10" or 12"? What's the diff?

[BentZero 10+ year member]

I've finally narrowed my choice down to a JL w6. I was wondering if I'd need a 12" sub? I'm doing a single sub in my Honda Pilot. Is it worth spending the extra $100 to get the 12" instead of the 10"? Thanks.

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[bri487 5,000+ posts]

good choice. definitly go with the 12". is the is W6 or W6v2? both are great subs, they just sound a little different.

 

[James Bang 5,000+ posts]

there'll be more output w/ a 12"

 

[kngadrok 10+ year member]

there'll be more output w/ a 12"

I was at the shop yesterday, and I heard the owner say this, but Im unsure exactly what that means.

Help

 

[CBFryman2 5,000+ posts]

More cone area = more displacement. However the displacement difference between a 10 and a 12 will gain you 2dB max.

PS, there is cheaper for that price. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

PS, there is cheaper for that price. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Don't you mean better for that price?

 

[Ignatowski 5,000+ posts]

12

 

[gamble19 10+ year member]

if its 100 more, than id say 10, but go for 2 if u can fit. but if u can only fit 1 go with a 12 or 15 if possible

 

[CBFryman2 5,000+ posts]

Don't you mean better for that price?

yeah...long night of playing GTA San Andreas because i was really bored last night but i had to get up beause my mom doesnt know how to turn the **** TV down. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

if its 100 more, than id say 10, but go for 2 if u can fit. but if u can only fit 1 go with a 12 or 15 if possible

MOST people have no use for a 15. Ever. Most people would be more than happy with a single 10.

As far as better for the price, it is entirely possible that this guy does not have the time or desire to do an install himself which limits his choices to what is available at the shops where he lives. With widely available brands, he may be able to get louder, but if loud isn't what he's after then JL is one of the best mainstream choices out there. The original poster is driving a minivan. There's probably a reason for that and space is probably a large part of that reason. The 12 will take a box 2x the size of the 10. That might play a huge part in the decision.

Way to many of you people on here suffer from a serious case of tranferrence. You think that what is best for you must be best for everyone else. You have decided that the only use for a subwoofer is to produce maximum SPL and therefore no one else should have any other expectation from a sub and that is the sole basis for measure. You then act like a total punk when someone suggests something that doens't agree with your rigid little world view. Grow up.

 

[BentZero 10+ year member]

Thanks helotaxi. Space is indeed why I bought my new vehicle. It actually replaced my 2dr G35, which I loved. I'm not going for insane bass. Instead I want SQ and I've heard very good things about the w6v2. I'm also considering an RL-P, but most tell me that if I can afford the JL then go with that. I'm also not looking for stupid amounts of SPL so I was wondering if a single 10" would do instead of paying the extra $100 for the 12". I could use that extra $100 for an iPod interface for my car. If I'm going to be much happier w/ the 12" I'd rather go that route. If I'm only going to hear a slight diff I'd rather get the 10". Is 2db a big difference?

 

[SSS 18734 5,000+ posts]

You will be able to notice a difference with a 12" driver as opposed to a 10". Personally, I would go that route. But a 12" driver requires more space, and as you stated, costs more as well. If $100 isn't a big deal, go with the twelve. But if you'd rather spend that money on something else, I don't think you will be dissapointed with a 10w6.

 

[BentZero 10+ year member]

Oh, I failed to mention that I'd be doing my own install. The main reason I lean towards the JL's is that I don't know many people around my area that have subs in their car. So I've been able to hear the JL's, but not the RL-P's. The JL's I've heard were in a local shop and they only had a 12" available for me to hear (or so they say).

 

[thadman 10+ year member]

The 12 will have about 60% more displacement (50in^2 vs 80in^2), all variables being the same.

This will translate into roughly a 3.6dB increase over ther 10" version, for reference doubling your amplifier power from 500 to 1000 or 1000 to 2000 yields a 3dB increase (excluding power compression if the driver isnt thermally capable of the power)

Although in most models, a larger motor with a larger xmax is used to compensate for the larger cone, which in turn increases displacement even further.

The 12" cone should have more mass and a lower Fs, so rolloff should start later

^The last 2 are generalities, and there are exceptions to the rule. (ie Ava 18 has fs of 16hz, Ava 15 HAS fs of 15.7hz)

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

^^^and all that being said, chances are that a 10 will be enough output for you and will take up half as much space and cost $100 less.