Add a sub problem

[sherwood]

So based upon the reading I've been doing, I went with the recommended Pioneer 8" sub with Kenwood amp in my 802A B&O system. I used an AudioControl LC2i line converter to get the signal from the existing amp, convert to RCA inputs, then to new amp to power the Pioneer sub. I hooked it all up as other members have and there is lots of distortion and sounds completely terrible. I've rewired the whole system multiple times (changed dual voice coil series/parallel, changed speaker wire inputs, checked positive/negative amp connections, different line converter...) and still coming up empty. While the speaker is out of the enclosure, there is no distortion but as soon as it's in the box, the distortion comes back even at low levels.
So, my question is if people had to modify the existing box (other than moving plastic to fit speaker)? Did other people drill ports? Why is speaker distorting when mounted?

 

[evan9r]

No mods other than moving the back out and filling in the screw hole. Are you sure your wires are not getting somehow pinched? That happened to me.

 

[smurfslayer]

If you are only distorting when the sub is mounted in the enclosure, I would focus on the enclosure itself.

If the ’18 enclosure is unchanged from the ’17, even with the shallow mount 8” kicker/pioneer, you have to relieve the enclosure with a heat gun or torch quite a bit. I have the kicker and spaced the sub out at the mount point and still needed to do quite a bit of modifying for depth. It shouldn’t be the wires unless your wires are actually getting pinched in the enclosure itself, there’s a channel in the sub box to pass the wires through.

quick test - hard mount the sub to some 2 x 4’s, tall enough to let the sub travel, place it on the floor of the truck and play some music. increase the volume and confirm you don’t have a distortion issue. if you still have the distortion, you need to trace back your wiring. if not, you need to see what’s going on with the sub enclosure.

 

[sherwood]

If you are only distorting when the sub is mounted in the enclosure, I would focus on the enclosure itself.

If the ’18 enclosure is unchanged from the ’17, even with the shallow mount 8” kicker/pioneer, you have to relieve the enclosure with a heat gun or torch quite a bit. I have the kicker and spaced the sub out at the mount point and still needed to do quite a bit of modifying for depth. It shouldn’t be the wires unless your wires are actually getting pinched in the enclosure itself, there’s a channel in the sub box to pass the wires through.

quick test - hard mount the sub to some 2 x 4’s, tall enough to let the sub travel, place it on the floor of the truck and play some music. increase the volume and confirm you don’t have a distortion issue. if you still have the distortion, you need to trace back your wiring. if not, you need to see what’s going on with the sub enclosure.

Already modified enclosure for depth and sub freely rotates/moves to suggest the sub is not rubbing against back of enclosure. When sub is out and free air, sub doesn’t distort but when placed in mount, immediately distorts. Seems like it’s air pressure from enclosure causing it which is why I was seeing if others with 2018 had to modify enclosure. Maybe it’s the shallow pioneer 8” that can’t handle it? Kicker shallow mount?

 

[smurfslayer]

I don’t think so. I suggest taking some actual measurements. from a logic standpoint, you’ve narrowed the components causing the distortion down to power + sub connected + sub in enclosure. Remove only sub in enclosure and problem is resolved.

@Guy has had both subs, I went straight to the kicker. Again, I have the ’17 and if the enclosure is the same, it will work if the enclosure is modified correctly.

 

[crash457]

I thought this thread was about adding a problem inside a problem

 

[lawdog]

I thought this thread was about adding a problem inside a problem

I though this thread was about shifting dynamics in a **** relationship...

For srs, the Pioneer is built to function in a sealed enclosure, and you say it works outside the enclosure. So, seems like something in the wiring must be getting pinched or adversely affected once in the sub enclosure.

 

[sherwood]

So I’ve pushed even more plastic and measured to ensure clearance, rewired multiple times and even used different speaker wire, checked connections, swapped out for new pioneer, and its same result... major distortion even at low levels. When sub is out of box there is no resistance but also no distortion, even holding sub against enclosure without ******** down, it distorts. In the 2018, there is a weird port “tube” that goes around the outside of enclosure but I’ve tried stuffing a sock in it to block it with same result. To test the amp, wired in old sub (obviously keeping levels low) and sounded better that pioneer?!? I think next step is returning pioneer and trying kicker?

 

[lawdog]

So I’ve pushed even more plastic and measured to ensure clearance, rewired multiple times and even used different speaker wire, checked connections, swapped out for new pioneer, and its same result... major distortion even at low levels. When sub is out of box there is no resistance but also no distortion, even holding sub against enclosure without ******** down, it distorts. In the 2018, there is a weird port “tube” that goes around the outside of enclosure but I’ve tried stuffing a sock in it to block it with same result. To test the amp, wired in old sub (obviously keeping levels low) and sounded better that pioneer?!? I think next step is returning pioneer and trying kicker?

If there's a port tube on the 2018, then maybe it's the problem. I'm not sure anyone has done this mod with the Pioneer sub on a 2018 B&O yet, have they? I'd try another shallow depth sub more suited to a ported enclosure like the Kicker or maybe or the Rockford Fosgate P3SD2-8.

 

[sherwood]

If there's a port tube on the 2018, then maybe it's the problem. I'm not sure anyone has done this mod with the Pioneer sub on a 2018 B&O yet, have they? I'd try another shallow depth sub more suited to a ported enclosure like the Kicker or maybe or the Rockford Fosgate P3SD2-8.

Ya, that's kinda what I'm trying to get at and see if anyone else has done it on a 2018 B&O. Pioneer states that the TS-SW2002D2 is built for free air, sealed, and ported enclosures...