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Subwoofer failings and their use-related reasons

Inspired by the current thread "My JL Audio sub is dead. What exactly happened?," I’d like to ask more generally (i.e.: not brand specific; but you are free to answer brand specific if you so desire) about any experience-based, typical correlation between the type of use of subwoofers (I’ll make no distinction here between home theater subs and hifi dittos) and their malfunctions. The weak link in particular appears to be the plate amps mounted in the subs and blown capacitors here, and this has a tendency to happen within a few years - irrespective of the type of use, it would seem. Please correct me if I’m wrong on this.

But what about the drivers? Much has been said (theorized?) about the strain put on these units with their excursion abilities in some cases approaching 4" and the significant mechanical and thermal "stress" that follows. However, in practical use - even among the most ardent of cinephile bass-freaks - what does actual experience tell you? Unless the drivers are "blown" thermally and/or mechanically damaged, does years of more or less heavy use eventually wear them out, so to speak? Please chime in.
128x128phusis
gdnrbob
4,411 posts
 
Interesting question. I hope to learn something from this thread.
B
erik_squires
15,680 posts
 
Size matters. :)

A larger driver will have far better heat dissipation, and will be subject to far less linear excursion.  Sadly, my sub (15" Hsu VTF-15 Mk II) is the size of a small refrigerator!  I wish I had the same performance with a 4" driver I could under a stuffed teddy bear.

So, forgetting issues with room interaction and speaker integration (which also sadly, JL does very well), get a bigger sub.

Best,

E
phusis's avatar
phusis OP
1,122 posts
 
@erik_squires --

Oh, we can agree on how size matters here, but as we both know even those who’ve equipped their listening space with dual 15"+ subs may be inclined to use them... how shall we say - frivolous! My main focus with this thread is not so much to come about ways to limit cone excursion (but thanks for bringing it up), but rather (also) from a more pragmatic viewpoint to assess the "data" of those who’re using their subs, regardless of size, occasionally close to the limits of their capabilities, and how this affects the drivers long-term - as well as the built-in amps, for that matter.

My own sub sports a 16" driver (SVS SB16-Ultra) btw, and had space permitted I’d have been tempted to use two of them. As is the single sub performs and blends in marvelously positioned between my main speakers. I even considered the Funk Audio 21.0L, but just one of those would’ve challenged the interiors of my listening space..

jon_5912
579 posts
 
I've owned..

Yamaha yst something (~1997)
Polk 12"
Infinity HPS1000
Infinity Intermezzo 1.2
Velodyne DD18

None of them have ever broken while I owned them.  The Velodyne was a floor model at a closing tweeter that I bought in 2006 and it still works fine.  The Infinity Intermezzo 1.2 was a blowout sale from Audio Advisor I bought in 2003.  It still works fine. 

I was talking to a sales guy in a shop 15 years ago and he mentioned the reason the surround roll on the little 10" Velodyne had to be so thick was that the pressure in the box was so high that the surround would be sucked in and out opposite of the speaker cone if it wasn't extremely strong. 

I definitely think bigger is better with subs because the mechanical strain doesn't need to be nearly as significant.  My 18" velodyne doesn't need huge excursions to play at reasonable volumes.  A 10" driver that is flat at 20hz is heavily equalized and using a ton of power to do it.  It's taxing the amp and mechanical parts a lot more than a big driver in a big box. 
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