I'm running a set of Polk SR 6500's off of a bridged Alpine Alpine MRV-F345. I have yet to get it professionaly tuned but what is making me scratch my head is when played loudly enough or songs with a lot of bass only one woofer will bottom out. I have yet to play it loudly enough to get the other woofer to bottom out. My first assumption was a problem with the speaker, so I switched the channels on the amp and the problem switched to the other speaker. So it's definitely not the speaker, all settings on the amp are the same for both channels. So could this be an issue with the amp? I bought it brand new from an authorized dealer so it seems like this is a weird thing to have happen but it's not the speakers. I don't have the luxury of testing out another amp but I've switched the speakers around to make sure it isn't the way they've been installed and it isn't the speakers. I'm tempted to just get a JL 300/2 and ditch the Alpine as I have a 500/1 running my sub. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Something else I just thought of to add. When I change the balance to only the left or right speaker the speaker that usually bottoms out doesn't. So maybe a power supply issue? I would think that but then when I turn off the sub the problem persists so I don't see it being due to a strain on the electrical system. This is starting to really annoy me.

 

I would guess that they really didn't "tune" your amp. Your gains are more then likely higher on one set of channels. THat is the speaker that is bottoming out. It is getting too much power.

Switch the rca inputs between the two sets of channels and I bet the other side starts to bottom out.

 

Well I basically installed everything and set it up minus fine tuning the amps. I will check that but I'm fairly certain the gains are the same for either channel. If they weren't that still wouldn't explain why when I switch the balance it doesn't bottom out independently but when both channels are going it does.

 

Yes it would, when you change the balance you change the output voltage of the HU. You could be sending both channels a clipped signal.

Another option would be that the high pass filter is set to low and the speakers are trying to play too much bass. Most speakers don't like playing 30hz tones.

 

Also make sure you have them wired for the correct Ohm i installed some **** in a friends car and he told me the wrong OHmage and they bottomed out untill i tested them with a volt meter and wired them correctly.

 

You can't install comps at the wrong ohm. It is the resistance of the copper coil that translates electricity to a magnetic reaction.

Wrong "ohmage" would only apply to a dvc driver.

 

Provided that the speakers have their own +/- hookup to the amp and there is a line level adaptor between the head unit and the amp then what you said above should work and locate the problem. If the amp has its own built in line level then the problem will remain on the same side and the problem will either be the built-in line level or a potential issue with the output of that particular channel..

 

I switched the rca cables and the problem remained on the same side. The line level is built into the amp. It's digital so the gains are exactly the same. I've made sure the crossovers are set at the same level. How likely would it be to have an internal problem in the amp?

 

I would check over all you speaker wire to make sure its in good shape.