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JL Audio f112 blown speaker?

I have/had a JL Audio f112 and I absolutely love it. About 3 months ago I changed my processor from a B&K Ref 50 to the new Classe SSP800.

About a month later my f112 started, for lack of a better term, started screeching, when I would play it. I have no idea what happend, but I unhooked the XLR connection and it would continue sporatically, even without any signal.

JL Audio was absolutely great. I sent it in and 5 days later a new one shows up at my door. Now after a month the same thing has happened with my new one.

I'm not playing them loud at all. I play video games, watch movies and listen to a lot of music.

Something is up and I am clueless what it is. It must be something in my system causing this. Any suggestions?
rshad0000
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
After sending in my subwoofer to JL Audio they tracked down the problem to a preamplifier component in the sub. I beat the odds and got two of them with the same exact issue in a row.

Sounds like they changed supplier or got a bad batch. These things do happen even with great products. Funnily enough though - the HT Shack Subwoofer tests reported another problem with the JL sub they received for testing - so this incident may not be as isolated as it seems - check the HT shack subwoofer test forums for details. I don't remember what it was - I seem to remember they observed significant audio compression below 40 Hz at high SPLs..
jp1208
502 posts
 
Rshad000, Hope all is well now. I just love the musicality of the F113's. Really changed my thinking on subwoofers so I will be getting another soon. Nice to know that JL Audio stands behind there product and takes care of people in a timely manner. Things like this do happen in audio and I have heard of some horror stories besides mine. I am also glad I don't hear this compression. This would make for an unpleasant experience and a return to vendor journey. HT Shack highly recommends the JL Audio subs. The JL is one of the best they have ever heard from what I read. I highly encourage people to read what the tester wrote on at least the F113. Can't say I really looked into the F112.
rshad0000 OP
269 posts
 
Yes, thank you for everyones comments and advice. I was seriously concerned that it was something else in my system.

Like Jp1208 I am extremely satisfied with my JL Audio sub. It sounds terrific with movies and music, both, and have no intention of going any where else.
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
I am also glad I don't hear this compression.

JL use a 3.5" voice coil it should not normally compress too much at high
levels.
However, it appears to be a long coil short gap design which explains the high
harmonic distortion (around 10% and sometimes above). The long coil short gap
would be typical of PA and rock concert woofer designs - some manufacturers
make similar drivers in two versions (one short coil with less SPL output but
better accuracy and one long coil for more SPL) perhaps JL113 may lose power
due to very high excursions (4" peak is an unbelievable excursion- WOW!)
as the coil moves well outside the linear magnetic range, which woudl explain
the compression and THD. There is no doubt it is an excellent sub - one of the
best out there.
jp1208
502 posts
 
I turned up the F113 to levels I would never play normally and watched this excursion. Maybe 1" of excursion outward was noticed. To push this any further is not normal. At least for music. Movies may be a different story and I have had it loud enough to make it feel like my couch was being lifted. With one of these in a room 18' wide 40' deep and 10' high I have been extremely impressed. Two of these in this room will just work that much easier and give more depth and extension. It's going to be fun.
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