MM12 Blown in 3 Days, 7 hours listening, anyone else blown these puppies?

[97FordExp.XLT]

I installed my loaded sub box with a MM12 with 500 Watts RMS (they claim) powered with 500RMS and played roughly 7 hours through it and enough to get a bump, but not a rumble. Might I mention the amp gain was about 33%, the reciever flat. Sucker smoked up in the box. THREE DAYS!!! I am so pissed and was just wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this or am I the only one.

[flashback]

eh.... go to polkaudio.com and look up the mm12.. now look for the 'reviews'... and you'll find out lots of people have this problem... i guess u just gotta be VERY careful durring the breakin period, did you buy yours at a local store? if you did, just take it back... if you bought it online your probably out of luck and going to have to pay to ship it back to them, they will, never hte less replace it

you might also try going through polk's warranty and explainign to them what happened and how you don't want to pay shipping blablabla... since they know of the problem they might help you out

[neomagus00]

polks do take a long time to break in. 40 hours is not uncommon, 50 if you can stand it. or hook two in an opposing isobarik kinda arrangement (pointing at each other out of phase) and play that for two days. just don't let them walk off the bench while you're at it.

[geralopez]

You are not the only one 97FORD, I did the same with my sub's, 3 MM2104, they were fried in THREE DAYS (whata coincidence).
I was analyzing the problem and yesterday I was surprised when I reed some posts about "break-in period" for new subs.
I didn't know that this is a required action before to play loud your subs. lol... I also saw the smoke (so sad). My amp gain was set about 70%. I was thinking the problem was I push my subs with to much power about 1500WRMS at 1.3ohms, but I start believing problem was I jumped the step of "break in period".
Somebody knows if the Polk subs owner manual has this advice?
Worst thing is, I sent an e-mail to Polk service explaining my problem. They answer me very soon (Kim Jasper) and here is the answer:

"Geraldo,
Unfortunately Electronic Super Store is not a authorized Polk Audio
dealer and the warranty is not valid. I would suggest contacting your
dealer to see if they can help.

Thanks,
Kim

-----Original Message-----
From: Gerardo Lopez [mailto:geralopezr@infosel.net.mx]
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2004 6:05 PM
To: Swauger, Ken
Subject: CAR: Customer Service"

in few words:
"You have lost your money" or better "You are screwed", uppss.
That's why is not a good idea to buy on-line with these kind of dealers that offer you a full warranty in their products, unless you know who are they. There aren't a chance to claim the warranty under these terms.
Well I'm staring searching for new subs, probably I will change to other brand with a local dealer. I'm thinking in Autotek (as my amps), 3 MX- 1022 will do the job, it handle 500WRMS that will match the power of my XS-1600X Autotek Amp.
Autotek Mean Machine MX-1022

So, I'm with you it is so sad my friend, at least now we are 2 with same problem.
We have learned" "BREAK IN PERIOD IN A NEW SUB IS A NECESSARY STEP"

(I ran my 300M at 210 km/hr -130 miles/hr when i bought it in a highway for a long way without the "breakin period" for the engine, still runing without problems and non smoke, probably I was lucky with my car)

I'm trying to contact Mr. Matt Polk to explain the problem but at this time it was not possible, I'll be insisting

-GLopez

[97FordExp.XLT]

First off, thanks everyone for replying and I will continue to reply to anyone else who lays down their experiences, advice, etc.

Actually about a week ago I sent it back to Polk. I did my research before purchasing them online from a dealer and went with SoundDomain which is an authorized Internet Polk Dealer. The MM12 Enclosure should arrive in CA tomorrow, meanwhile I am out 45 bucks for shipping UPS Ground. So, we will see if they replace it or not. A 3 year warranty sounds awesome, but actions speak louder than words.

Thing is, the amp gain was about 33% and the reciever was not cranked, but it still managed to smoke. I read in a review on this Polk website, this one here, that there was a recall so who knows maybe I just got a recalled product that wasn't returned. I hope that that was the problem because the claim of 500Watts seems a bit false if you ask me.

Just for clarification I am not the average basshead. I rarely play hip-hop, but the day it smoked I WAS playing Ying Yang Twins, lol, bought it hours before it happened, but mainly I am a metalhead. I love Machinehead, Fear Factory, The Deftones, Nine Inch Nails (Industrial), etc. I need a daily dose of Machinehead, just like my espresso daily.

Anyways, all I can do is hope that this crap doesn't happen again once it is sent back and IF it does it again, I will salvage the box and drop a massive subwoofer with extreme RMS power in it and break the box, not the sub hehe.

The subwoofer after it broke, I read in forums that 72-80 hours is normal for Polks, but in the booklet it says 20-40 I believe. I should check to clarify it, but I am tired and mainly lazy. I would have to remember where I put the *bleeping* booklet, LOL.

For the forum people who say that this sub does not hit hard, they are full of it. It hits hard, holds a bass note smooth almost like a home stereo sub, which to me means more than booming down the road to show off. I bought Polk for their clarity in their products, but like I said if this happens again I will drop a higher RMS sub in, like an Audiobahn rated at 1,100 RMS and buy another amp.

[exalted512]

polks are great subs but have a really STIFF suspension, which is why it is necessary for the extremely long break in period
40 hours i would say is minimum (and recommened by Kim Jasper...polks car audio guy)
i dont recommend audio bahn though
they have really cool looking subs that dont perform for the price
-Cody

[geralopez]

Here is an answer for one of my questions:

________________________________________________
Break It In
Your Polk/MOMO Custom Enclosed Subwoofer will achieve even greater performance once
it is thoroughly broken-in. To break in your new custom enclosed sub, play 20 to 30 hours
of music at moderate levels. Get more information online at Polk University:
http://www.polkaudio.com/car/faqad/index.php

4 P O L K / M O M O : C H A M P I O N S H I P P E R F O R M A N C E
________________________________________________
From:
O W N E R ’ S M A N U A L
Custom Enclosed Subwoofers
MM10 10" Subwoofer
MM12 12" Subwoofer

page 4
________________________________________________
But... there are any note or advice about to "Break it in" in my Owner's Manual of MM2084, MM2104, MM2124, MM2154.
I have the MM2104, not a MM10, I reed all manual after I received my subs, I didn't know about this little but important step.
Now is too late... next time

-GLopez

[97FordExp.XLT]

http://www.polkaudio.com/car/faqad/index.php

Would have been nice to have read that in my manual, but I don't remember ever coming across that.

[geralopez]

Here is the link to see the owner's manual for your sub:

http://www.polkaudio.com/car/library/manuals.php

You will see the link mentioned in page 4. I didn't find nothing related with "break in" at Polk University section at that link.

-GLopez