Okay, so I just recently bought the Volfenhag ZX-7190 amp (http://www.dealtime.co.uk/xPF-Volfenhag-ZX-7190) and two Volfenhag ZX-4712 subwoofers (http://www.epinions.com/pr-Volfenhag_ZX-4712_Car-Subwoofer/display_~full_specs). My headunit is the Kenwood KDC-MP832U (http://www.kenwoodusa.com/products/ListProduct.aspx?k1=2&k2=46&k3=172&pr=2360).
Now I've had this all hooked up once for stereo at 4 ohms (3.4 ohms when tested.) It worked for a while but now the protect light comes on, then shuts of, and then the green light never comes on, so for one reason or another the amp's protection circuit is kicking in and not allowing power through. It is wired correctly as far as I know, as I have checked it many times to insure that that wasn't the problem. There is a tested 12.1 volts on the power lead on 4 gauge wire and once hooked to the amp, after the protection light has come on, it reads only 1.5 volts at the positive terminal. I tried removing the power wire from the amp and then it reads 12.1 volts again. I'm thinking that could possibly mean a problem with the protection circuit in the amp, but I have already sent this amp in once because I thought it was faulty... and at $40 a shot I'd rather not send it in again unless I'm sure that's the problem. Any suggestions to help get these subs bumping again would be great!
Greg
Replies (16)
Victor on 06/7/2007 16:00:23
It simply seems to be the wrong choice of branded equipment here..
it is a grounding problem......?? i wud say yes.. cause even thou u have checked the external wiring, it could be probably in the internals on the amp board , some kinda shorting...
a lot of our experts here can help you out identify such a part and may be even show u how to get it fixed and where to acquire those parts from... but you should be ready to DIY and have the equipments and a skilled hand at minute shouldering jobs...
if i exaggerated here on behalf of CK members correct me...
if things are beyond then you may have to send it in for the repair job.. and another $40 goes down the drain, never to assure that the problem would not rise again...
you definitely could have bought a better piece of equipment for the price you paid to get this one and get it repaired twice.....
either you risk another 40 or try selling this off and buying a better brand quality amp..
just something i noticed , the subs too aint of a regarded quality.. sorry if i sound harsh on your choice of equipments.. but i usually dont recommend flashy brands that over rate their equipments and use inferior quality parts for cost cutting ..
comments...
Victor...
swez on 06/7/2007 17:46:55
The subs mentioned are 4+4 DVC's. You have 1 or 4 ohm wiring options for thess subs to this amp. This amp is 2 ohms stable and can be used at 4 ohms too.
Since your voltage drop is sever at the amp, this tells a bit why the amp is going into protect mode on you. (Low Voltage Protection) It could be a problem with the amp or your power and ground wiring is not up to snuff.
Another thing to have checked, is your ALT & BAT output capabilities. If the battery is old and not up to snuff, this can happen. Also, if the ALT is not putting out rated power, same issues. Having the amp bench tested with a solid 12-14 volt, 150A would tell you if the amp is OK or not.
Finally, the subs are fair, but not a quality pair. The same with this amp. They are somewhat unreliable, over-rated specs and use inferior internal components. This is not a robust system that will stand up to heavy use/abuse. The old saying... "Ya get what ya pay for" is very much the score on this brand of gear.
In a nutshell, V-hags are NOT, reliable or quality gear! They may wang well for a while, but this product line is on my do not buy list for a good reason
Swez
PS I don't mean to dis you personally at all. (It's not my style) However, when guys buy low quality gear based on low prices, they often come here later and say exactly what you have.
gjeffers on 06/7/2007 18:33:32
Well it disappoints me to hear the responses but they seem to make sense. I guess I'll try once more using these suggestions to see if I can get them to work, but in the end I don't want to waste much more money and/or time. Could either of you recommend a good brand of subs (I'd like to stick with two 12") and an amp that would work together well along with my head unit? I don't know a whole lot about the quality of the car audio brands out there... which explains my current situation. lol
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 06/7/2007 19:01:33
V-hags...thats fresh Swez. not fresh as in mouthy...but fresh as in clever. Your slang seems to be getting more modern....mad props to the homie...
Volfenhag is one brand I have seen perform poorly every time. I can't vouch for their amps, but the subs have sounded horrible every time. Cheap though......
Your deck should be up to snuff, Kenwood is a quality brand that I would run in my car personally. Their internal amps arent of the greatest quality, but if used properly they should be ok. One of mine was kia'd by lack of knowledge.......
Victor on 06/8/2007 04:03:40
What would your budget be for a bass package...??
a quality class D monoblock that gives 600-800wrms @ 2 ohms along with 2 x 10's , or 2 x 12's or a single 15" subs which can handle that kind a power would make a good combo..
there are many good brands out there..
probabyl this article can help you out, there are a few exceptions i would not agree to personally, but otherwise it can guide you pretty much to your expectation..
http://www.clubknowledge.com/Car_Audio_FAQ/?t11
look at the moderate and recommended list of brands..
Victor...
swez on 06/8/2007 08:03:38
By all means, give us a general budget you have in mind and we would be happy to make some useful product recommendations.
Wasteing time and money can often be avoided by good research, getting qualified buying advice and not having to do the job/purchasing over again. (We have all learned this the hard way in one way or another, but that's part of life) I wish we had heard from you sooner as many would have given other quality choices to ponder. Let's press on as you can probably sell what you have to another and let them figure things out. Just make sure the gear sold is working properly or advise the buyer of any needed repairs. (Amp issues)???
Swez
Shootha... hey, good to see ya back here again. We thought you got lost in the shuffle somewhere. Fresh ideas are really not so new. When one has been around a long while, one tends to see and hear a lot and some of it sticks. One of these fine days, I would like to meet you and sit down and have a long chat about anything that comes to mind. (On this forum, you have become like an adopted son to me... am watching your backside so you stay out of the "deep weeds") GRIN
Victor on 06/8/2007 10:24:31
Daddddddyyyy.... GRIN
gjeffers on 06/8/2007 10:42:03
Alright, well I'm still planning on using the two 12" ZX-4712 Volfenhags (1000w each) for right now because they still should work and I don't have the money for both an amp and two more subs right now. So I'm looking for a dependable amp around the $200-250 range. Any recommendations?
Victor on 06/8/2007 13:26:17
There are many out there.. this is just one of them... reliable clean and solid...
http://cgi.ebay.com/HIFONICS-BXi1606D-1600W-MONOBLOCK-Class-D-Amp-NEW-06_W0QQitemZ140126503186QQihZ004QQcategoryZ64570QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
definitely a product worth investing in if you are going to upgrade to better subs later...
very flexible amp too as you can wire it for different impedences as low as 1 ohm..
Victor..
swez on 06/8/2007 21:16:10
Found some specs on these subs. They are rated at 500 Wrms/sub, 4+4 DVC's and seem well suited to very compact enclosures:
http://allmanmusic.homestead.com/Volfenhag.html
Since you'll be using them for a while, consider a compact SEALED enclosure for these subs and about 1.0 - 1.25 ft^3/sub chamber. These subs are not built to handle deep lows at high SPL levels and if one tries to use a larger box and throw heavy bass at them, they will sound pretty rough.
The amp noted above is a good choice as it is solid, well built and reliable. The power rating on this amp is well beyond what these subs can take and survive. Here, it would be best to use a Digital AC Voltmeter and set the amp gain at 30 volts AC. (Subs wired in full parallel at 1 ohm) This nets just a tad under 500 Wrms per sub. If the subs are not subjected to excessive bass boost from your HU or amp settings, they should last a while.
Swez
PS If the subs start to sound rough at high bass SPL, dial back on the power or they may fail on you. Don't tempt fate on these subs until you can find a better option.
gjeffers on 06/8/2007 22:39:33
I think I am going to just go ahead and buy a new amp because I really don't need anymore trouble. Thanks for all of the quick and helpful responses, I'll post once more when I get the new amp!
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 06/9/2007 09:58:35
Thanks for the kind words there Swez, I have been missing good old Ck and all my buddies around here. I have been swamped as of late, and it's good to see things calming down. I'm gonna drop you an email here pretty quick
gjeffers on 06/9/2007 13:09:47
Okay, so I did a little more looking for amps and I'm between these three. The Hifonics ZXi 1006 (http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_6517_Hifonics+ZXi+1006.html), Lanzar HTG264 (http://www.lanzar.com/itempage.asp?MODEL=HTG264), and the Soundstream XTA880.2 (http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_2076_Soundstream+XTA880.2.html). I saw the Hifonics and Lanzar listed as Moderate on that list (http://www.clubknowledge.com/Car_Audio_FAQ/?t11) and Soundstream listed as Recommended so I was leaning towards that. I just wanted to quick check with some of you here to see if I was right in thinking so or if that line of Soundstream isn't any better than the Hifonics or Lanzar models I have listed. Thanks!
Victor on 06/9/2007 16:56:52
This is what i meant when i said...
probabyl this article can help you out, there are a few exceptions i would not agree to personally, but otherwise it can guide you pretty much to your expectation..
The lanzar except for the optidrive series rest of the product range i would consider below average...
the soundstream and the Hifonics are pretty solid and recommended brands...
but both the amps noted are 2 ch class A/B amp, where as the for subwoofer application a class D monoblock is adviced, much more efficient than the class A/B amplifiers and targeted to function at its best in the lower frequency range..
Victor..
Victor on 06/9/2007 17:26:26
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_7444_JBL+GTO1201.1II.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_4351_Kenwood+KAC-9152D.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_8518_Alpine+MRP-M850.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_8015_Infinity+Reference+1211a.html3
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_5432_Soundstream+PCA1000D.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_6522_Hifonics+BXi+1206D.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_6820_MTX+Audio+TC8001.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_7559_Orion+HCCA-D2400.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_7369_PowerBass+ASA+1000.1D.html
stuff like this...
Victor
gjeffers on 06/10/2007 11:27:30
Alright thanks!
Now I've had this all hooked up once for stereo at 4 ohms (3.4 ohms when tested.) It worked for a while but now the protect light comes on, then shuts of, and then the green light never comes on, so for one reason or another the amp's protection circuit is kicking in and not allowing power through. It is wired correctly as far as I know, as I have checked it many times to insure that that wasn't the problem. There is a tested 12.1 volts on the power lead on 4 gauge wire and once hooked to the amp, after the protection light has come on, it reads only 1.5 volts at the positive terminal. I tried removing the power wire from the amp and then it reads 12.1 volts again. I'm thinking that could possibly mean a problem with the protection circuit in the amp, but I have already sent this amp in once because I thought it was faulty... and at $40 a shot I'd rather not send it in again unless I'm sure that's the problem. Any suggestions to help get these subs bumping again would be great!
Greg
Replies (16)
Victor on 06/7/2007 16:00:23
It simply seems to be the wrong choice of branded equipment here..
it is a grounding problem......?? i wud say yes.. cause even thou u have checked the external wiring, it could be probably in the internals on the amp board , some kinda shorting...
a lot of our experts here can help you out identify such a part and may be even show u how to get it fixed and where to acquire those parts from... but you should be ready to DIY and have the equipments and a skilled hand at minute shouldering jobs...
if i exaggerated here on behalf of CK members correct me...
if things are beyond then you may have to send it in for the repair job.. and another $40 goes down the drain, never to assure that the problem would not rise again...
you definitely could have bought a better piece of equipment for the price you paid to get this one and get it repaired twice.....
either you risk another 40 or try selling this off and buying a better brand quality amp..
just something i noticed , the subs too aint of a regarded quality.. sorry if i sound harsh on your choice of equipments.. but i usually dont recommend flashy brands that over rate their equipments and use inferior quality parts for cost cutting ..
comments...
Victor...
swez on 06/7/2007 17:46:55
The subs mentioned are 4+4 DVC's. You have 1 or 4 ohm wiring options for thess subs to this amp. This amp is 2 ohms stable and can be used at 4 ohms too.
Since your voltage drop is sever at the amp, this tells a bit why the amp is going into protect mode on you. (Low Voltage Protection) It could be a problem with the amp or your power and ground wiring is not up to snuff.
Another thing to have checked, is your ALT & BAT output capabilities. If the battery is old and not up to snuff, this can happen. Also, if the ALT is not putting out rated power, same issues. Having the amp bench tested with a solid 12-14 volt, 150A would tell you if the amp is OK or not.
Finally, the subs are fair, but not a quality pair. The same with this amp. They are somewhat unreliable, over-rated specs and use inferior internal components. This is not a robust system that will stand up to heavy use/abuse. The old saying... "Ya get what ya pay for" is very much the score on this brand of gear.
In a nutshell, V-hags are NOT, reliable or quality gear! They may wang well for a while, but this product line is on my do not buy list for a good reason
Swez
PS I don't mean to dis you personally at all. (It's not my style) However, when guys buy low quality gear based on low prices, they often come here later and say exactly what you have.
gjeffers on 06/7/2007 18:33:32
Well it disappoints me to hear the responses but they seem to make sense. I guess I'll try once more using these suggestions to see if I can get them to work, but in the end I don't want to waste much more money and/or time. Could either of you recommend a good brand of subs (I'd like to stick with two 12") and an amp that would work together well along with my head unit? I don't know a whole lot about the quality of the car audio brands out there... which explains my current situation. lol
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 06/7/2007 19:01:33
V-hags...thats fresh Swez. not fresh as in mouthy...but fresh as in clever. Your slang seems to be getting more modern....mad props to the homie...
Volfenhag is one brand I have seen perform poorly every time. I can't vouch for their amps, but the subs have sounded horrible every time. Cheap though......
Your deck should be up to snuff, Kenwood is a quality brand that I would run in my car personally. Their internal amps arent of the greatest quality, but if used properly they should be ok. One of mine was kia'd by lack of knowledge.......
Victor on 06/8/2007 04:03:40
What would your budget be for a bass package...??
a quality class D monoblock that gives 600-800wrms @ 2 ohms along with 2 x 10's , or 2 x 12's or a single 15" subs which can handle that kind a power would make a good combo..
there are many good brands out there..
probabyl this article can help you out, there are a few exceptions i would not agree to personally, but otherwise it can guide you pretty much to your expectation..
http://www.clubknowledge.com/Car_Audio_FAQ/?t11
look at the moderate and recommended list of brands..
Victor...
swez on 06/8/2007 08:03:38
By all means, give us a general budget you have in mind and we would be happy to make some useful product recommendations.
Wasteing time and money can often be avoided by good research, getting qualified buying advice and not having to do the job/purchasing over again. (We have all learned this the hard way in one way or another, but that's part of life) I wish we had heard from you sooner as many would have given other quality choices to ponder. Let's press on as you can probably sell what you have to another and let them figure things out. Just make sure the gear sold is working properly or advise the buyer of any needed repairs. (Amp issues)???
Swez
Shootha... hey, good to see ya back here again. We thought you got lost in the shuffle somewhere. Fresh ideas are really not so new. When one has been around a long while, one tends to see and hear a lot and some of it sticks. One of these fine days, I would like to meet you and sit down and have a long chat about anything that comes to mind. (On this forum, you have become like an adopted son to me... am watching your backside so you stay out of the "deep weeds") GRIN
Victor on 06/8/2007 10:24:31
Daddddddyyyy.... GRIN
gjeffers on 06/8/2007 10:42:03
Alright, well I'm still planning on using the two 12" ZX-4712 Volfenhags (1000w each) for right now because they still should work and I don't have the money for both an amp and two more subs right now. So I'm looking for a dependable amp around the $200-250 range. Any recommendations?
Victor on 06/8/2007 13:26:17
There are many out there.. this is just one of them... reliable clean and solid...
http://cgi.ebay.com/HIFONICS-BXi1606D-1600W-MONOBLOCK-Class-D-Amp-NEW-06_W0QQitemZ140126503186QQihZ004QQcategoryZ64570QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
definitely a product worth investing in if you are going to upgrade to better subs later...
very flexible amp too as you can wire it for different impedences as low as 1 ohm..
Victor..
swez on 06/8/2007 21:16:10
Found some specs on these subs. They are rated at 500 Wrms/sub, 4+4 DVC's and seem well suited to very compact enclosures:
http://allmanmusic.homestead.com/Volfenhag.html
Since you'll be using them for a while, consider a compact SEALED enclosure for these subs and about 1.0 - 1.25 ft^3/sub chamber. These subs are not built to handle deep lows at high SPL levels and if one tries to use a larger box and throw heavy bass at them, they will sound pretty rough.
The amp noted above is a good choice as it is solid, well built and reliable. The power rating on this amp is well beyond what these subs can take and survive. Here, it would be best to use a Digital AC Voltmeter and set the amp gain at 30 volts AC. (Subs wired in full parallel at 1 ohm) This nets just a tad under 500 Wrms per sub. If the subs are not subjected to excessive bass boost from your HU or amp settings, they should last a while.
Swez
PS If the subs start to sound rough at high bass SPL, dial back on the power or they may fail on you. Don't tempt fate on these subs until you can find a better option.
gjeffers on 06/8/2007 22:39:33
I think I am going to just go ahead and buy a new amp because I really don't need anymore trouble. Thanks for all of the quick and helpful responses, I'll post once more when I get the new amp!
ShootuhMcBustaCap on 06/9/2007 09:58:35
Thanks for the kind words there Swez, I have been missing good old Ck and all my buddies around here. I have been swamped as of late, and it's good to see things calming down. I'm gonna drop you an email here pretty quick
gjeffers on 06/9/2007 13:09:47
Okay, so I did a little more looking for amps and I'm between these three. The Hifonics ZXi 1006 (http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_6517_Hifonics+ZXi+1006.html), Lanzar HTG264 (http://www.lanzar.com/itempage.asp?MODEL=HTG264), and the Soundstream XTA880.2 (http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_2076_Soundstream+XTA880.2.html). I saw the Hifonics and Lanzar listed as Moderate on that list (http://www.clubknowledge.com/Car_Audio_FAQ/?t11) and Soundstream listed as Recommended so I was leaning towards that. I just wanted to quick check with some of you here to see if I was right in thinking so or if that line of Soundstream isn't any better than the Hifonics or Lanzar models I have listed. Thanks!
Victor on 06/9/2007 16:56:52
This is what i meant when i said...
probabyl this article can help you out, there are a few exceptions i would not agree to personally, but otherwise it can guide you pretty much to your expectation..
The lanzar except for the optidrive series rest of the product range i would consider below average...
the soundstream and the Hifonics are pretty solid and recommended brands...
but both the amps noted are 2 ch class A/B amp, where as the for subwoofer application a class D monoblock is adviced, much more efficient than the class A/B amplifiers and targeted to function at its best in the lower frequency range..
Victor..
Victor on 06/9/2007 17:26:26
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_7444_JBL+GTO1201.1II.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_4351_Kenwood+KAC-9152D.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_8518_Alpine+MRP-M850.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_8015_Infinity+Reference+1211a.html3
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_5432_Soundstream+PCA1000D.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_6522_Hifonics+BXi+1206D.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_6820_MTX+Audio+TC8001.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_7559_Orion+HCCA-D2400.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_7369_PowerBass+ASA+1000.1D.html
stuff like this...
Victor
gjeffers on 06/10/2007 11:27:30
Alright thanks!
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