Doesn't matter what sub it is; my computer speaker sub, my car sub, etc.
If you pump the sub pretty damn loud and for awhile you can start to smell, well its hard to explain, but it smells a little like break fluid (its not though!).
I'm just wondering why it does it? is it just 'breaking in'? It doesn't smell like a healthy smell so i'm guessing it can't be a good thing.

well if your breaking it in you shouldnt be pumping it to hard man, and the only thing i can think of is the vc frying so its probably that

and what would a vc be?
Note that this has also happened on a friends massive computer speaker sub and it was about a year old.

VC - Voice Coil - you do not want to fry one of these

burnt voice coil. Solution, dont put that much power through your subs, or dont push your amps to clipping point

Ah, nasty. I'll turn the amps down then. Well since i could smell the burning vc at one point, would it be having an adverse effect for ever? Or does it sound fine until you burn it to a certain point and it'll just die?

Also, would i be getting a burnt vc from the sudden amount of power its getting or power over a long time?

well it wont work as good as it would with a nice fresh vc, but it will still work, but if it gets to a certain point it wont work or just sound like absolute poo, and it'll burn from both them things, prolonged or a sudden burst of 240 volts will do it hahaha, i remember i fried my subs cos i just got a track that was a constant 20hertz, cars in the parking lot next to me were vibrating but then my subs fried, every one thought i was a champ....... dad didnt lol

oh what song what song lol

It does Depend on the Subs Cabinet..
sometimes it is just the coils laminate warming up, not frying

My Subs make this smell and I contributed it to the resin used in the Wood enclosure warming up ,as after such a long time with my Subs, if it was the VC, The subs would not be functioning today..
When you reach this smell Your Subs have had a Super Woofer Workout

VC = Burnt Hair Dryer smell
Resin smell = Sweet Smell similiar to freshly cut wood...

heh, yeah well i got the smell from when i played a song i made. Goes through all the low Hz ranges. I don't think i'll play it again. :P

can I ask was it a decent sub that u smoked, DJ Dooms Day??

Pioneer 800W MAX 400WRMS.
I need more subs heh, the bass i pump isnt enough anymore. :P

heh, yeah well i got the smell from when i played a song i made. Goes through all the low Hz ranges. I don't think i'll play it again. :P

that song you played that goes throght all the low freqs was it off a ministry of sound cd specificaly maximum bass specifically cd2 specifically last 5 tracks except the last one

It was prob just test tones. You can make them yourself, or d/l them.

Very dangerous running these and sweeps through your car. Most speakers arent designed for this.

Nar its not off ministry of sound, i MADE it my self and it doesn't hold any one Hz for long. Its an actual SONG. Its just that its VERY bassy.

The thing is, i thought i would hear clipping as a sign that the sub can't take it. But it was playing the song fine. I guess i've got to smell as well as listen for signs of over usage. :P