Burning in Sub

[justphil]

Can someone point me to or show me what I need to do to burn in my sub when I get it?

[Bruce Weldy]

Even though I'm a relative newbie, I'll take a stab at it since I just did mine a couple of weeks ago.

First, break 'em in before you put 'em in the cabs.
I did it in my office in the house. Built a 30 hz tone in Audacity and ran straight from my computer to an old Peavey PA head.

Cranked up the tone, then (with a voltage meter on the speaker wires) turned up the volume until I got 10 volts. Attached the speakers and checked again to make sure it was still 10 volts.

Let it cook for 24 hours.

Cool for 15 minutes. Garnish with parsley. Serves 400.

[SoundInMotionDJ]

First, break 'em in before you put 'em in the cabs.
I did it in my office in the house. Built a 30 hz tone in Audacity and ran straight from my computer to an old Peavey PA head.

Cranked up the tone, then (with a voltage meter on the speaker wires) turned up the volume until I got 10 volts. Attached the speakers and checked again to make sure it was still 10 volts.

+1

Also good with garlic.

[justphil]

You really let it run like that for 24hrs? I have an older Pioneer reciever but I dont think it will run 4 0hms. My current old sub has an output on it. Can I run my MP3 player through the sub and then output to the speaker? Is there any other way of accomplishing this?

[Bruce Weldy]

You really let it run like that for 24hrs? I have an older Pioneer reciever but I dont think it will run 4 0hms. My current old sub has an output on it. Can I run my MP3 player through the sub and then output to the speaker? Is there any other way of accomplishing this?

I ran mine in a couple of stretchs over two days.

Your old reciever should put out 8 ohms per side. The tone from Audacity is in stereo, so you've got signal and you've got the right impedance for 2-8ohm speakers.

Running through your old sub would work, assuming that it is a sub pass through and not a crossed-over ouput for top boxes....however, that old sub will be growling a 30hz signal for as long as you break in the other speakers....very annoying. Out of the cabs, you can't even hear the speakers in the next room.

[justphil]

You really let it run like that for 24hrs? I have an older Pioneer reciever but I dont think it will run 4 0hms. My current old sub has an output on it. Can I run my MP3 player through the sub and then output to the speaker? Is there any other way of accomplishing this?

I ran mine in a couple of stretchs over two days.

Your old reciever should put out 8 ohms per side. The tone from Audacity is in stereo, so you've got signal and you've got the right impedance for 2-8ohm speakers.

Running through your old sub would work, assuming that it is a sub pass through and not a crossed-over ouput for top boxes....however, that old sub will be growling a 30hz signal for as long as you break in the other speakers....very annoying. Out of the cabs, you can't even hear the speakers in the next room.

Are you saying I would run the pos and negs from the left and right channels hook them together on the sub and run it like that? I don't quite understand what you mean.

[Sydney]

All you got to do is provide run time.
I have been breaking speakers ( outside of cabs ) for decades.
Just connect as if you would normally.
before access to sine wave I just used filtered noise just enough to get cone to move a little and let it go for a couple of days.

Syd

[Bruce Weldy]

So, I'm assuming from what you just said that you only have one speaker. Earlier you said 4 ohms, so I assumed you had 2 8ohm speakers. If you are running a 4 ohm speaker (any particular reason?), then I wouldn't use your receiver unless it is an old one that puts out at 4 ohms (like my circa 1976 Pioneer).

How about telling me which speakers and how many ohms per speaker....then we can get to the actual hooking up.

[Bruce Weldy]

Are you saying I would run the pos and negs from the left and right channels hook them together on the sub and run it like that? I don't quite understand what you mean.

No. Run one speaker from one side of the amp. Run the other from the other side (if you have two speakers to break in). Do not tie the outputs of two channels together.

Are you trying to run a 4 ohm speaker?

[Chris_Allen]

You really let it run like that for 24hrs?

You don't have to - you will gain the majority of the flexibility in the first few hours. Running for 24hours will probably get you 95% of the way.

My current old sub has an output on it. Can I run my MP3 player through the sub and then output to the speaker? Is there any other way of accomplishing this?

The reason for running 25-30Hz is that you can't really hear it. Running the MP3 player through it at 10V will create lots of audiable noise - not what you want for several hours but if you can live with it, it's as good a way as any.

Have you not got a laptop that can generate a sine wave?

[justphil]

No lap top. I will be burning in an MCM 8" high Excursion woofer. My reciever is around a 95-98.

[wounded horse]

Why out of the cab though? Why is this important?

[Sydney]

It makes less noise for one thing,
If you put 2 drivers, faced together, and out of phase - quieter still.
( I got into the habit of doing break in and test immediately upon getting drivers ,to make sure the drivers were not defective, to get prompt return, before installation and so I didn't have to put it out of a cab. )
Syd

[Gregory East]

Or for mono, wire in series but out of phase at 20V.

[Zack Brock]

Why out of the cab though? Why is this important?

You'll have less noise and more excursion out of the cab. You can also watch the woofer cone move and make sure it isn't being stressed by the breakin/burnin.