18" woofer build!! Which 18??

[bumpasauras 10+ year member]

Current sub set up:

2 ppi BK1800's running 2 alpine type x's (1 amp per sub in 2ohm) about 1100 rms for each sub. I have plenty of amperage from my mechman alt, and xs batts to support 1 ohm operation. I have been deep in car audio since I started driving in 1996, but I have never ventured into the realm of 18" woofers.

After searching high and low for 18" woofers I have kinda decided on 2 DC lvl 4's since they have a power rating of 1400 rms and the next step up is the xl model which is a bit overkill for the power I have on hand. I plan on putting these subs in 6 ft3 each and the box is going to be built with a removable port so I can play with the tuning a little. The question is do you guys think I should go ahead and buy the lvl 4's or step up to the xl's. The lvl 4's have a 1400 rms rating where as the xl's have a 2400 rms rating. I have no doubt that the ppi bk 1800 does not make enough power to hurt the lvl4's I am just wondering if the added power handling of the xl's is worth the xtra money.

My second question is have any of you guys had any experience with the 18" lvl 4's ?? DC suggest 6 ft3 but they do not recommend a tuning. With the removable port design I have come up with it will be easy to change the tuning around, I am just wondering where I should start 30 htz? 35 htz?

I am open to suggestions on the 18" woofer it just seems that DC has the best option for the money in the 18" category. I have a friend who has a pair of the PPI ds18's BNIB I could pick up but there is literally no reviews of this sub on the net and only 2 customer reviews on onlinecarstereo.com and those reviews are the typical "I have 2 of these running off of a boss 5000 watt amp and it rattles my whole car" review. so what u guys think am I on the right path with the dc subs or is there another brand I should be looking at. Trying to stay in the $400.00 per sub area. How would the dc lvl 4's compare to sundown zv2 series??

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[JL Audio 5,000+ posts]

sigh.. I was going to come in here with valid suggestions but I see about 95% of the post is dc... so... are you asking for what 18 to use or what dc sub to use...? I am not reading all that :/.

 

[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

sigh.. I was going to come in here with valid suggestions but I see about 95% of the post is dc... so... are you asking for what 18 to use or what dc sub to use...? I am not reading all that :/.

im with you^..... OP just get Level 4xl 18s and /thread

 

[MrFoca]

Kinda seems like you want to run DC ?

 

[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

and im not trying to be an azz, but it sounds like your minds made tho

 

[JL Audio 5,000+ posts]

Indeed, I see threads like these and have a general interest in helping someone which is rare as hell for me as i'm a forum ******* anymore.. then I see one brand mentioned what over 15-20 times just skimming over.

I applaud the ppi use, I do.. but really if you want dc... run dc, why do you need our approval or help deciding which.. look on their site and see the power rms ratings and choose. That's that. Factor in space and what you have to work with money wise.. then you're biggest issue is really.. the 18" size ( pending ).

that's my 2 cents and my "help" toward this.

I still say do a different brand since you did ask if you should somewhere in there i'm sure.

 

[bumpasauras 10+ year member]

No No NO I am completely open to ANY brand it just seems that DC has the most options in the 18" catagory It would not matter to me if pyle subs were suggested as long as they will perform.

Damm guys I was just bored and shopping for an 18" woofer and was wondering what the opinions were on 18" woofers in the $400 range. As I stated I have never ventured into 18" woofers and thought I would see what everybody thought.

So let me rephrase my question:

If you had 1000$ to spend and and due to small peen size felt you just had to run an 18" woofer what would you buy considering you had about 3200 rms on hand to power them and enough room in the back to fit up to 18 ft3?

 

[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

No No NO I am completely open to ANY brand it just seems that DC has the most options in the 18" catagory It would not matter to me if pyle subs were suggested as long as they will perform.
Damm guys I was just bored and shopping for an 18" woofer and was wondering what the opinions were on 18" woofers in the $400 range. As I stated I have never ventured into 18" woofers and thought I would see what everybody thought.

So let me rephrase my question:

If you had 1000$ to spend and and due to small peen size felt you just had to run an 18" woofer what would you buy considering you had about 3200 rms on hand to power them and enough room in the back to fit up to 18 ft3?

i understand what your saying, its just when you see a thread that for opinions but has that many DC references in it, it just kind sounds like you know what you want but are looking for approval.

IMO i would look else were other then DC just because the simple fact almost EVERYBODY runs it/nutthugs it. I would run 2 Soundqubed HDC4 18s before i ran DC just my .2 cents

 

[bumpasauras 10+ year member]

Indeed, I see threads like these and have a general interest in helping someone which is rare as hell for me as i'm a forum ******* anymore.. then I see one brand mentioned what over 15-20 times just skimming over.
I applaud the ppi use, I do.. but really if you want dc... run dc, why do you need our approval or help deciding which.. look on their site and see the power rms ratings and choose. That's that. Factor in space and what you have to work with money wise.. then you're biggest issue is really.. the 18" size ( pending ).

that's my 2 cents and my "help" toward this.

I still say do a different brand since you did ask if you should somewhere in there i'm sure.

I could care less what brand it ends up being, and I am not seeking approval from anybody. However when you are planning of spending $1000 on a pair of subs it never hurts to get 2nd and even 3rd opinions. I kinda thought that this section of this forum was for exactly the type of questions I am asking.

 

[JL Audio 5,000+ posts]

I could care less what brand it ends up being, and I am not seeking approval from anybody. However when you are planning of spending $1000 on a pair of subs it never hurts to get 2nd and even 3rd opinions. I kinda thought that this section of this forum was for exactly the type of questions I am asking.

well... how about that? 1000 isn't exactly a lot in this hobby, if you plan to stay in it a while... make note of that.

you would have gotten 2nd and 3rd opinions in the following posts had you not been so DC referenced. It is for this type of questions... however..

lost in translation due to internet... anyhow regardless, sundown is always an option.. or imo if spending that much on subs.. get some custom ones made by either splaudio on here or psi on caco/fixmyspeaker.com ... find some nice motors ( even dc.. ) and get soft parts to make them work for what you're wanting exactly.. less spiders/more spiders... different coils... etc. it'll better your options going the custom route in the end but again.. it's all in your personal taste.

 

[bumpasauras 10+ year member]

I just do not understand why a brand should not be used based only on the fact that they have become popular and a bunch of people are using them. We are not talking fashion, I really don't think stereo equipment goes out of style, obsolete yes . I mean thats like saying "hey everybody has an ar-15 so I am going Kalashnikov" or " everybody is drinking coke so I am a Pepsi man now (even though it taste like crap).

The ONLY reason I asked for info is due to the lack of reviews/testing that is out there on ANY 18" woofer.

Not trying to be a douche its just been one of those days so sorry for the post and I will figure out what to buy, and do a review on them when I get them so the next guy can have more info to make an informed decision.

Thanks any way though

 

[bumpasauras 10+ year member]

Read my mind !!

I was just thinking that this was the best route to go. The only reason I was looking into DC is that they make an 18" woofer in nearly all of there platforms, just seemed logical to consider them. And yess I understand that a grand is not exactly a lot for 2 subs, however its not exactly pocket change either. I aam just trying (like everybody else) to get the best woofers I can for the budget I have.

 

[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

im not saying dont run DC. Im saying i try to find other options that are also good just to be different. you use what YOU want. i was simply giving a suggestion because you said you were looking for them. But then question the suggestion & reasoning for it.....

 

[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

well... how about that? 1000 isn't exactly a lot in this hobby, if you plan to stay in it a while... make note of that.you would have gotten 2nd and 3rd opinions in the following posts had you not been so DC referenced. It is for this type of questions... however..

lost in translation due to internet... anyhow regardless, sundown is always an option.. or imo if spending that much on subs.. get some custom ones made by either splaudio on here or psi on caco/fixmyspeaker.com ... find some nice motors ( even dc.. ) and get soft parts to make them work for what you're wanting exactly.. less spiders/more spiders... different coils... etc. it'll better your options going the custom route in the end but again.. it's all in your personal taste.

you and me are way different. i can do ALOT with a $1000 lol... im building a 2-18 system currently and running about 3k, and im capping at $680 for all of it lol

 

[JL Audio 5,000+ posts]

you and me are way different. i can do ALOT with a $1000 lol... im building a 2-18 system currently and running about 3k, and im capping at $680 for all of it lol

I can too, however.. i've spent that ( 1k ) easily PER dc neo when I had them... one shocker sig neo.. which I wish I had kept.. and close to it per bnib 21" wardens when they were first out..for example.. not to even start going into amps....

the game of price steps up quite a bit when you don't have connections or know anyone .. and have to buy when it is offered to you not at a deal... not to mention the cost of SQ stuff in general and I don't want to remember what my panasonic tube unit costed me.

you should see my budget build currently... you'd lol for days but it does 151.2 on the term..

sorry for derailing the thread, ... get what you want OP, when people have used certain brands and offer others in their place.. it's for a reason.. i've used DC.. I suggested sundown ( also popular ) and even the custom route... so take that as you will.