sub is smoking

Here's the simplest answer:

Speakers like two things.

1) A.C. signals

2) Voice coil venting

Speakers dislike two things:

1) D.C. signals

2) Lack of venting.

My guess is that the sub was driven into sub-sonic tones or that the amp was overdriven causing the signal to saturate meaning that the sub was getting a D.C. signal too often for too long. It doesn't take much power to do so, a 1.5 volt battery on the coil for a minute would have yielded the same results.

This amp is actually 125 watts according to CEA standards. The lack of sufficient clean power will destroy your sub.

Get an amp that puts out 400 watts CEA and you should be in business (don't forget sub-sonic filtering and box tuning).

BTW, your sub should be in a

To quote myself, I said:

This is the same thing as what is said here: http://www.bcae1.com/2ltlpwr.htm ,"Remember that during the clipped portion of the waveform current is still flowing through the voice coil. Since the displacement of the voice coil (and therefore the airflow around the voice coil) is no longer proportional to the heat being generated, the voice coil can overheat."

An overheated voice coil can burn the schellac off the voice coil wire thus emmitting that undeniable smell that prompted this post to begin with.

You'll notice that I started my first post with the statement : "Here's the simplest answer " wanting to avoid beating a dead horse.