Best way to break in a new woofer?

Serendipity
Serendipity Posts: 6,975
edited December 2011 in The Clubhouse
My new woofer arrived today - what's the best way to break it in for sound quality, not output?

I want fast, clear, and accurate bass.
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Post edited by Serendipity on
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Comments

  • cristo
    cristo Posts: 231
    edited December 2011
    Well, if you plugged it into the wall you'd get (let's see ... 8 ohms 120 volts 15 amps - that makes 1800 watts)
    a nice 60 hz break in signal at 1800 watts - oops, a little to robust, it'll make the woofer bust.
    How about through a 120 to 24 volt transformer - that's 72 watts - that might work.

    Seriously though, if you have 2 woofers you can put them close to each other, reverse the phase on one of the speakers,
    and drive both with the bass up and the treble down at a robust level of music signal well below the clipping/distortion
    limit of the amp and it will do a good job without driving everyone crazy or hurting anything.
    cristo

    NAD C 545BEE cd player, Philips AF877 turntable / Shure V15V-MR with JICO SAS stylus,
    Tascam 122 mkIII cassette deck, Harman Kardon 3480 receiver, Terk FM-50 antenna in the attic,
    Soundcraftsmen SE550 stereo equalizer, Polk Monitor 10a speakers
    (with Sonicraft/Solen/Mills crossover rebuild)
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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    edited December 2011
    Just put it in your system and use it.
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,415
    edited December 2011
    +1^^^^^^
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,773
    edited December 2011
    I'd find a better enclosure.
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  • rebuy
    rebuy Posts: 695
    edited December 2011
    If you use that box, be sure and put an air hole in it. That will keep it running cooler.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2011
    Polk cooks subwoofers for testing in the dozens at a time using pro-amps at HQ. It's weird to see 25 subwoofers running low end test tones and jumping in unison. There's a pic from the Polkfest in 2005 showing about 30 drivers being tested in the back...not sue if it was ever posted.

    They don't reverse phase or anything like that.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited December 2011
    I ran it at low levels before putting it into an enclosure...

    Everything seems to be fine.
    polkaudio RT35 Bookshelves
    polkaudio 255c-RT Inwalls
    polkaudio DSWPro550WI
    polkaudio XRT12 XM Tuner
    polkaudio RM6750 5.1

    Front projection, 2 channel, car audio... life is good!
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,613
    edited December 2011
    Wall Socket, 60 cycles baby!
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • codyc1ark
    codyc1ark Posts: 2,532
    edited December 2011
    Not trying to be a huge dick, but you have almost 6200 posts and your seriously asking this question? I know thats semi dickish, but come on man...
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,613
    edited December 2011
    Now now!

    My "break in" is usually pop it in and crank it loud!
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited December 2011
    Cody,

    I was told that breaking in a subwoofer with loud explosions or hip-hop music will make the surround weaken, not sure if that was true or not. Cristo's "put them out of phase and run at low levels" made the most sense to me.
    polkaudio RT35 Bookshelves
    polkaudio 255c-RT Inwalls
    polkaudio DSWPro550WI
    polkaudio XRT12 XM Tuner
    polkaudio RM6750 5.1

    Front projection, 2 channel, car audio... life is good!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,613
    edited December 2011
    Booo - just crank it man!

    New woofers are next to indestructible...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • SDA1C
    SDA1C Posts: 2,072
    edited December 2011
    Drive it like you stole it man! They made lots of 'em!
    Too much **** to list....
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  • cristo
    cristo Posts: 231
    edited December 2011
    I actually said "reverse the phase on one of the speakers, and drive both with the bass up
    and the treble down at a robust level of music signal well below the clipping/distortion
    limit of the amp" - not low levels, but not higher than the amp was meant to go either.
    cristo

    NAD C 545BEE cd player, Philips AF877 turntable / Shure V15V-MR with JICO SAS stylus,
    Tascam 122 mkIII cassette deck, Harman Kardon 3480 receiver, Terk FM-50 antenna in the attic,
    Soundcraftsmen SE550 stereo equalizer, Polk Monitor 10a speakers
    (with Sonicraft/Solen/Mills crossover rebuild)
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  • chadam44
    chadam44 Posts: 68
    edited December 2011
    Drop it in the box and turn on something bass heavy, or maybe go find some THX test tones and runs those for a while. Or you could just use it as you plan on using it and eventually it gets broken in, sounds better, and it requires no out of the way work for you to arrange for break in.
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