JL/Xtant system, sounds bad

Hello,

I had an 8" JL Microsub 8.1 in my car pushed by an Xtant 121m.... sounded GREAT.  I decided to go for a little more and a great deal came by - a buddy was selling two JL 10w0's in a box powered by a JL 250/1 for $250.  i couldn't pass that up, so i bought it and threw it in the car.  The car already had 4 gauge power and ground wired into it in case i ever wanted to upgrade.....

At any rate i put the 2 10w0's and 250/1 in the car and it sounds like CRAP.  i mean it sounds like there is 20 watts going to each sub....  i wondered if it was the settings, but the amp was pre-wired to these subs and the amp is screwed into the top of the box - i didn't mess with the settings when i got it from my friend.... i just hooked up the power, ground, remote, and RCAs for line-in.

what am i missing? i almost want to go back to the 8" Microsub and Xtant amp, but i'm wondering if i'm missing something... it has to be something simple, stupid...  i know an xtant 121m, rated at 120 watts will not out-muscle a 250/1.  am i missing something??

the 250/1 has two-channels, and both are wired up normally to each sub.... each sub is a 4 ohm unit.  i am guessing the amp would be seeing two 4-ohm loads, one on each channel.

help!

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Loving Car Audio since 1992

make sure the amp is set to low pass and also that the polarity on the subs are right.

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ss-installer wrote:

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make sure the amp is set to low pass and also that the polarity on the subs are right.

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both are done.  i even tried switching the polarity on the subs, still sounded the same.  even tried switching the RCA's.  still sounds the same.  It sounds as if the amp isn't putting out the rated power.

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Loving Car Audio since 1992

The xtant 121m is 250watts @ 2ohms....125@ 4ohms. use this amp to bump your 2 10s Check how they are wired....make sure its 2ohms

That little xtant is a butt kicker

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KarTuneMan wrote:

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The xtant 121m is 250watts @ 2ohms....125@ 4ohms. use this amp to bump your 2 10s Check how they are wired....make sure its 2ohms

That little xtant is a butt kicker

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even without the LQ chip thing?  i don't think i have that chip....

so what do i do with the 250/1?  is it blown?  is it not wired correctly?  what am i missing?

thanks!

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Loving Car Audio since 1992

By using the xtant amp, you will be able to "test" your wiring and the subs. Give it a try and if it still operates in the same manner it will leave the subs or wiring as the problem.

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dwarren wrote:

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By using the xtant amp, you will be able to "test" your wiring and the subs. Give it a try and if it still operates in the same manner it will leave the subs or wiring as the problem.

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great, thanks!

question - i don't have a wiring diagram for the xtant amp, and while i [i]thought[/i] it was one-channel, it has two actual channels on it.... considering i had it wired 4-ohm mono on the 8" microsub before (using the left positive, right negative - or vice versa), how do i wire it for two speakers?  if i do it straight-forward and give each 4-ohm 10w0 to its own terminal on the 121m, will they see the 250 watts or 120 watts?  i don't know how the wiring internally of the amp goes...

in other words, if i wire up the two 4-ohm 10w0 subs to each have their own channel on the 121m, will the amp see a 2 ohm load? 

can anyone show me an example of a wiring diagram of how i should do this?  the box with the two 10w0's..... each 10 has its own speaker-connection cup on the back of the box... and each is a 4 ohm speaker.... so its two four-ohm speakers with each having their own terminal on the back of the box.

cheers!  and MERRY CHRISTMAS!  thanks all....

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Loving Car Audio since 1992

I do believe that is a mono amp but for ease of wiring they provide two sets of terminals. So you can set it up like you had it previously, a single 2 ohm load using one set of terminals, or you may hook up two 4 ohm loads, the amp will internally "bridge" it.

So here is the link to wire your woofers...https://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/woofer_configurations.asp

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dwarren wrote:

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I do believe that is a mono amp but for ease of wiring they provide two sets of terminals. So you can set it up like you had it previously, a single 2 ohm load using one set of terminals, or you may hook up two 4 ohm loads, the amp will internally "bridge" it.

So here is the link to wire your woofers...https://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/woofer_configurations.asp

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thanks!

so...

[img]https://www.the12volt.com/ssi/getimage.asp?imgFN=2_4ohm_svc_2ohm.gif[/img]

according to this, i share the negative of both subs, and share the positive, and wire them to the SAME terminal?  do i wire both negatives to the left negative and both positives to the right positive?  or do i just put them together to the same terminal?

or does it do what you say and "internally" bridge it, so i just wire them normally, each to their own terminal on the amp?  sorry for all the questions, i'm trying to learn!  thanks!  :)

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Loving Car Audio since 1992

also i noticed there is an LFQ 45 module for my xtant amp... it is a bass boost... does this basically increase output of the amp?  is that something i would want with two tens?  will the LFQ for the X-series amps work for my M?

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Loving Car Audio since 1992

Have a look at the owners manual here https://www.xtant.com/html/techSupport/pdfs/MSeriesMan.pdf

If you haven't already removed the jl amp, I suggest you try looking it over once more and make sure all settings are correct because if it was working prior to install I would bet there is a setting that you are over looking. Have a look at the input sensitivity button near the gain and make sure it is where supposed to be and be sure the signal sensing is off since you are using rca's.

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What about the gain? Since you moved the amp to a different vehicle (I assume you have a different head unit), the gain may need to be readjusted to match your hu.

thats odd... i agre with dude a ahead... double check settings and adjust your gain. also, bass boost increases distortion, so avoid it.

What type of deck?......whats the output voltage? If your in the area of 4V, set the input sensativity to +10 Put the LFQ45 on +4, turn down the gain and start adjusting (turning up the gain)

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KarTuneMan wrote:

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What type of deck?......whats the output voltage? If your in the area of 4V, set the input sensativity to +10 Put the LFQ45 on +4, turn down the gain and start adjusting (turning up the gain)

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  i tried adjusting all the knobs, gain, input level, etc....  when i turn down the gain (remove the bass boost), i get no bass... its a clean signal but no bass at that point.

the amp has no LQ module. the deck is a Pioneer Premier DEH-6700MP (the one with the moving pictures screen)... its an older unit, but i'm pretty sure its a 4v signal.  i'll set input sensitivity to +10 though and try that.

does anyone know how i can bench test this amp to make sure it is good?

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Loving Car Audio since 1992

That deck is a 2.2 volt preout deck. Do me a favor and try disconnecting one sub and see if the sound gets louder.

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double-secret reverse-osmosis speaker-cone-induced high-level interference distortion, Its a killer

Ravendarat wrote:

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That deck is a 2.2 volt preout deck. Do me a favor and try disconnecting one sub and see if the sound gets louder.

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well too late, lol.  i went ahead and hooked up the xtant 121m and the system POUNDS.  i don't know why the 250/1 didn't work for me.... it worked for my friend - i probably just did something wrong.  could have been what you just suggested.

anyway, problem resolved as i'll just use the xtant.... Man that thing pounds!  you guys weren't kidding.  that little sucker puts out some power!!

thanks for all your help guys!

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Loving Car Audio since 1992

It is indeed a great amp, enjoy your stereo.

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double-secret reverse-osmosis speaker-cone-induced high-level interference distortion, Its a killer

psyon] wrote:

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P>anyway, problem resolved as i'll just use the xtant.... Man that thing pounds!  you guys weren't kidding.  that little sucker puts out some power!!

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You can always send me that JL, I could make use of it

Glad to hear the xtant worked out, just get your money back for the JL now.

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same here.. i've got a Jl 13w1v2 that would love that amp.

well what is the market value?  i put it on ebay. if you guys make me a serious offer, i'll take it down...

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Loving Car Audio since 1992