12" XXX versus 15" XXX...

[Gregory 10+ year member]

Yes, I did a search.

I'm trying to decide which to order. I have attached a picture of where it is going to go in my Tundra extended cab. The sub will be powered by an Elemental NINe.1, which generally puts out ~1400 watts at one ohm.

I have absolute MAXIMUM dimensions of 17" wide, 21" tall, and 15" deep, which gives me an absolute maximum of 3.1 cubic feet. I'd feel much more comfortable with dimensions of 17" wide, 19" tall, 13" deep, which would give me 2.43 cubes.

I'm REALLY having a hard time deciding what to do. I'm looking for SQL. I do not want to sacrifice much sound quality.

So I've considered the following:

Go 12" sealed. RE recommends 1 cube, but if you guys think it would sound better I could go comfortably up to ~2.4 cubes sealed.

Go 12" ported, in a box roughly 2.1 cubes as recommended per RE, but again, I could comfortably go up up ~2.4 cubes, if you guys think that'd be better.

Go 15" Sealed, in a little over 2 cubic feet as RE recommended. Or, up to ~2.4 comfortably.

Go 15" ported??? No way I have room for 4 cubes as recommended, but again, I guess I could compromise a little with this and go up to 2.5 cubes ported.

So to summarize, I want SQL without sacrificing much SQ, powered by an elemental nine.1, comfortably 2.43 cubes, MAX of 3 cubes. Actual available dimensions listed above.

Thanks dooods

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[jtomsic 5,000+ posts]

id do the 12 ported

 

[g30ffr3y 10+ year member]

im in the same boat... gonna be doing some experimentation

with box sizes... ive got a 15" on the way... first thing ill do

a sealed and see how that goes... then ill try to get as much

of a ported box as i can in my tiny trunk...

 

[Expy2000]

Get the 15..

I have a 12 xxx now and I want a 15.. !

 

[radel2dope 10+ year member]

Definetly 12 ported, you have about perfect room for their SQL box

 

[Savstyle 10+ year member]

go ported man. my is 2.6^3 32 hz and its sq is still swesome. and spl is pretty good in my lil azz car. hope everything works for u when u get it. good luck

 

[eric77 10+ year member]

You guys think a ported 12 would be louder than a sealed 15? I know ported is louder, but a 15 has nearly twice as much cone area. I would have guessed that the output would be pretty similar if the 12 ported was tuned low, but the 15 sealed would have better sq.

 

[g30ffr3y 10+ year member]

if a 15" sealed is going to be as loud as a 12" ported

wouldve been i think i can get by with sealed... thats

got to be pretty loud just for daily driving and not

terrorizing the community...

eric... do you have any pics of that nine. 1 ??? is it a good amp?

 

[eric77 10+ year member]

if a 15" sealed is going to be as loud as a 12" portedwouldve been i think i can get by with sealed... thats

got to be pretty loud just for daily driving and not

terrorizing the community...

eric... do you have any pics of that nine. 1 ??? is it a good amp?

Those are some pics direct from eD. Heres the only pics I have of mine.

Its the only amp I have ever owned so I cant really give you any comparison, but I can tell you that it is an awesome amp. It has never gotten hot or had any problems whatsoever. It definitely sucks a lot of current though. I havent upgraded my big three or gotten a yellow top yet and my lights dim pretty bad when Im idling at night. BTW, Its in a jeep grand cherokee with pretty weak alt. Also, i am positive this thing is well over 1200w even with my weak electrical system. I ahve two 10" diamonds rated at 800w each in a medium sized seal enclosure and the NINe.1 will easily push them to their limits. I actually have to be careful on some songs because they bottom out.

I got extremely lucky when I purchased mine. I ordered it about 2 months ago when it was priced at $315 then on top of that I got a $65 dollar coupon for the nine.1 direct from eD just for ebing subscribed to their mailing list. For what I paid there is nothing that can even come close to this thing. Plus, the customer service is awesome and they give you a 3 yr warranty.

 

[loserpunk 10+ year member]

you have to remember that you have ~2.4 cubes max, if you want to go ported you'll have to figure in driver displacement plus port displacement, probably putting you closer to 1.5 cubes or so.....i'd see what you can come up w/ as far as ported designs, but keep in mind, this sub will still have great sql in a sealed box

btw, i vote 12 simply b/c you don't have the room for the 15

 

[Gregory 10+ year member]

How do I not have room for a 15 sealed?

I guess I've knocked one option off of the list...the 12 sealed.

So, how will these compare: The 12" ported, the 15" sealed, and the 15" ported-in-a-smaller-than-recommended box?

 

[boomzabit 10+ year member]

i have my 15in XXX in 3 cf ported,its louder than the 2.0 cf sealed box it was it, makes your ears hurt a bit more, but if i had to redo it i would gone with 2 12's, i am now in the 'long process'' of selling and picking out 2 12's, id go with the 12 ported by the way

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Id go with the 15 sealed, as 2.4 cubes is about perfect for it, considering driver displacement. RE recommends 2 cuft per 15 sealed for a SQ setup. This would give you the output of the 12 ported (give or take), with better SQ. And you will have the option to upgrade to a 15 ported later if the opportunity/space arises.

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

I'd definitely go with the 12" ported! Hands down...

NG

 

[Gregory 10+ year member]

Hate to ask for so much, but could you guys elaborate maybe on why you'd pick each?

If you'd choose 12" ported, why? If you'd choose 15" sealed, why?