Just upgraded the sub in my Octy, used to have a kenwood KSC-SW1, a little tiddler @150watts, when I first used it, it was pap and I was about to rip it out and bin it.

I left it for a few weeks and I found I was able to crank it up a little more each time.

I listened to it one final time today and found it was quite punchy.

I've now fitted an Alpine SWD-2000 350watt job in the boot and it still sounds a little tight.

What's is everyones thinking about running subs in because my old sub certainly sounded better over time.

Anyone else (if not everyone else)experienced this?

Every speaker requires running in IIRC and will sound better when settled in.

With home audio speakers I've found that the treble can be a little harsh until they have run in for a few hours but never noticed any significant change in the bass response.

I'm surprised it took that long or made that much difference on your sub though

It took a while but it made a difference as I could increase the output level to the sub from the HU without distortion, so it isn't in me noggin' guvnor!

My JL 12w3s were run in as advised in the manual. Can't remember how long they needed - They didn't get long at all before being ripped out again...

My B&W's in my living room needed running in for quite a while, I used to leave them on quietly over night as advised, the same went with my mordaunt-shorts too.

not sure about subs though.

My old Rockford Fosgate sub (one of the oldskool proper american ones) advised in the manual that it required running (or "burning") in for many hours.

I believe you start them off fairly quiet for a good few hours, then increase the volume slightly and leave for another few hours, then increase and burn again for a few hours. Do this until you are running your sub at a fairly loud volume and you should be set.

Just don't play mono-tones when burning in... Like a car being run in, it should have lots of variations in frequencies (revs) while it's burning in.

Jason, why didn't you like your JL's? I love my 12w04 in my EFMAX box.

they normally recommend 50hours of playing time, before you start to crank it up

That corresponds with the differences I noticed in my old sub.

I am playing a wide variation of music through it too, I have my player on random and with over 500 tracks on the disc it's extremely varied.

..........I love my 12w04 in my EFMAX box.

I tried to contact him recently over getting a box done but it seems he is no longer available!

He's given up box building now mate.