I need a good sub...any opinions?

[weonlylivetodie]

So i've finally started buying bits and pieces for my audio system. I recently bought some Boston Acoustic Z6 component speakers for my car and plan to get a nice alpine deck within the next month. Problem is i don't know what kind of sub i want nor what amp i want to power the sub. Since i live in hell, or just small town montana, i don't really have much to choose from when looking for a sub. Every audio salesman says this sounds the best blah blah blah in other words saying "buy this over priced piece of equiment so i can make comission off of it." PLus i don't know much about car audio, i want to get the best sound i can, and money really isn't an issue (working two fulltime jobs currently.) But I don't want to overpay for something if it doesn't sound as good as something i might have been able to purchase for less. I was recently interested in the RF Stage 3 Punch, 2 12" but then reading forums i see that they aren't worth the price. Im looking for 2 12" sub preferablly already in a box... i plan to buy of the internet because all the audio stores here sell at or above MSRP, so if anyone has any suggestion please let me know...im trying to do the research but my time is a little limited and i figure that many of you know better than i do about subs. Thanks!!

[ddctd2AWD]

Money is no issue? Well... it just got tougher! It's relatively easy to get a sub when you know where is the limit, and that you just cant buy anything outside your budget... This is interesting topic!
You are right about Rockford. Old School RF was almost the best in the market, but...more quantity, less quality...they got quantity now. Not that I'm saying RF is bad, far be it from that, but the fact IS that they are a bit overrated when it comes to subs. Amps...that's another story.
I've heard JLW7 driven by one of their amps, and it sounded pretty good 2 me. JBL GTI12 is also a very good sub... Please mind that I'm from a small country in Europe, so I haven't even seen in person a lot of the stuff available in US (MTX, Bazooka, hell, even Boston Acoustic!).
The other good thing is Kicker Solobaric. To run 15" square you have to have huge amp, but the air displacement is the same-HUUUUGE. I think 2 12" Solobarics (each being 2+2 ohm, together connected in the way to give 1 ohm resistance) in combination with (one or two) mono 1 Ohm stabile amp would be just about the best I can think of right now... Kicker is very flexible when it comes to box sizes, and there is another plus- they had all box parameters for Solobarics up on their website for download. It's always nice to know in advance if you are going to have all of your trunk filled with boxes for 2 subs, or if there is place for one more... :twisted:

[Perdue]

I would go with JLs or some Kicker CompVRs (if you can stand the flashy, new styling), but I listen to mostly rock. Be sure you pick up a good amp too. A lot of people on here also like Diamond too.

[Wiscon_Mark]

... i plan to buy of the internet because all the audio stores here sell at or above MSRP

I wouldn't. That's like buying a car without a test drive. You can read other people's reviews, but your ears are different than everyone elses and your music will sound different than most people reviewing a sub or a set of speakers etc...

My reccomendations (if you want to go top end):

JL Audio
Eclipse Audio
Earthquake Audio

Those are my 3 favorites, and the ones already mentioned are also good stuff....you have lots of choices, but make sure you can listen to it before you buy it. (if its something they have at the store, you can listen to it there, and then buy online too)

Also, don't believe those damn comparison charts that say MTX is better than JL Audio...its all about distorting the statistics, and they will take only the categories that they can brag about....higher wattage (a very fluid statistic that really doesn't mean much of anything, look at RMS more than Max) cone area (look at what Bose can do with a 2" woofer, cone area doesn't rule all) etc.

If you do compare wattage, I have a tip for you: JL is NOT as weak as their statistics make them sound. Here's how they determine RMS wattage. They take the sub into a room, max it out for 24 hours straight, and if it doesn't break, they take that wattage, cut it in half, and say that that is their RMS wattage. So you know JL can handle a lot more than they advertise.

If you want a good sub, JL is my top choice. Any line of subs will do, it all depends on how much you want to spend. Just don't get a great sub and then go cheap on the Amp. Amps are extremely important too.

I know a lot less about Amps, but the subwoofer making companies I listed above also make very good ones.

[2deadlegs]

I know from personal experience that audiobahn is an all around good buy for the money. If you match one of their amps to the speakers you buy then you are one step ahead.

JL is good
JBL
Eclipse
Treo
Diamond

the list goes on and on...

[ddctd2AWD]

Deadlegs, you say Treo is good? I've heared something of Treo being imported to my country, but I didn't know anyone who actually heard it. Did you hear any subs from Treo? How do they sound? And how are the amps?

[weonlylivetodie]

basically this town carries mostly mtx and JL...ive listened to both and was taken mostly by JL...but i just wanted to make sure im not missing out on something that is better...i had a friend with an older rf sub which i thought sounded awesome....so probably in a couple weeks ill take a road trip to a larger city where there might be more selection...i'd do it tomorrow but my car's front right axle is going....its always something...thanks everyone for the help

[Reason]

Without reading you post and just working off your title. Get yourself a 12"or 15" Kicker SoloBaric L7. I have a few friends that have or had them, I've seen people cry to have them turned down. I will read the post when I get some rest. Goodnite all..............ZzZzZzzz...

[ddctd2AWD]

Without reading you post and just working off your title. Get yourself a 12"or 15" Kicker SoloBaric L7. I have a few friends that have or had them, I've seen people cry to have them turned down. I will read the post when I get some rest. Goodnite all..............ZzZzZzzz...

Good thinkin'!! I had 15", and sold it cause I had no money to get amp to drive it the way it should...

[Wiscon_Mark]

Yep, Kickers are loud, but it really depends on what you're going for...

Do you want to be deaf before you hit 30? If so get yourself a couple of the kicker square subs

Do actually want to listen to the music and have a good sub that compliments the system, but can make the car rattle when its asked to? Go with JL....

[ddctd2AWD]

Mark, there's no need to pound around all the time... Since my Solobaric was a bit underpowered, it was a good chance for me to listen to it at very reasonable levels. And might I tell you, sound wasn't bad, on the conrtrary! The amount of air displaced by Solo is huge and perfect for SPL, but also absolutely suitable for easy listening, of course, providing you have adequate rest of the system. I had Pioneer DSP (still do, but not hooked up yet), which provided me with great sound control over 4 full range speakers that were cut @ 100 Hz and below. When listening at speech level in combination with powerful, yet not at all loud Solo bass, it sounded almost perfect. I say almost, because I didn't have properly built box then, so the bass was just a tad boomy.

Not that I say anything against JL...Just didn't try any of their stuff. I'd like to very much, though...reviews are mostly positive.

[2deadlegs]

Personal prefrence= Go with what you know, what you can afford and what you like.

You would be suprised who makes amps for other companies these days. The brand X at best buy just so happens to be one one of it's competitors but in sheeps clothing. For an example Lightning audio is made by Rockford Fosgate. Most people don't know this so they dismess them without giving them a try. It's not too expensive so they think it is cheap shit....WRONG.

LA makes some biiiig ass amps and some very capable speakers. And best of all......you can but them at Wal-mart and bestbuy type stores.

[Reason]

Yep, Kickers are loud, but it really depends on what you're going for...

Do you want to be deaf before you hit 30? If so get yourself a couple of the kicker square subs

Do actually want to listen to the music and have a good sub that compliments the system, but can make the car rattle when its asked to? Go with JL....

This is retarded, I hear this from broke ass people all the time to have an excuse to buy the cheap crap. It doesn't need to be turned up all the way. To your ears what is the difference from 500 watts blasting or 1000 watts? The 500 watts will make you deaf by 35 instead of 30? Come on lets get with it. 2DL said go with you know, what you can afford and what you like.

98% of all the boards people buying suspension bits and engine parts. You aren't going to race or autocross all the time? If not why buy the parts.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Umm...Reason: JL is not cheap crap, neither is kicker, I was just commenting on the difference between power handling and accuracy, and JL is very well tuned for almost any kind of music. I'm not saying that, with Kicker, they have to turn it way up, I'm just saying, that's kicker's strength: power.

I don't know where you got the cheap crap bit, but I wasn't talking to him with an attitude, I was just using the "deaf" bit as an expression....

[Invisible_Soul]

I just went to this site, http://www.carstereo.com/

I'm in the process of putting together a system right now. This is what I have so far:

Pioneer DEH3700 (This might change though, too many options)
Infinity 6000CS Component
Kenwood KAC-7252
Infinity Kappa Perfect 12.1
Kenwood KAC-8152D

I'm definitly heard nothing but good things about the Kappa perfects. I'm pretty new to car audio but with good research and checking out stores for items that you would like to see is a good idea.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Kappa Perfects are an awesome choice :smt023

[weonlylivetodie]

has anyone heard anything about Elemental design subs?

[Reason]

Umm...Reason: JL is not cheap crap, neither is kicker, I was just commenting on the difference between power handling and accuracy, and JL is very well tuned for almost any kind of music. I'm not saying that, with Kicker, they have to turn it way up, I'm just saying, that's kicker's strength: power.

I don't know where you got the cheap crap bit, but I wasn't talking to him with an attitude, I was just using the "deaf" bit as an expression....

Saying cheap crap was my expression. I never said JL was cheap crap. I was saying your comment was retarded. I will say it again 500 watts or a 1000 watts going deaf is going deaf.

[Wiscon_Mark]

All I'm saying is, you can run it at any power you like with your amp, but JL is going to be a better choice for precision, kicker for volume.

[2deadlegs]

MTX speakers and US amps.....

thats what I have...ssounds great!!

[Disturbed_beast]

Diamond Audio for speakers and subwoofer and Orion Amplifer and if you want cheap prices go to http://www.ikesound.com/ it's almost like ebay