anyone have a problem with JL? i'm furious - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

hedpe · #1 09-27-2002, 12:20 PM

Hey guys, ok, i've always heard of JL Audio subwoofers as being good quality, manufactured, and engineered subwoofers. They are a bit expensive compared to deals I could have got on best buy subs in 2 for 1 deals like the rockford subs and the alpine subs. But I decided to go with JL because of the good reputation they have and the "quality" of the subwoofers. So I purchased a JL 12W3 which came to about $190. It came with a 2 year warrenty if I put it in an authorized box which the sub can utilize from a JL dealer. So I bought a box from the same place I bought the sub, figuring it might be worth my extra money to get the long warrenty. Well, i'm sure as hell glad I got the long warrenty because I don't see my problems with JL ending any time soon. I purchased the JL 12W3 in July of 2002, broke it in for a week as advised, played it at low levels for a little longer, and than began to romp on it. I have it hooked up to an older clarion amp that puts out about 150 watts to it. It should be getting about 250, but, I don't see how it could hurt it and cause the problems i am getting. I was in Greece from July 14th-August 12th. I came back, and a week after I came back the subwoofer started cutting in and out. After a day it totally cut out so I took it out of the box to take a look at. One of the voice coils had broken off. So, ok, I had a warrenty so I took it back. I wasn't happy that this problem surfaced after only having the sub for a month, but I took it back for another none the less.
I received another JL 12W3 with no cost, no questions asked, and broke it in again but this time for a week and a half. I wanted this one to last, I like reliability. It's only late september now and this sub has already cut out once again. It did the same exact thing, cut out every once and a while, but now its out for good again. So I opened it up looking for another broken voice coil and I can't find anything at all. I'm extreamly upset that it's only taken 3 months for 2 JL's to malfunction. I do NOT want a subwoofer that I have to take back every month to get a new one and break it in. That's why I chose JL. Anyone else have problems with their subs? I'm quite upset, I wrote a letter of complaint to them. Thanks guys.

MUYAMAN · #2 10-07-2002, 09:24 PM

The problems you are having good very likely be a result of an underpowered amp. When you put the new sub in, after breaking it in, turn it up and open your trunk to listen to the speaker. Chances are that it is distorting at higher volumes, and that the distortion is being passed to the speaker through the amp. A distorted signal out of the amp will fry the speaker every time. Also, be careful of using a good amount of bass boost with high volumes, that can also distort the signal and cause the sub to exert in an unnatural way that could lead to the problems you have had. It is better to use hardware bass boost (like on an amp) than it is to use head unit bass boost. Also, try increasing the bass rather than using a loudness type control. My last recommendation would be to try shifting the balance towards the rear speakers. That would give you a naturally louder bass without sending a distorted signal from the head unit to the sub amp.

blackmercedes · #3 10-08-2002, 12:50 AM

I'm not familiar with JL's line and product codes. Is this a dual-voice-coil driver?

What load are you running?

The above comment concerning your amp may be spot on. A good quality speaker requires a good amp with clean power. Is the amp clipping at all?