Alpine Type X sub: blown
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Alpine Type X sub: blown
ok so i've had my 12 inch Alpine type X sub for about 6-8 months now, and today it ****in blew. i've powerin it by a 400 watt rms kicker amp, but the sub handles 1000 watts rms. this is bullshit. i have had 100% faith in alpine, and i cant believe this **** would crap out like this. if alpine doesnt send me a new one for free, they can kiss my *** and i'm converting to JL.
anyone else had any problems with alpine?
anyone else had any problems with alpine?
Last time I had this much fun some furniture got broken!
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Im 100% JL man...amp and subs at least. Clarion dvd deck. Buying either JL, eclipse, or crossfire speakers soon too. I dont mess with alpine unless its their head units.
but that really sucks and i expect much more from alpine. only question is if you had the gain WAY too high and you were clipping it tons cause I don't see how else it would have died.
but that really sucks and i expect much more from alpine. only question is if you had the gain WAY too high and you were clipping it tons cause I don't see how else it would have died.
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Rep Power: 328 You were underpowering your sub by 600 watts which means in all likelyhood you were clipping the amp something crazy, causing a distorted signal to blow your sub. Complete user error, and unless you bought the sub through an authorized local dealer that knows you and will convince Alpine to send you a new sub, you are SOL due to your negligent use of the sub. Sorry!
Last time I had this much fun some furniture got broken!
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Originally Posted by Mystic3030
You were underpowering your sub by 600 watts which means in all likelyhood you were clipping the amp something crazy, causing a distorted signal to blow your sub. Complete user error, and unless you bought the sub through an authorized local dealer that knows you and will convince Alpine to send you a new sub, you are SOL due to your negligent use of the sub. Sorry!
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From: B.C., Canada
Rep Power: 786 IIRC alpine type-x subs did have problems due to first-run syndrome.
However, sounds like damage due to operator malfunction. Best of luck.
However, sounds like damage due to operator malfunction. Best of luck.
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From: Florida
Rep Power: 328 The issues with the first run type-x's was a DOA issue...not an issue that would cause a sub to blow 6-8 months down the road. He just underpowered and turned it up too loud I would say.
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Originally Posted by MegaHurtz
zactly... underpowered and turned it up too loud creating distortion and poofers!
underpowering is the wrong term to use...
underpowering implies that the sub blew just because he wasn't sending 1000watts to it.
the sub has no problems handling anything below 1000watts as long as the signal isn't distorted...
you can "underpower" a sub all you want as long as the signal isn't distorted...
Its one thing to blow a sub * I have blown a couple myself*
It is quite another to blame it on a company or want a free replacement because YOU screwed up.
I have blown 2 audiobahns, and my friend has also blown 2. They blew because we were still learning, unless you had it professionally installed *professional i.e. BestBuy/Circuit City (not you installing it using a diagram drawn with crayons you purchased off ebay)* then you are at fault for your lack of knowledge, everyone has to learn.
Even if it takes an apline customer represenative ripping you a new *** over the phone.
It is quite another to blame it on a company or want a free replacement because YOU screwed up.
I have blown 2 audiobahns, and my friend has also blown 2. They blew because we were still learning, unless you had it professionally installed *professional i.e. BestBuy/Circuit City (not you installing it using a diagram drawn with crayons you purchased off ebay)* then you are at fault for your lack of knowledge, everyone has to learn.
Even if it takes an apline customer represenative ripping you a new *** over the phone.
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From: Florida
Rep Power: 328 I was using the term underpowering because i'm sure thats why it blew. He underpowered it, therefor it wasnt as loud as he wanted it, so he turned it up beyond his amplifier limits of clean signal and caused the amp to clip. The root of his problem was underpowering; if he had a bigger amp it would have been loud enough and he wouldent have caused it to clip. 
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From: Harker heights Tx
Rep Power: 388 I stand by alpine products to an extent, meaning there head units and type-r components along with there v series amps. I now run clarion as my head unit but my alpine which is 4 years old stil pushes hard. So along with everyone else in the thread I beleive it was under powering and user operation possibly.
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Originally Posted by Mystic3030
I was using the term underpowering because i'm sure thats why it blew. He underpowered it, therefor it wasnt as loud as he wanted it, so he turned it up beyond his amplifier limits of clean signal and caused the amp to clip. The root of his problem was underpowering; if he had a bigger amp it would have been loud enough and he wouldent have caused it to clip.
RMS Power is = Vrms ^2 / Impedance
Vrms of a sine wave = Vpeak / root2 (or 0.707 * Vpeak)
now for example, if a sine wave is severely clipping, it will be square wave. Vrms of a square wave = the wave's peak voltage.
now let's say an amp is capable of producing a maximum clean voltage of 10volts peak and it's driving a 4ohm speaker. Vrms of the sine wave would be 7.07Volts RMS. Power going to the speaker would be 7.07Vrms ^2/4=12.5Watts RMS. now lets say the signal was turned up so high that it distorted into a square wave. Vpeak of 10Volts = Vrms of the square wave. 10Vrms ^2 /4ohms = 25Watts RMS. as you can see, a lot more power is sent to the speaker when a signal is clipped. if the speaker cannot handle 25Watts RMS, the speaker is being overpowered.
Last edited by turboslug; Apr 19, 2005 at 12:19 AM.
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Originally Posted by kornsined
i don't think he blew it with that 400rms amp. when distorting it my have hit a 1000w spike but that sub could handle that. unless it just couldn't handle it constantly.
regardless of what exactly caused it, we know it was the amp. He should have researched it more or had it professionally installed. If you wanna go the route of saving you money installing it yourself be prepared to research it or learn the hard way. I can get my Power Acoustik's 800 rms subs for $60 a pop, so not only am I researching I am learning the hard way at the same time.
Be prepared to spend money or lose money, either way the blown sub is your fault.
Be prepared to spend money or lose money, either way the blown sub is your fault.
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From: B.C., Canada
Rep Power: 786 okay just to clear things up if it isnt already obvious in this thread, underpowering won't blow your woofers, it is the clipped signal that kills them
Read: http://www.bcae1.com/2ltlpwr.htm
Read: http://www.bcae1.com/2ltlpwr.htm
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From: Florida
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Originally Posted by turboslug
no, when a signal clips, it's actually causes overpowering...
RMS Power is = Vrms ^2 / Impedance
Vrms of a sine wave = Vpeak / root2 (or 0.707 * Vpeak)
now for example, if a sine wave is severely clipping, it will be square wave. Vrms of a square wave = the wave's peak voltage.
now let's say an amp is capable of producing a maximum clean voltage of 10volts peak and it's driving a 4ohm speaker. Vrms of the sine wave would be 7.07Volts RMS. Power going to the speaker would be 7.07Vrms ^2/4=12.5Watts RMS. now lets say the signal was turned up so high that it distorted into a square wave. Vpeak of 10Volts = Vrms of the square wave. 10Vrms ^2 /4ohms = 25Watts RMS. as you can see, a lot more power is sent to the speaker when a signal is clipped. if the speaker cannot handle 25Watts RMS, the speaker is being overpowered.
RMS Power is = Vrms ^2 / Impedance
Vrms of a sine wave = Vpeak / root2 (or 0.707 * Vpeak)
now for example, if a sine wave is severely clipping, it will be square wave. Vrms of a square wave = the wave's peak voltage.
now let's say an amp is capable of producing a maximum clean voltage of 10volts peak and it's driving a 4ohm speaker. Vrms of the sine wave would be 7.07Volts RMS. Power going to the speaker would be 7.07Vrms ^2/4=12.5Watts RMS. now lets say the signal was turned up so high that it distorted into a square wave. Vpeak of 10Volts = Vrms of the square wave. 10Vrms ^2 /4ohms = 25Watts RMS. as you can see, a lot more power is sent to the speaker when a signal is clipped. if the speaker cannot handle 25Watts RMS, the speaker is being overpowered.
People argue technicalities WAY too much on this site
basically the moral of the story is, set your amp properly or bye bye sub. match your amp power to the sub rated rms. with proper gains everything should be peachy. if not add a sub or get a different sub.
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Rep Power: 0 actually i just heard back from alpine and what happened was the rubber surrounding of the sub (not sure of technical term) has some what detached from the center aluminum of the sub and alpine said that even with distortion it shouldnt have happened.
anyway, i told them it was probably my fault cuz of distortion and they said since i was verified or something that my sub is covered under warranty and they will repair it at no cost. woot!
at least i kno in the future about that distortion **** and underpowering. i kept thinkin to myself that this sub is so strong that nothing would damage it. now i know better.
anyway, i told them it was probably my fault cuz of distortion and they said since i was verified or something that my sub is covered under warranty and they will repair it at no cost. woot!
at least i kno in the future about that distortion **** and underpowering. i kept thinkin to myself that this sub is so strong that nothing would damage it. now i know better.
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Originally Posted by playa6tnine
actually i just heard back from alpine and what happened was the rubber surrounding of the sub (not sure of technical term) has some what detached from the center aluminum of the sub and alpine said that even with distortion it shouldnt have happened.
anyway, i told them it was probably my fault cuz of distortion and they said since i was verified or something that my sub is covered under warranty and they will repair it at no cost. woot!
at least i kno in the future about that distortion **** and underpowering. i kept thinkin to myself that this sub is so strong that nothing would damage it. now i know better.
anyway, i told them it was probably my fault cuz of distortion and they said since i was verified or something that my sub is covered under warranty and they will repair it at no cost. woot!
at least i kno in the future about that distortion **** and underpowering. i kept thinkin to myself that this sub is so strong that nothing would damage it. now i know better.
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Originally Posted by AlpineCivic
Well your in luck cause as far as I know Alpine does not or didnt repair any speaker in da past, they just replace it with a new one if its under warranty!
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Rep Power: 0 and is it considered blown if its just the rubber "surround" that detached from the center of the sub? cuz it sounds like its blown, but it looks like sealant would take care of it. but i dont wanna mess with it.
