Thought I’d share a few pics of the DCON’s I was originally running. The original subs we used in the Traverse after I got the rest of the system installed.  

 

They were originally ran on a Zapco Z-1KD but after a fateful incident with an open sunroof during a rain storm it had to be replaced. I had an Arc Audio XDi 2000 sitting in the closet and the only amp I had that remotely fit in the amp rack. The DCON’s were dual 4 ohm and wired to 1 ohm on the Zapco for a very reasonable 1,000 watts to the pair of 400wrms rated subs. I wasn’t too terribly keen on running them on the Arc 2k at that ohm load at first but since one was making a noise fresh out of the box I figured screw it and with one recone in hand and the knowledge of the fact I could order another if needed I threw caution to the wind and decided to see just how much abuse they could possibly take. 

 

So after that background story I present to you the first few pics of the results of that abuse. The coils are still in great looking shape. Which is mind blowing considering the power we didn’t hesitate to throw at them. At 2.5 times the rated power I expected to see them at least slightly darkened or something. 

 

The sealed enclosure seams failed worse on one side than the other so I included pics of the surround. The one that didn’t unload as severely has a very small area with the stretched to near breaking point you see in the pic. However the one that’s pictured has the damage all the way around and in a small area actually tore all the way through. I’m pretty sure that damage wouldn’t be present if the enclosure hadn’t have failed. I couldn’t find any damage at all to the spiders on either sub. 

 

I’ll add more pics to this when I go to recone them with the spiders, coils and all super exposed.

Nice post.

1 hour ago, Aaron Clinton said:

Nice post.

Giving credit where credit is due.  I would never just recommend someone do something like that but I felt that it was the perfect opportunity to do a little destructive testing. I honestly feel like they handled it in fair stride. It definitely impressed me they held up to it as long as they did and honestly they could possibly have been good long term if it wasn’t for the enclosure. The worst part is that the enclosure failed the worst on the side with the good sub. If it would have been the other side I probably wouldn’t have needed the second recone. 

Thanks for the write up! always fun to read your stuff.

I definitely enjoy every moment listening to my 15" Dcon. Great sub. Sounds beyond amazing in the enclosure a killer box designer helped me with! 

I've seen them take 750wrms.  It's amazing how well the coil did.  Given the condition of the coil, if those were in ported box, they still might be alive kicking. 

6 hours ago, j-roadtatts said:

Thanks for the write up! always fun to read your stuff.

I definitely enjoy every moment listening to my 15" Dcon. Great sub. Sounds beyond amazing in the enclosure a killer box designer helped me with! 

I’m glad to hear that you’re still enjoying it!!!!

 

3 hours ago, Jimi77 said:

I've seen them take 750wrms.  It's amazing how well the coil did.  Given the condition of the coil, if those were in ported box, they still might be alive kicking. 

I’m certain of it. So certain in fact that I designed an enclosure especially for proving that point. The only issue is I’m not sure I’m going to follow through with it because as of the time my order was fulfilled for the second recone I learned that my recone will be the last recone made. Which means that if they’re damaged after this they’re done, no more, and even though I can get a recone elsewhere they would never again be a true DCON. 

True Dcon. 

Well, I’ve said I was going to get pics up when I started to get around to reconing the DCON’s, and we’re finally there!!!!

 

If anyone cares to remember I had one making a rattle new out of the box. Of course the guys at SSA were super quick to get me taken care of with a recone, no question about their top notch customer service!!  In the meantime my wife managed to fry the Zapco Z-1KD that was originally powering them so I replaced it with the only amp I had that could fit the amp rack, an Arc Audio XDi-2000. I figured hell with it, if I blow the one that’s rattling it’s no biggie there’s a recone coming and if the good one was to go I’d just order a recone for it and freshen them both up. 

 

They did remarkably well in my opinion for having 2.5x their rated power on tap, and the way my wife tends to run the system I have no doubt they saw every watt of it regularly. The coils are a little darker than the new ones on the recones but they aren’t burnt. Despite the surrounds showing clear signs of being stressed I couldn’t find one sign of wear, stress or damage on the spiders. The cause of the rattling sound on the one that rattled brand new and the rattling that started in the good one after the enclosure blew out is clearly evident on the coils. They rubbed pretty darn good with the one clearly working towards failure. 

 

The last couple of pics are of one of the new recones for comparison. 

 

I also have to say that while I’ve not taken LOTS of speakers apart I have dismantled quite a few in my time in this hobby. Never have I come across a surround or spider material that was this difficult to cut. If I hadn’t just sharpened my knife a little over a week ago I would had to have found a box knife and a new blade to put in it to get them cut apart. These things are definitely built super good out of superior quality materials. 

 

Well, that’s enough rambling for now, here’s some pictures as promised for your speaker porn entertainment!!  LOL

 

Edited December 2, 20177 yr by altoncustomtech

Oh what fun!!

1 minute ago, j-roadtatts said:

Oh what fun!!

Definitely!