Guys - Mark mentioned breaking in the drivers. I have not done anything special other then using them. Is there a best method for breaking in new sub drivers? Thanks.
JG
DBX 260 and crossover recommendations with 16" wide Tub
Your method should work unless you plan to beat on them right away.
If so, a break in period/process is probably a good idea.
1) Break them in before installing into cabinets - it is a much quieter method.
2) If you have driver pairs, wire them out of phase and attach them to your amplifier. Then lay the magnets down/cones up on a flat surface, taking care that they don't vibrate off the surface during the break in. Don't block the venting - you're not going to be running them hard, but you don't want them sucking FOD into the magnets. You may want to use washers/coins to get the magnets up off the surface.
3) Provide a low frequency tone which visibly moves the speaker, but not to excursion limits. Some guys apply a voltmeter in RMS mode and break in drivers at a particular voltage.
4) Wait 20 minutes, then feel the magnets. If they are warming up, turn down the power and repeat this step.
5) Leave them overnight, and they'll be ready to install after ~8 hours.
That is a good start, and using them live will do the rest. Use them conservatively on the first gig, following instructions for boundary loading, bandpass EQing, etc.
There are many recipes which will yield the desired end result.
If so, a break in period/process is probably a good idea.
1) Break them in before installing into cabinets - it is a much quieter method.
2) If you have driver pairs, wire them out of phase and attach them to your amplifier. Then lay the magnets down/cones up on a flat surface, taking care that they don't vibrate off the surface during the break in. Don't block the venting - you're not going to be running them hard, but you don't want them sucking FOD into the magnets. You may want to use washers/coins to get the magnets up off the surface.
3) Provide a low frequency tone which visibly moves the speaker, but not to excursion limits. Some guys apply a voltmeter in RMS mode and break in drivers at a particular voltage.
4) Wait 20 minutes, then feel the magnets. If they are warming up, turn down the power and repeat this step.
5) Leave them overnight, and they'll be ready to install after ~8 hours.
That is a good start, and using them live will do the rest. Use them conservatively on the first gig, following instructions for boundary loading, bandpass EQing, etc.
There are many recipes which will yield the desired end result.
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Sydney
Low volume ( approx 1 watt ) low freq (30hz is fine ).
Quick and dirty method : invert speakers in the cardboard box they came in and them feed the low frequency and go away. In 8 hours approx 90% of the "loosening" that will occur has. After 24 hours 95 -100%. ( I have had rubber surrounds that took considerably longer. )
Quick and dirty method : invert speakers in the cardboard box they came in and them feed the low frequency and go away. In 8 hours approx 90% of the "loosening" that will occur has. After 24 hours 95 -100%. ( I have had rubber surrounds that took considerably longer. )
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Mark Coward
- Posts: 2601
- Joined: Mon May 15, 2006 10:47 am
- Location: Memphis, TN
You might lay the tubas face down on a carpeted floor, and feed a 30hz signal to them. I've done this, being in a hurry to test them and wanting to break them in afterwards, without removing the driver. I just used an amp that I knew would not overpower them, and kept the signal well below clipping.
Mark Coward