An actual Side-By-Side, A/B comparo...

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

Well - it's been awhile since I've made a thread here so I reckoned it was overdue.

I finally had (read that as: "made") the time to swap out my much beloved but somewhat cosmetically challenged M6mkII12D4 for the TDX12D4 I acquired to replace it.

So - a real A/B comparison happened ~ same vehicle, same electrical, same HU/processing, same amplification, and the same enclosure were used. The only thing that changed was the subwoofer.

I went from a single M6mkII 12" sub to a single TDX 12" sub - both having D4 coils, both housed in the same 1.75^3 ft. tuned to 32Hz slot-ported enclosure, both with the coils wired parallel to a 2 Ohm load, both powered by my Diamond D61500.1.

From what I have seen there are no middle-of-the-road opinions, seemingly, on Diamond's top dog subwoofer from a few years ago - people either love them or loathe them.

Well, kind reader, you can place my solidly in the camp of the former variety. I love this sub. It is easily the best sub-bass driver I have ever personally owned.

It is easily discerned simply by my loyalty to DAT's subs that I am by no means a hardcore SPL fanatic. If I were I would most assuredly need to seek another route to my personal sonic nirvana as these simply aren't ever going to be any sort of SPL monster for anyone.

What I did get for my troubles, however, was a substage that really came alive in comparison to that which it replaced. Don't get me wrong, mind you, I wasn't unhappy with what I was running before but I'm really pleased with what I've got going now.

The TDX is louder and gets considerably lower than the M6 - on every kind of music I threw at it. 2Pac, Styx, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Ray Vaughn, AC/DC, early Metallica, the list is long but the results were all the same: there is a presence to my substage now that was apparently missing previously.

In short - if you have been considering getting a Diamond Audio TDX or D9 (since they are supposed to be the same woofer with somewhat different cosmetics) then I highly suggest doing so whenever the opportunity presents itself. It'll take a bunch of power (certainly more than the rating printed on the side of the sub would lead someone to believe...) and sound freggin' great doing it.

Just my $0.02, anyway ~

Click to read more...

 

[PsychoTheRapist 5,000+ posts]

Well said.

 

[92SC300 10+ year member]

how does the D9 compare to the Fi Q?

I was thinking about running 2 D9's before I settled with the Q

but I'm looking to switch things up

 

[innsanes 10+ year member]

how does the D9 compare to the Fi Q?
I was thinking about running 2 D9's before I settled with the Q

but I'm looking to switch things up

I own both, The TDX walks over the FI Q easily in SQ. Clean Clear and with authority. The FI Q is Very Very Loud though. Sq is nice but not like the TDX. The Fi has more of a heavier bass some would call it kind of muddy, not sure how to explain it. I've been through many different substage and i got to say that the TDX will always has its place in my sub collection. Also its very underrated and not a forum boner at all which is why i think people don't hear about it so much

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

how does the D9 compare to the Fi Q?
I was thinking about running 2 D9's before I settled with the Q

but I'm looking to switch things up

I own both, The TDX walks over the FI Q easily in SQ. Clean Clear and with authority. The FI Q is Very Very Loud though. Sq is nice but not like the TDX. The Fi has more of a heavier bass some would call it kind of muddy, not sure how to explain it. I've been through many different substage and i got to say that the TDX will always has its place in my sub collection. Also its very underrated and not a forum boner at all which is why i think people don't hear about it so much

I'll have to hope that innsanes reporting on those two is accurate to some degree as I simply haven't a clue. I have not previously and do not currently own any Fi products and I haven't had the opportunity to audition any in anyone else's setup either.

I do not have anything against Fi. mind you, please do not mistake my intent ~ but my loyalty to DAT, thus far (at least for my purposes), hasn't been misplaced.

The TDX I am now running (on far less power than it will hold) sounds bloody fantastic in my humble opinion. It's plenty loud for my needs [though I will admit the thought of a pair of them on my 1500.1 @ 1 Ohm is certainly tempting] and is the most sonically accurate sub I have ever used.

With properly set gains, adequate power, and non-outrageous processing the only result you get from cranking the volume knob clockwise is simply louder and louder bass.

In short? I love this sub. Perhaps not a pair of 12s but rather a D2 15" would be the way to go for my setup...

 

[quest51210 10+ year member]

dont like prowler, but he speaks the truth about SQ

 

[filtor1 10+ year member]

I actually sold my pair of TDX's for the current pair of Q's I have. I haven't thought about trading them in yet. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif I also did a drop in comparison with the same everything with the sub and found the Q's to suit me needs better than the TDX's. If I had to put a check in the TDX column it would hands down go lower than the Q's. Not that I have any issues at all with the low end one the Q's. The Q's integrated better with the front stage than the TDX's did. IMO, they are both well above average drivers. You would win with either one.

 

[tapout 5,000+ posts]

dont like prowler, but he speaks the truth about SQ

I'm sure hes not losing sleep over it.

Thanks for the review, Prowlah. Hope you come back soon in a greater capacity. The forum needs more ppl like j00.

 

[quest51210 10+ year member]

I'm sure hes not losing sleep over it.
Thanks for the review, Prowlah. Hope you come back soon in a greater capacity. The forum needs more ppl like j00.

neither am i, but it looks like you are.

 

[Ignatowski 5,000+ posts]

nice review-TDX's are a great woofer and can be found really reasonably priced on the web

They are alot better sounding that the D6s/M6s......I still run my TDX in my little car but run a Q in my truck - The Q outperforms the TDX by quite a large margin but also requires a larger box - Never tried a TDX in the larger format enclosure

 

[innsanes 10+ year member]

nice review-TDX's are a great woofer and can be found really reasonably priced on the webThey are alot better sounding that the D6s/M6s......I still run my TDX in my little car but run a Q in my truck - The Q outperforms the TDX by quite a large margin but also requires a larger box - Never tried a TDX in the larger format enclosure

IS your TDX SEaled or ported. Its sounds much better in a ported box IMO

 

[denim 5,000+ posts]

I am tempted to try one, but busy with our own drivers.

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

dont like prowler, but he speaks the truth about SQ

Umm, okay? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

I'm sure hes not losing sleep over it.

Considering I haven't a clue as to who that is?

That'll be a negative, Ghost Rider.

Thanks for the review, Prowlah. Hope you come back soon in a greater capacity. The forum needs more ppl like j00.

Doing the cab thing affords me little time for leisure pursuits but hopefully within the next few months some changes on that front will be effected.

More like me? Not bloody likely. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

I am tempted to try one, but busy with our own drivers.

A worthy excuse for being preoccupied, to be sure. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsup.gif.3287b36ca96645a13a43aff531f37f02.gif

 

[denim 5,000+ posts]

You got that right. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif