What Can I Do To Fix This???

here is what I am working with

JL 500/1 mono (rates 1.5 to 4 ohms)
2 JL 12" w6V2 subs

I ran the mono amp to the 12's and they are in parallel at 1 ohm. I thought this would be an ok idea since the tutorial on JL's site has a picture of this set up at 1 ohm on their website.

The difference in sound compared to the series set up I was running is impressive...even one sub running in parallel at 4 ohms without being secured to my box was better.

I have the subs in a store bought ported box which I am ok with, but here is the problem.

I know this setup should really pound but when turned too loud, it bottoms out and MY GOD!!! it's annoying. It sounds horrible!!!!!

Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this? Any ideas would be great.

here is what I am working with

JL 500/1 mono (rates 1.5 to 4 ohms)
2 JL 12" w6V2 subs

I ran the mono amp to the 12's and they are in parallel at 1 ohm. I thought this would be an ok idea since the tutorial on JL's site has a picture of this set up at 1 ohm on their website.

The difference in sound compared to the series set up I was running is impressive...even one sub running in parallel at 4 ohms without being secured to my box was better.

I have the subs in a store bought ported box which I am ok with, but here is the problem.

I know this setup should really pound but when turned too loud, it bottoms out and MY GOD!!! it's annoying. It sounds horrible!!!!!

Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this? Any ideas would be great.

Well, I thought the VC config on the w6v2's was weird. So you have 2 12's now? And they are in a pre-fab store box? Sealed?

In all honesty, you can give them plenty more power! That's one thing. But to make the most out of your current install, go with a custom ported enclosure, about 4 cubes NET @29hz for more output, and the ability to hit the lows better. If need, I design custom ported boxes and lay them out for you including a cut-sheet. So if you're interested, PM me. peace

NG

as nice as NG's suggestion is, it sounds like the amp doesn't like the 1 Ohm configuration, if it's really that. I'm a little confused as to what the subs are. If they're Dual 2 Ohm Voice coils, running 4 of those in parallel would give 0.5 Ohms. Running one in series would be 4 Ohms. If you're running at 0.5 ohms, it's no wonder that you're bottoming out. A better configuration would be having each sub wired in series, and then the both of them wired in parallel. That will give you a total of 2 Ohms, which is better for your amp. It's kinda hard to get to 1.5 ohms; I think the only way is with 3 Ohm coils. Even if you do one sub in parallel and the other in series, it gives you 0.8 ohms, which is still really low.

w6v2's come in dual 4 ohm only..... wire your subs in a series parallel combination for a 4 ohms load.

Also that amp is rated for 1.5-4 ohms putting out 500 watts. Do not run below 1.5 and you won't get as much power above 4 ohms.

hey, if you do one in series and one in parallel, you get 1.6 ohms! Would that work alright bumpin? Having one sub's VC's in a serial config and the other parallel?

hey, if you do one in series and one in parallel, you get 1.6 ohms! Would that work alright bumpin? Having one sub's VC's in a serial config and the other parallel?

He only has 2 subs man... lol. Two dual 4ohm subs= 1ohm or 4ohm load :)

NG

really.... you've got 4 4Ohm coils to configure as whatever... if you do 2 of them in series (to 8 Ohms) and the other 2 in parallel, it gives 1.6 ohms.

The formula goes
________1________
1/(4+4) + 1/4 + 1/4

which equals 1.6 Ohms.

Hey, it can't hurt to try it, he's already been abusing it at 1 Ohm for a while now.

wait... I guess I'm thinking too much electrical stuff... the power going to one speaker would be much larger than the other, which is why that configuration probably won't work very well for the speakers. The amp would be happy with it though, I would think.

LOL there's three ways to wire 2 Dual voice coil subs using all coils.....all +'s to amp + all -'s to amp - thats a paralell/parallel connection resultin in 1 ohm. Then you can run parallel/series combination.....which is what's needed here.... where you do one of two things connect each subs coils in parallel then wire the two subs in series.....which is more efficient since efficiency slightly rises in a sub w/ parallel connection of the VC's as oppised to series..... the other way is to wire the subs coils in series then the subs in parallel. this results in a 4 ohms load. The last wa to wire is all series which is a 16 ohm load.

I'd like to see him try it my crazy way anyway... one speaker will get more power than the other one, but I think that's ok for these... the overall system will run at a lower impedence, which is good, right?

There's a reason people don't do these off the wall configurations, dice. It reminds me of that retarded post on CD where a guy tried to mount his amp under the hood of his truck.

wait... I guess I'm thinking too much electrical stuff... the power going to one speaker would be much larger than the other, which is why that configuration probably won't work very well for the speakers. The amp would be happy with it though, I would think.

Keep in mind each sub has TWO voice coils...you can't think of it as 4 individual coils...that's when shit gets fucked up. The only reall reason for DUAL voice coils anyways is wiring flexibility! peace

NG

PS: Listen to what I said up top! :)

ok ok... I'll listen to the voices of experience. Would it really damage the system to have it wired strangly? The power equation puts the parallel sub taking 4 times more power as the serial sub, which like I said isn't terribly good for the subs. Then you'd have to factor in things like shared air volume in the box, and other factors... yeah, definately not good for the subs. Probably a good way to blow them if you wanted to, though! :p

Thanks everyone for the ideas, I want to keep both subs running on the same power, just to keep a clean hook-up going.
Someone mentioned that the fact the amp is not liking the 1 ohm load could be causing the subs to make that terrible sound...is that true? Or could the box be causing this?
Well, I'll be back, going to go and run these suckers in series/parallel for a 4 ohm load.

Thanks everyone for the ideas, I want to keep both subs running on the same power, just to keep a clean hook-up going.
Someone mentioned that the fact the amp is not liking the 1 ohm load could be causing the subs to make that terrible sound...is that true? Or could the box be causing this?
Well, I'll be back, going to go and run these suckers in series/parallel for a 4 ohm load.

I wouldn't be surprised if that JL amp took a 1ohm load, but I also wouldn't want to chance it on such an expensive amp!

Anyways, saying goes: 10% product 90% Install. And from me: It's ALL in the box. So, redesign...get you a nice ported enclosure (i can design a custom one for you!) Bought 4 cubes NET @30hz and you'll be AMAZED at the difference!

NG

My one JL sounds better by itself at 2 ohms then two of them at 4 ohms. WHAT THE HELL???!!!???
Is this the beginning of understanding what it is to get really involved with car stereo?
My first idea...OH COOL, a 500 watt amp and two twelves that cost a lot of money each...this has to pound!!!

NOW...You mean I have 2 4ohm voice coils and I can get them down to 1 ohm but my expensive amp is only rated at 1.5-4ohms??? And now my one sub at 2 ohms sounds better than two at 4ohms?

Does anyone feel my pain, or am I overboard???

how are you getting 1.6ohm from (4) 4ohm loads. 4 4ohm loads can only be wired in 1, 4, and 16 ohms int one load. 2 or 8ohm into 2 loads and 4ohm in 4 seperate loads. series/paralell will wire 2 coils in sereis to give 2 8ohm loads then thoes 2 8ohm loads will be wired in parallel to give one 4ohm load. here is a little diagram i threw togather in like 2min. im too lazy to go searching for one.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/CBFryman/diagram.bmp

Oh and when you have 2 wired up it may sound like shit if you have them out of phase. causing cancelation and over excursion. do they share a common air space? if so and they are out of phase it is like playing them freair. and 500w is more than enough to bottom them out free air. make sure that you dont have all of the (+) and (-) connected to the correct post on the amp. also make sure that if you arent running 2 coils on one of the subs out of series. in otherwords go (+)amp to (+) coil 1 then (-) coil 1 to (+) to coil 2 and (-) coil 2 to (-)amp. if you go (+)amp to (+) coil 1 and (-) coil 1 to (-) coil 2 and (+) coil2 to (-) amp then the two coils are fighting each other trying to make the sub move. and if the 2nd sub is wired correctly then it is making this sub fighting agiasnt its self look like it is doing something when really it is acting as a powered pasive radiator with a stiff suspension.

Thanks for the diagram...I ran the subs like that yesterday and they sound good now...I am just eager to get them into a nice enclosed box and set up my amp for perfect output.
Thanks again...GOOD DIAGRAM...a lot of people will find these kind of diagrams helpful, I know I did.
Digital