Audioque HD3 -vs- the new HD3C

[Jeremiah25 10+ year member]

I have gotten many PM's wanting to know how much difference there is between the old HD3 and the new HD3c. I have been reluctant to share any information regarding this, until I had the opportunity to test an actual production model of the new HD3c. I had a chance to do that this weekend. I tested one of my old HD3 12's -vs- the production model HD3c 12 -vs- the prototype HD3c 12 that I have been messing with for a while. All three subs had dual 2 coils. I used 2 DD M1a's for power, and an AQ spec box. Testing was done at 48hz in my explorer.

HD3 top score = 146.2

HD3c production model top score = 147.0

HD3c prototype top score = 147.7

As you can see the prototype was the loudest by 0.7 db, but I'm not sure that it is really that much louder. When messing with the prototype, it gained about 0.4 db after thoroughly breaking in. The production model sub was tested right straight out of the box with 0 breakin time. So if the production model gains the same 0.4 that the prototype did, it should be relatively close to the prototype. Either way the production model sub was worth a substantial gain over the old HD3 for a simple drop in.

I also tested with a single M1a to compare scores at lower power level. I don't rememer the exact scores and I forgot to write them down, but I do remember that the production model HD3c was 0.5 db louder than the old HD3 with a single 1200d being ran at 1 ohm nominal and the score was still over 143 db at 48 hz.

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[lilmaniac2 5,000+ posts]

Good results //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif I think I might pick one up to play with

 

[Jeremiah25 10+ year member]

I'm kindof pissed they kicked my HD3's arse so bad. Now I have to buy some. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[95_venger 10+ year member]

yea i am kinda pissed 2 i paid 374 for the old one and the new one is cheaper and better.

 

[Jeremiah25 10+ year member]

LOL. Well, that's kindof a good thing though. I always felt like the HD3 was a hell of a good bang for the buck, but the new sub is //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/greedy.gif.5a53e6246569d7ab79867170f3b06629.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eek.gif.771b7a90cf45cabdc554ff1121c21c4a.gif

 

[Immacomputer 10+ year member]

Is there any way you could measure across a spectrum instead of just one peak note?

 

[95_venger 10+ year member]

im am wondering now if i got to sell my old hd3 if im goin to have to sell it cheap because you can buy a new and better one for cheap.

 

[Jeremiah25 10+ year member]

Is there any way you could measure across a spectrum instead of just one peak note?

I could, but it'll be a few weeks before I could get a chance to do so. I don't have any of the woofers in my possession anymore, as I left them all with DJ, so I would have to get together with him......

 

[big_Edge_head 10+ year member]

with the m1a were you giving it 1200rms because the m1a's put out more?

 

[Jeremiah25 10+ year member]

with the m1a were you giving it 1200rms because the m1a's put out more?

The m1a is a 1200 watt RMS amp at 1 ohm and 1% distortion at 14.4 volts. I typically burp at a soft clip, which is a significantly higher distortion rate than 1%, so I typically see slighly higher power values than the manufacturers rated power at any given impedance.

I did not clamp the actual power durring that particular burp with the production woofer, but I have clamped the prototype woofer in the same box with the same amp, at the same frequency and saw a 3 ohm reactive load. At a soft clip, I have tested 625 watts out of an M1a at 3 ohms reactive, with my electrical setup. Assuming the impedance rise was approximately the same with the production model woofer, as it was with the prototype model woofer in that enclosure, it was probably seeing around 625 actual watts.

 

[SPL140.2 5,000+ posts]

very nice //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif Ill be running these for next season and have the hd's for backups //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

egg

 

[Skip01 5,000+ posts]

Sweeet....this was the same box you did a 148 in?

Tuned to 34hz?

I should be buying 4 12s soon and trying to sb3....any new plans for you?

 

[PSturmer 10+ year member]

those are very nice db increases from just a sub swap. i wish they came out with a new type r that did the same thing //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[ShockingCanada 10+ year member]

What is the differance between the prototype and the production woofer that makes the prototype louder? Even if its just 3 tenths that can be signifigant for people who compete

 

[DJL 10+ year member]

The prototype woofer has round wire copper coils. It will be a little louder on the low to moderate actual power (700-1500Watts) then the 8 layer FW aluminum coils on the production sub it was compared with. At higher power levels the aluminum coil will come into play.