Infinity 1260w build - low output

[dpc]

I just finished a sub build with an Infinity 1260w and a 300 watt Bash amp from parts express. I used the model jinjuku provided in this thread. I just tested it out hooked into my Yamaha RX-A3000 in the same place my Klipsch RW-10d was, and using the same cable into the LFE input on the 300 watt Bash amp that the Klipsch sub was using.

I had the sub 1 level on my receiver set to -3 for the smaller Klipsch sub and had the level set at 0 on the klipsch sub (which I think is ~50%) and didn't get comparable output on the new sub until I jacked the sub 1 level on the receiver to +10 (which is the max) and had the volume on the Bash amp up around 70-80%. I've tried flipping the phase switch, using the left input instead of the LFE, and niether provided a noticable difference.

It seems to me that something is pretty wrong here. Any ideas?

 

[jinjuku]

Bad driver? Bad amp? Just to make sure: Is it the 1260 or 1262?

I know a lot of other people with this sub already in use and so far so good.

Can you post some pic's?

Get some test tones (Home Theater Shack has some you can burn to CD) and try that out.

 

[jinjuku]

Another thought is to take the driver and amp out of box and connect it and run it free air. You will be fine just don't get on the volume knob on your receiver.

 

[dpc]

It is the 1260w. I went with that driver since that's 4ohm and the amp was as well. I did try running it free air before putting it in the cabinet and didn't turn it up very high at all, just made sure it was moving. It seemed very low when testing it free air, but as this is my first sub build I thought maybe that would change when it was in the cabinet.

It was a bit too late to test it fully last night, but I put a splitter on the cable from the amp and ran it into both the left and right inputs and that seemed to make a little difference. I'll have to test it more after work.

Unfortunately I don't have any other amps or drivers to try to swap these out with to determine if one is bad. Does anyone know any way other than swapping them to determine if one is bad.

I'll check out the test tones and see if I can get some pictures up after work.

Thanks.

 

[jinjuku]

If you feel like it remove the driver from one of your klipsh speakers and see if you can connect the Infinity.

Need to cut the problem in half. It's either the driver or the amp. Alternatively you could see if a local car audio place would take $5 or $10 to put the driver on an amp there and test it out.

 

[dpc]

Ok so I've been listening to it quite a bit tonight and I think I'm getting the output I want if I put a splitter on the cable coming from the amp and run rca cables from the splitter to the left and right inputs. So I guess the question now would be, should I have to do that with this Bash amp, or does that indicate that I've still got a problem? I've read there's the need to do this on some pro amps, but I wouldn't think you'd need to do that with a plate amp.

I appreciate the great suggestions. I'm trying to decide if I want to take the Klipsch sub apart, ask a local shop to hook it up to an amp, or maybe just order another Bash amp and 1260w for a second build and then if one performs differently from the other I can determine which part is faulty. I did keep the amp outside of the cabinet, so it would be pretty easy to swap amps if I ordered a second set.

I've attached a picture of the sub. I think it turned out ok for a first attempt. I ended up spray painting four coats of black paint on it and it turned kind of dark brown with the last coat. Go figure. Anyway I've just got the sub connected to a pair of binding posts in the back of the cabinet and I've got the amp in a temporary enclosure for now.

Please let me know needing to boost the input signal via the splitter still indicates a problem.

Thanks.

 

[jinjuku]

I have the BASH 300 and zero problems driving it to full volume with my AVR.
Can you try a new RCA cable?

Have you tried a straight up 40 or 50 Hz test tone? I doubt that the signal level is culprit. The driver needs to be bench tested along with the amp.

Are there any possible air leaks? Can you pull the amp from the Klipsch and hook it up since the amp is external?

 

[TheLaw612]

Did you have to make any adjustments to the cabinet for the bash amp? Or can you just place it back there near the port with no fear of it interfering with the slot port?

 

[dpc]

So it looks like I panicked prior to allowing the driver to break in. I think I was also looking for output levels above what I would actually use beyond just showing off. I'm happy with my build with a single cable going in to the LFE input, the gain on the receiver set at 0 and the gain on the amp set to ~55%.

It sounds much better than my 10" Klipsch sub, and definitely goes deeper. I've enjoyed listening to it and just got a second driver and amp ready to build another in a few weeks when I've got the time.

Funny story on the paint though, my wife picked up the last two cans of spray paint I used and there was a dark walnut can misplaced next in the section for the black paint. The can lids are colored about the same color as the paint and it was close enough that neither of us noticed. So that's why it turned out kind of dark brown instead of black. Just need to decide whether to go back and do a few coats of black on the existing build to match the new one, or to use the dark walnut on the next build to match the two.

Thanks jinjuku for providing the plans and for the help and patience in this thread. I did try swapping out amps, drivers, and cables as suggested and I think it was mostly just driver break in beyond what I had expected.

TheLaw612, As far as the BASH amp goes when measuring this all out and building it, it seemed like the amp would stick out right above the port opening with maybe 1-2" of clearance. I was worried about air turbulence with it that close and sticking out a few inches past the opening and that possibly leading to port noise. So I've just got the amp in a make shift box from scrap mdf at the moment. This was my first build and I'm no expert so it may not have been a problem mounting the amp in the enclosure right above the port opening. That said I don't get a whole lot of air coming out of the port so it may not have been a problem. I believe I've got the box sealed properly as I don't feel air coming out anywhere else and I'm just assuming the small amount of air leaving the port (compared to my Klipsch sub) is a result of good design by jinjuku.

Anyway I'll probably just paint the box I've made from scrap mdf to match the subs, put some feet or something on them, and keep them on top of the subs. I went with this approach as I didn't want the fan noise from a pro amp, but I'm on the fence on whether I'd go this route again if I was doing it all over again since I'll end up with two amps and having to build a decent looking enclosure for both.

 

[jinjuku]

Good to hear back from you. What happens if you run the gain knob at say 75-85%?

 

[dpc]

I've had the gain between 50-60% for a few days now and think it blends well with the rest of my system without sounding like it's drowning out the mids and highs.

I actually had it around 75-80% prior to that and I never really heard anything that sounded like I was pushing the driver too hard, but it did sound like it was a bit high relative to the rest of the system. I've probably got a few songs that might push it too hard at 75-80%, but I don't think I've really run into the point where I was worried about it bottoming out with the single cable. I think I got to about the point where I wouldn't want to push it any further when I was splitting the signal and going into the left and right inputs. Is that safe to do on plate amps like this by the way? I didn't really think about it until after I'd tried it and got to wondering. I don't think I need to do that as it sounds great with just the lfe after break in, just curious.

I've currently got a 5.1 Klipsch system with the RF-62 IIs for the fronts, the RC62-II for the center and RS-52s for the surrounds and I think I'll leave it at 50-55% after watching a lot of movies and listening to a lot of music to test the new sub out this last week.

But I'm happy enough with it that I decided to build a second to hopefully get rid of a little null in my room.