Why have my subs stopped hitting as loud as they used to?

Car Stereo Chick answers a readers question on why his Alpine Type E 12" subs are not hitting as hard and loud as they used to with his MRP-M500 amp.

[ebergland]

One thought... I'm guessing that was a demo box for the shop, I'm also guessing those wires on the back of the enclosure go to an amp. When checking a subwoofer impedance with a meter, disconnect one of the legs so you aren't reading continuity through the amp. That does happen, believe me. Also, if it's noisy or windy where you are checking the sub, the cone will pick up sound waves and transfer them into small amounts of voltage, that's why the impedance fluctuates like it did in this video.

[svtcontour]

In addition to everything that carstereochick has said, I'd just want to add that if its cold outside, the subs stiffen up so its output will be more limited until they come up to temperature - which they may not actually do if its very cold outside or if your trips are very short.

[tylervilbert]

Woman into car audio?! Please marry me

[daniellambertsr.]

When checking for resistance you should have the sub facing up instead of sitting up in a enclosure to get a correct reading

[Tyslam]

Your battery could be running low. It could say you are putting out 15 amps you may have a battery with little charge and that could be the difference between being noticed and stock! Some people think a compactor is dumb but I run one and I my system hits hard

[petethepoolguy]

That was very helpful but still doesn’t hit as hard. I have a 10” sub and it doesn’t sound like it use to at all. Now it’s as low as the stereos bass. I checked the ground but still nothing. So frustraited

[dominickarango]

I have had a system for like 1 year almost and man it hit so hard like not even full volume and it was hiting hard u had to open a window bc it was just making ur ears clog now I have it full volume and still don’t hit hard it has to be all the way up to finally feel the seat vibration I don’t know it sometimes hits really hard sometimes it don’t ?

[WickDPimP]

I'm having this same issue..However, not trying to be a jerk(mean to be constructive), but some of the information in this video is a bit off. Like, pushing in on the cone, if its stiff or it has resistance, that doesn't mean its blown. In fact if your using a sealed box a good way to see if its sealed good, is the cone will have a bit of resistance when pressing in and is a bit slow to depress. The tell-tale sign of a blown voice coil is a crunchy feel and sound when pressing in on it and only if you had a catastrophic failure will it lock up(exceeded its mechanical limit). When your testing the resistance of the voice coil, the speaker wire should be unplugged from the box, especially if the other end is hooked up to the amp.. Otherwise you can get false readings from the amp circuit or the speaker wire could be crossed at the other end, etc.. The ohms shouldn't be fluctuating like that at all.. You might get a few tenths range(like 2.1-2.3), so I'm guessing you just weren't making a good connection with your probe.

[Coolness]

sometimes it could be your ears becoming used to the bass. turn them shits up or get another amp

[drapermike]

Please help my subs dnt pound as much as they used too! I had a dude test it and said everything was good! But it isn't as good

[jboblk]

This happened to me before and after checking the fuse (almost blown) and replacing it, it sounded great again.

[dominickgonzalez]

I remember when I first installed my subwoofer (Kicker L7 15") it was hitting hard. Then recently when i got into my car and heard how it sounded weak the bass wasnt BOOMING ! idk what happened. I wonder if i played it too loud louder than it can handle and i messed it up idk anyone know what could be the problem?

[DavyDave]

My subwoofer takes up the entire trunk man. It used to be heart pounding bass but not anymore. The amp thing is connected to the back of the seats and the subwoofer is like mounted onto brackets or something? its always creaking it makes the car sound like an old creaky car i hate it.

Heart pounding bass stopped working tho. Im gonna check for air leaks and see if wires have shifted. hopefully that helps!

[randyszilay]

Could also be a dead cell on the battery

[fidmartinez]

A I have a problem I have two cars and both r not putting out sound from the amp I tried every thing I checked all wires and no sound

[stevensokhan]

Current spec.

2x Skar vd 12 subs dual 2ohm 500rms each

Rockville db14 4000watt AMP



So i upgraded my amp and sub from boss 1100watt amp, MTX terminater sub to the current one listed.

For some reason my old set up is alot louder and i cant find any solution. Would there be any reason on why my new set up is not as loud?? even though its a much better set up?

[chrisfiske]

I got a zv5 12 that was playing fine and it made a noise almost like something hit something and now it don't hit right on the lows it still plays it just sounds weird when you turn it up...coils tested fine 1.7 on each on 2 ohms coils amp looks fine nothing burnt...could the headunit cause stuff like this to happen

[hangyourslef]

Are you alive ? Lady? Helloooo wake up it’s been 11 years your so good you should have your own class for system set ups