Advantages of 'super' woofer

[hcivic91 10+ year member]

I was reading through the Sundown forum and began to wonder what the benefits of super woofers like the new ZV4 and X-12 are.

Higher power handeling is one but that by itself is not a benenfit unless it allows the sub to get louder. What I struggle with is how 1 high buck 12" like a NS on 2500 watts is better than 3 SA-12s on the same power. I assume its not that a single NS can play louder than 3 SA-12s but that it can play **** loud but in a lot less space.

I'd like to know more.

Click to read more...

 

[cdc351jeferson 10+ year member]

so what your asking basically from what i udnerstand is how a better made high quality woofer will do against lesser ones? mroe motor force higher excursion and over all better build quality for starters . dunno if thats what you were getting at

 

[bhsdriller 10+ year member]

magic

 

[hcivic91 10+ year member]

so what your asking basically from what i udnerstand is how a better made high quality woofer will do against lesser ones? mroe motor force higher excursion and over all better build quality for starters . dunno if thats what you were getting at

In part. Because, I assume that 2 SA-12s will out perform 1 NS-12. Why spend so much more on a super woofer when 2 lesser(but still good) woofers could do better? Perhaps space is the argument?

 

[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

In part. Because, I assume that 2 SA-12s will out perform 1 NS-12. Why spend so much more on a super woofer when 2 lesser(but still good) woofers could do better? Perhaps space is the argument?

Well now, let's not assume anything

 

[hcivic91 10+ year member]

Well now, let's not assume anything

Ok, how about being helpful then. Maybe my assumption that 2 SA12 > 1 NS-12 is bad?

 

[IonRL205 10+ year member]

In part. Because, I assume that 2 SA-12s will out perform 1 NS-12. Why spend so much more on a super woofer when 2 lesser(but still good) woofers could do better? Perhaps space is the argument?

There are a lot of factors that come into play, mainly your enclosure. Cone area plays a little part in the equation, as one beefy sub can outdo two lesser subs of the same size, due to motor force, excursion..etc

And more than likely one nightshade would outdo two SA 12s. Where is your assumption coming from? cone area only?

 

[hcivic91 10+ year member]

Where is your assumption coming from? cone area only?

I guess we know there are only two variables: Cone Area, XMAX.

So unless the XMAX is 2X greater on the NS then the 2 SAs would out do it.

 

[cdc351jeferson 10+ year member]

I guess we know there are only two variables: Cone Area, XMAX. So unless the XMAX is 2X greater on the NS then the 2 SAs would out do it.

motor force and others to jsut look at it this way its mroe expensive for a reason lol . better parts etc etc

 

[IonRL205 10+ year member]

I guess we know there are only two variables: Cone Area, XMAX. So unless the XMAX is 2X greater on the NS then the 2 SAs would out do it.

A guy on here went from two SA 15s to a single NS 18

The SA 15s have alot more cone area, but the NS has tons more motor force

The NS was louder. It's alot more than cone area that determines which is louder.

 

[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

I guess we know there are only two variables: Cone Area, XMAX. So unless the XMAX is 2X greater on the NS then the 2 SAs would out do it.

not necessarily, again you have to the enclosure into account. thats going to make the biggest difference.

 

[cdc351jeferson 10+ year member]

so if you were asking which should i buy 2 sa 12's or a NS12 get the 1 NS

 

[ShowtimeCrAudio 10+ year member]

It's not just about being loud.

Space is an issue important to some. So is low end extension.

It takes power and motor force to make a sub move at high excursion at low frequencies. So high power handling is used for this just as much as it would be used to make a sub loud.

So it depends on your standards and criteria of what is "good".

Sure, 3 lesser woofers on 2500w can play as loud or maybe louder than 1 higher end woofer on the same power. But you sacrifice space.

Depending on the exact woofer models and your enclosure, you may also be sacrificing efficiency, low end extension, and maybe transient response.

Some people would find it important to not sacrifice looks as well.

So if you are satisfied with middle level woofers, they will do great things for you. Others are happy with entry level, that's why they are made.

 

[bgowdy 5,000+ posts]

thats like me, i use to run 2 Mofo 15s. i switched to my hdc3 18. on the meter with same power there was a 4db difference

 

[hcivic91 10+ year member]

Good points all.

I am a quality guy in many aspects of life. I save to purchase quality: furniture, clothes, shoes, watches etc. It is easier to judge the relative benefits of thing like shoes when you can handle both simultaniously. Such is not the case with subs, I can't demo them particularly cereris paribus. This is my attempt to understand the value proposition both provide and buy accordingly.