Looking to upgrade subwoofers

[trainey3009]

I currently have 4 12" MTX Terminators powered by a Hifonics BE35 1200.1D at 1ohm@34V. I know the MTX Terminators are budget entry subwoofers and I bought them before I knew any better. I'd like to upgrade my subwoofers to either 2 better quality 12" or a single 15" hopefully using the same 1200w amp I currently have. They're going in a 2015 Ford Focus SE Sedan. I don't know anyone around here with decent car audio so I have nothing to compare to and get a better idea. I was looking at some Sundown Audio or Skar but I'm not sure how much of a SPL upgrade they will be over my current MTX setup. Someone on Reddit said even upgrading to better quality subwoofers might not be a sound upgrade due to loss of overall cone area. Not sure where to go. Any help is appreciated.

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[Popwarhomie 5,000+ posts]

I'm guessing the 4 12s are in sealed prefabs?

Two sundown E12s in a good ported box should out preform the 4 12s.

 

[trainey3009]

I'm guessing the 4 12s are in sealed prefabs?

Two sundown E12s in a good ported box should out preform the 4 12s.

They are. Would the 1200w amp I have be enough for the 2 sundowns?

 

[Popwarhomie 5,000+ posts]

Meh. You could use more power but it will work decently.

 

[BCotrell]

So if your mtx subs are 4ohm versions your final Wired load Is 1 ohm but with box rise you’re likely much higher than that on the amp. From there you factor the actual potential is probably around 800 wats (Steamed Meade dynoed a 1700 at about 70% certified output, coming to about 1200 watts)

what feedback you have received is something you will have to decide. Right now you have four subs that could probably take 300 watts rms each with clean signal, power, and gain setting.

also, what is your enclosure. Sealed would be 5 cubes for four or 8 cubes ported (based on crutchfield specs)

That amp on a single 500-750 watt rms sub in a ported enclosure would probably allow you to achieve lower frequencies (lows) but your output may suffer coMpared to four.

 

[trainey3009]

So if your mtx subs are 4ohm versions your final Wired load Is 1 ohm but with box rise you’re likely much higher than that on the amp. From there you factor the actual potential is probably around 800 wats (Steamed Meade dynoed a 1700 at about 70% certified output, coming to about 1200 watts)

what feedback you have received is something you will have to decide. Right now you have four subs that could probably take 300 watts rms each with clean signal, power, and gain setting.

also, what is your enclosure. Sealed would be 5 cubes for four or 8 cubes ported (based on crutchfield specs)

That amp on a single 500-750 watt rms sub in a ported enclosure would probably allow you to achieve lower frequencies (lows) but your output may suffer coMpared to four.

I'm using the stock pre fab boxes the MTXs came in. They're 4ohm each wired to 2ohm coming out of each box and I have both boxes wired to the amp at 1ohm. I've read so much about the MTX Terminators being such cheap budget speakers that I assumed any quality subwoofer would be an upgrade in overall output.

 

[BCotrell]

Cheap isn’t always bad. Dudes are getting good numbers on Walmart blaupunkts. I think popwars’s woofer recommendation is solid. Ported enclosure built to specs oF the sub. That power will be good but a solid 1k would be good. Maybe a taramps 1200.

 

[SlugButter]

when compared to other subs that cost the same, MTX isn’t bad. I’m not sure about their enclosures. They’re probably on the smaller side to help keep cone movement under control for warranty purposes. The enclosure is almost always the problem when subs don’t perform well.

 

[trainey3009]

Thanks for all the feedback/advice guys

 

[02WS6]

Do you have a specific budget? Anyone will tell you that the enclosure will either make or break the build/SQ/SPL.

Well built enclosure can make $50 subs sound like $500 and the other way around for shitty enclosure.

Good brands: FI Audio, Sundown, SSA and Dayton tend to be the most recommended. From there matching enclosure specs based on the room you have and Amp you're using is a good starting point.

 

[trainey3009]

Do you have a specific budget? Anyone will tell you that the enclosure will either make or break the build/SQ/SPL.

Well built enclosure can make $50 subs sound like $500 and the other way around for shitty enclosure.

Good brands: FI Audio, Sundown, SSA and Dayton tend to be the most recommended. From there matching enclosure specs based on the room you have and Amp you're using is a good starting point.

I'm hoping to hang around a $500 budget. Now I'm wondering, even with the cheap MTXs, if I should try getting a proper enclosure for them instead of the sealed prefabs they're currently in.

 

[Slo_Ride 5,000+ posts]

I would definitely throw them in a big ass ported box. Hell, wall it.

 

[02WS6]

I'm hoping to hang around a $500 budget. Now I'm wondering, even with the cheap MTXs, if I should try getting a proper enclosure for them instead of the sealed prefabs they're currently in.

Relatively speaking how much room do you have? I think just about any sub will sound better than Thunders. I'm thinking Dayton Ultimax 12 but they eat up a ton of room for a vented enclosure. 5.5cu/ft per sub tuned at 17hz. Maybe 2 FI SSD's but you'll be under powered for for now.

 

[fithwheel]

I'm thinking Dayton Ultimax 12 but they eat up a ton of room for a vented enclosure. 5.5cu/ft per sub tuned at 17hz.

They would be better in a much smaller enclosure tuned higher for car audio. 5.5 @17hz per sub sounds like an enclosure you might use for home theater.

 

[Big Diego 27]

I have one Sundown sa12 4 ohm on a kicker 1200.1 and I'm pretty happy with it.