chockymonster

You say 100w and 800w
Are both those figures Peak output or RMS.
If the sub is 800 RMS and the amp is 100 peak then there is a major power mismatch.

You really want to be running an amp that has more power than the sub can handle and turn the gain down.

[Edited by chockymonster - 9/6/2002 4:52:18 PM]

Velcro_Pete

When I crank the bass up. my sub makes a funny cloking.
I sounds the same noise as a alien life in the film Independence Day.

I have a 100W amp on 1/2 Gain
Powering a 800W 12" sub.

What is that all that about.
It works fine if you turn it down about.

chiark

If it's a clicking noise, turn it down. That's the sub running out of extension and hitting its end stop. It'll bugger the sub.

The amount of power a sub can handle is dramatically affected by the box that it's in. Gently push the cone of your speaker - does it move? If so, you've got a leak. (If it's a ported box, don't worry about this )

It doesn't sound like your amp is clipping so that's one less worry.

"Gain set at half" could mean anything - it also depends on what the scale of the gain is, whether it's linear or logarithmic, and the output voltage of your head unit for a given source

Turn it down

chris12102

sounds to me like the amp is under powered and loosing control of the speaker - may have damaged the voice coil, turning the gain up will only cause it to start clipping - get more powerful amp

chiark

True, a clicking noise could be a burnt out voice coil...

To check for damage to the sub, remove it from the box and gently (and I do mean gently) push the cone in both directions smoothly from as close to the centre as you can manage. It should feel smooth with no grittiness.

Be careful doing this. Keep an eye on the spider (wrinkly bit underneath the cone) to make sure you're not overstretching it.