LFM-1 bottoming out

[adk highlander]

Ok before everyone tells me I need a bigger sub, I know, but for now this is the one I have to live with for a few more months.

The sub has bottomed out on the last three movies I have watched forcing me to do the unthinkable - turn it down. I was not even near reference level because I was watching Horton hears a Who with my kid and we are enjoying the movie and there is a good LFE part and - clank goes the sub.

I have the gain set below half and I have run audessey and crossovers are set between 60 - 120 depending on the speaker.

1) I guess my question is am I going to break this thing?

2) Could this be happening because something has already went?

 

[Pyrrho]

Ok before everyone tells me I need a bigger sub, I know, but for now this is the one I have to live with for a few more months.

The sub has bottomed out on the last three movies I have watched forcing me to do the unthinkable - turn it down. I was not even near reference level because I was watching Horton hears a Who with my kid and we are enjoying the movie and there is a good LFE part and - clank goes the sub.

I have the gain set below half and I have run audessey and crossovers are set between 60 - 120 depending on the speaker.

1) I guess my question is am I going to break this thing?

You might.

2) Could this be happening because something has already went?

Possibly. Does it sound okay during normal volumes? If so, it is probably not damaged yet.

You might want to put your sub in a corner, as that tends to increase the loudness of bass. Another thing you might be able to do, which would help some, is setting the crossover levels lower. Of course, you don't want to do that if that will create a gap in the frequency response. And, of course, you want to make sure that you have the level properly set. Since you are bottoming it out, I think you should make sure you have your bass set flat (i.e., that you do not have the subwoofer turned up higher than it is supposed to be), though your automatic setup should have that right.

And, if all else fails, either listen at a lower volume, or turn the subwoofer down to lower than flat. Your subwoofer has limits, and trying to exceed them is likely to damage it.

 

[adk highlander]

Thanks Pyrrho. It is supposed to be set flat with the way my room correction software has run and if anything I have turned it down even from there.

Well if I break it I guess I have a reason to buy a new one.

 

[skers_54]

I agree with Pyrrho. If it still sounds ok, you probably didn't damage it. Just keep the volume lower and try corner loading it. If you're still concerned, you might try a line-level low pass filter (like an f-mod) until you get a bigger sub. That would reduce the risk of over-excursion from the lowest frequencies, especially those below its tuning frequency (25 hz I think).

 

[jostenmeat]

I agree with Pyrrho as far as trying to corner load the sub. Personally, I've never heard a corner loaded sub that I liked, as the excited modes are too easily localizable, however, if there are substantial bass traps, this can get you the best of both worlds: efficient setup with smooth response. Since corner loading is more efficient, you should suffer less distortion, or more headroom.

Sorry man!

 

[MUDSHARK]

My experience with the LFM-1 plus was to put it anywhere but a corner. I had similar problems on challenging movies until I moved it near the door to the den about 1/4 down the adjacent wall. Check the spikes for clearance as well. They easily become disengaged from the floor platter. The one weakness of the Outlaw subs. Good luck.

 

[Matt34]

Agree with the stuff already mentioned and would add that setting you x-over of all the channels to whatever you have your mains are capable of 80hz? This should help take some of the load off the sub untill you can upgrade. Also, if you haven't already, try different positions in the room if possible. In my room there are huge differences in lfe ouput depending on where the subs are placed.

 

[adk highlander]

Thanks for all the comments guys. Unfortunately corner loading is not really an option for this room. My front wall is not possible and I don't have a good spot in the back corner which is why it is where it is.

The spikes are good and I'm off the floor. Right now there is no carpet under it so it is firing into a concrete slab.

I'll change the x-overs to 80 all the way around and see if that helps.

I just don't remember it doing this before but there have been so many changes in that room that it would be hard to pin down which one it was so it will be easier to just work with what you guys have suggested.

Have to go kid is in the bath...

 

[haraldo]

I think consistently bottoming out in the end, is going to break the driver
Not quickly, but in the end, one day, it will be...

 

[Pyrrho]

Thanks Pyrrho. It is supposed to be set flat with the way my room correction software has run and if anything I have turned it down even from there.

Well if I break it I guess I have a reason to buy a new one.

You might need to turn off the room correction software for your subwoofer. If it is boosting a low frequency significantly due to placement/room effects, that can cause your subwoofer to bottom out earlier than it normally would. If your equipment can display what it is doing with the room correction software, look at it, and see if it is trying to significantly boost a bass frequency. If so, you will need to either move the subwoofer to a better spot in the room so that it does not need that boost, or just shut off the boost.

 

[highfigh]

Ok before everyone tells me I need a bigger sub, I know, but for now this is the one I have to live with for a few more months.

The sub has bottomed out on the last three movies I have watched forcing me to do the unthinkable - turn it down. I was not even near reference level because I was watching Horton hears a Who with my kid and we are enjoying the movie and there is a good LFE part and - clank goes the sub.

I have the gain set below half and I have run audessey and crossovers are set between 60 - 120 depending on the speaker.

1) I guess my question is am I going to break this thing?

2) Could this be happening because something has already went?

You ran Audyssey- look at the levels of each channel and make sure the sub channel isn't set to +15dB or something like that. If it is, back it off and add more with the level control on the sub. Sending too much to the sub amp's input can overdrive it and cause what you described. The website indicates that it has a long throw woofer- if you're bottoming out, look at the driver and make sure the surround or cone haven't been damaged.

Changing the crossover to a higher frequency won't have any effect on the lowest frequencies which is where the problem is occurring unless the woofers on your main speakers are bottoming.

 

[adk highlander]

Thanks again guys. I will pull the sub out tonight and take a look at the driver just to be sure it is ok.

The levels for the sub are not boosted. I think it is set to +1 or +2 but nothing like +15. I remember when I ran the setup it had me turn down the dial on the sub because it said it was too high.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I just don't get it, I know how many bills you have and how much you make per year so just order the dang sub already!

Unless you are still holding out for that Airplane purchase.

Ok before everyone tells me I need a bigger sub, I know, but for now this is the one I have to live with for a few more months.

 

[adk highlander]

Unless you are still holding out for that Airplane purchase.

Well you know the price is almost right now that all the banks had to sell their private jets.

I know I'm going to need to do something. Sucks to be totally into a movie and out of nowhere CLANG and you are trying to grab the remote before real damage is done.

To be honest I've had a couple of scotch's and if the kid was not in bed I'd go down and just crush the thing. I just got a decent check today for one of my side projects so now it is down to do I want a projector, a sub or the down payment for a new car. Hmmm.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Thanks Pyrrho. It is supposed to be set flat with the way my room correction software has run and if anything I have turned it down even from there.

Well if I break it I guess I have a reason to buy a new one.

That correction software may have boosted a frequency to the point where that frequency ma be the culprit, bottoming out the driver.

 

[anamorphic96]

That correction software may have boosted a frequency to the point where that frequency ma be the culprit, bottoming out the driver.

Good point you brought up. The Audyssey software is known to do this. It's one thing I do not like about Audyssey.

When performing equalization to anything room or subwoofer you ideally never want to boost any frequency more than 3db. But this should only be done if really needed. You really only want to cut frequencies.

 

[Gov]

Sounds like you need to get an Epik 18" driver I can't for the life of me bottom that driver out

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I don't see how a new car will fix your sub so lets make this easy. Call SVS, get an Ultra then call Epson and get a Home Cinema 6500 UB.

See how easy that was....

To be honest I've had a couple of scotch's and if the kid was not in bed I'd go down and just crush the thing. I just got a decent check today for one of my side projects so now it is down to do I want a projector, a sub or the down payment for a new car. Hmmm.

 

[adk highlander]

Funny I was looking at majorlosers new purchase of the 7500UB and the anamorphic feature is way cool. I don't think I can go that much but that would be cool.

I really like the old ultra's better. I should have picked up warp's when he sold his. I am going to need to blow the old onw up before I can pass this one past the wife. The new center will be enough of a trick to get by her.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Should be easy to blow up the sub.

I have a new interest in PJs too. Jump on the link below and help me out.
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?p=566464#post566464