subwoofer break in

[Notladstyle]

I've been doing some research on breaking in subs since I bought the d3 and so far ive found very different opinions.

one says that the spider and surround glues settle when being broke in and thats why you play at half volume steady

the other says that breaking in is a myth.

the last says that the voice coil adapts its shape to the particular patter of the magnetic field since no two magnets are exactly alike.



I am inclined to beleive the first opinion and not the second two because high end woofer manuals always mention breaking in subs and I do not think a manufacturer would reccommend it if there was no reason. second, the coil is a perfect circle and shouldnt have any imperfections. I do think the spider/coil/surround glues would benefit from a consitent motion to help get reliable flexibility and even bend points.


Just to be safe I'm putting a 40-80hz tone through the sub for a half hour or so. Anyone care to weigh in?

[TBSpyder]

When I first got into car audio, I believed and followed the whole break-in period. But over the years, after hearing opposing arguments and first-hand experience, I believe it is more of a myth and may only apply to certain subwoofers. I've done countless systems where the sub(s) was cranked near full tilt within an hour of installation...and cannot remember any blowing because of it.

I personally wouldn't put a 40hz test tone on your sub for half an hour straight, unless the manufacturer specifically requests it. Sounds like a bad idea. However, if anything, I would recommend playing your normal music as you would, only at a reduced volume for a couple days.

[TJElite]

I think it depends on what you are trying to do. Most of the good test labs, like the guys who test for the magazines, do a break in before testing. They only do this, I believe, to make sure the woofer has gotten close to its final design TS parameters. I just looked through a couple car audio mags, and I didn't see this mentioned, but I did find some reference on PASmag.com Their guy uses between 27 and 32hz, at 10 v. In another article, he says he breaks them in on the bench for 8 hours. 10 V into a 4 ohm coil is only 25 watts, so that doesn't seem unreasonable.

Now, as far as breaking them in for longevity...I've never heard anything about this. I agree that the 'coil forms around the magnetic field' sounds iffy...I don't think th coil is an absolute perfect circle, but I don't think it will change shape, either.

So, I guess to answer your question, a 40-80hz tone for 1/2 an hour shouldn't hurt anything, as long as you stay below the RMS power rating. Will it help? I guess it will save time, as it won't take as much music to break it in (there is no doubt woofers do get 'looser' and louder over time.) but other than that, I don't think it will make any difference.

Toby

[Notladstyle]

When I first got into car audio, I believed and followed the whole break-in period. But over the years, after hearing opposing arguments and first-hand experience, I believe it is more of a myth and may only apply to certain subwoofers. I've done countless systems where the sub(s) was cranked near full tilt within an hour of installation...and cannot remember any blowing because of it.

I personally wouldn't put a 40hz test tone on your sub for half an hour straight, unless the manufacturer specifically requests it. Sounds like a bad idea. However, if anything, I would recommend playing your normal music as you would, only at a reduced volume for a couple days.


I'm sure the breakin thing is only for certain woofers, and on audio forums ive read about losing 1-2db from improper breakin, never woofer failure. I know JL manuals recommend break in to loosen the spyder/surround and they dont play around so it cant be a total myth.

[Notladstyle]

So, I guess to answer your question, a 40-80hz tone for 1/2 an hour shouldn't hurt anything, as long as you stay below the RMS power rating. Will it help? I guess it will save time, as it won't take as much music to break it in (there is no doubt woofers do get 'looser' and louder over time.) but other than that, I don't think it will make any difference.

Toby


sounds good, be ready to measure my car - I intend to break the 100db mark... and you have to hear this crappy cancelation when I turn my woofer too.

[TBSpyder]

and on audio forums ive read about losing 1-2db from improper breakin, never woofer failure.


Never heard that one. And it'd be difficult to prove side by side considering a 1-2db difference could be expected from two of the exact same subs, amps, etc. Probably just another one of those audio theories which will never be settled.

[GradeA_TireFryer]

Break In A Sub?
With The Temperature Changes In A Automobile - Shrink And Expanding Of Plastics, Foam, Metal And The Other Good Stuff Speakers Are Made Of, A Break In Period Dont Make Sense. The Moving Friction Parts - Very Few - Surround And Spider, Would Be Effected By Temp.

[Notladstyle]

Break In A Sub?
With The Temperature Changes In A Automobile - Shrink And Expanding Of Plastics, Foam, Metal And The Other Good Stuff Speakers Are Made Of, A Break In Period Dont Make Sense. The Moving Friction Parts - Very Few - Surround And Spider, Would Be Effected By Temp.

you mean affected by temperature and if thats the case then why do you break motors in? they go from 80 to 200 degrees in a matter of minutes every day and yet you are supposed to break the motors in for the first 10k miles.

[P057]

you mean affected by temperature and if thats the case then why do you break motors in? they go from 80 to 200 degrees in a matter of minutes every day and yet you are supposed to break the motors in for the first 10k miles.


errr more than 200 i believe..

the reason why they say break the motors is because of the rubber piston rings and stuff, they need it to heat properly to melt on correctly or some bs and ensure a good fit, but there is a guy who made a whole site saying thats bullshit, that breaking in engines is crap - back in the day you needed it but now you dont. he says to kind of push it, preferably on a track and just run it semi-hard for a prolonged time.. i dunno, just google 'breaking in engines' or something.

I wonder if you could apply to subs..?

[Bumpin Expo]

the only subs I ever broke in were alpine type R's. I must have went thru so many of those just being too lazy to break them in then one day I did and they were fine...luckily I had CC warrenty (back in the day)

[TJElite]

errr more than 200 i believe..

the reason why they say break the motors is because of the rubber piston rings and stuff, they need it to heat properly to melt on correctly or some bs and ensure a good fit, but there is a guy who made a whole site saying thats bullshit, that breaking in engines is crap - back in the day you needed it but now you dont. he says to kind of push it, preferably on a track and just run it semi-hard for a prolonged time.. i dunno, just google 'breaking in engines' or something.

I wonder if you could apply to subs..?

Umm..not to flame, but piston rings aren't rubber.

I'm no motor expert, although I've built a couple, but I beleive the purpose of breaking in a motor has to do with getting the parts that rub together properly mated to one another...they don't originally because of machining differences, etc.

Since subwoofer parts shouldn't rub togther, this isn't an issue. Again, woofers do break in, but I don't think any particular break in regimine is any better than another for the life or output of the sub.

Toby

[P057]

Umm..not to flame, but piston rings aren't rubber.

I'm no motor expert, although I've built a couple, but I beleive the purpose of breaking in a motor has to do with getting the parts that rub together properly mated to one another...they don't originally because of machining differences, etc.

Since subwoofer parts shouldn't rub togther, this isn't an issue. Again, woofers do break in, but I don't think any particular break in regimine is any better than another for the life or output of the sub.

Toby


lol np, i dont remember stuff well so sometimes i say things wrong, but you get the idea

[integralsgreen]

sounds good, be ready to measure my car - I intend to break the 100db mark... and you have to hear this crappy cancelation when I turn my woofer too.
herd it myself today. the bass doubbles when he turns the speaker away from the passenger compartment :nerd:

[GradeA_TireFryer]

errr more than 200 i believe..

the reason why they say break the motors is because of the rubber piston rings and stuff, they need it to heat properly to melt on correctly or some bs and ensure a good fit, but there is a guy who made a whole site saying thats bullshit, that breaking in engines is crap - back in the day you needed it but now you dont. he says to kind of push it, preferably on a track and just run it semi-hard for a prolonged time.. i dunno, just google 'breaking in engines' or something.

I wonder if you could apply to subs..?


do you break in a motor on a brand new car??? no!
do have to break in a motor on a rebuild - not really - mostly if you have a hydralic cam you need the cam lobs to seat.
yes years ago the practice was to break in a motor, but today with better materials, rings, cylinders and way better machining - better hoanning, bearings are build with better metals, are oils are better.
Do you see a dragster break in a motor before they run it -
I say fuck-it if it pops you just get to build it bigger - just what ia m going thru now - but it will be ready at track day - 700 hp 700 f# - then the nossssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssss:lol:

[Notladstyle]

do you break in a motor on a brand new car??? no!
do have to break in a motor on a rebuild - not really - mostly if you have a hydralic cam you need the cam lobs to seat.
yes years ago the practice was to break in a motor, but today with better materials, rings, cylinders and way better machining - better hoanning, bearings are build with better metals, are oils are better.
Do you see a dragster break in a motor before they run it -
I say fuck-it if it pops you just get to build it bigger - just what ia m going thru now - but it will be ready at track day - 700 hp 700 f# - then the nossssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssss:lol:

my car is 03 and the manual requires 2500mile break in at less than 55 and no long period of idling