Both SQ and SPL sub? Possible?? To those who know, please read this and help me?

[DJ Jester 10+ year member]

Well, its coming down to the final days before I make my subwoofer purchase. After every sub that I've heard and everything that I've read, I am going to go along with the educated advice given by so many of those on this board and buy a sub that is not one of the "Pop market brands" i.e. Kicker, Alpine, Kenwood, RF, Pioneer, MTX.........

well, except..........

My original choice was going to be ( 2 ) Infinity Kappa Perfect 12.1's.........and while they are still slightly in the running, I am leaning towards others.

If you did not read my original post, I am going to be delivering about 400-500 clean watts to each sub.

The rest of my setup is geared toward high sound quality and I would prefer to have good to exceptional SQ from my subwoofer as well, but every once in a while, most, if not all, of us want to feel that gut-wrenching driving force flow through our body from one of our favorite rap, R&B, rock, or techno songs. Personally, I am a DJ, so I listen to a lot of Breakbeats and lots of Drum & Bass. Right there you have a huge difference in sound ranging from Florida Funk and Electro's Boomy sound to the fast kick drums of DnB.

So, I need a sub that is going to be very dynamic, able to produce deep bass and sharp, quick bass notes with excellent timbre and a good all around sound reproduction. However, I also want it to be loud enough that if I go somewhere and want to hook up my DJ equipment to my car stereo, that I can start a block party on the spot.

I have narrowed my choices down to the following. I beg any of you to give me your honest unbiased opinion as to what would be my best bet. All of the following are within a fairly similar price range.

1. Infinity Kappa Perfect 12.1d

2. Arc Audio Arc Series 12"

3. Adire Shiva 12"

4. Soundsplinter 12", not sure if Premium or RL-i

5. Ascendant ATLAS 12"

6. Elemental Designs 13Ov.2

At the moment, I am leaning toward the 13Ov.2, the ATLAS, or the ARC Series, but that could change.

I really hope that some of you out there are willing to share your experiences and you advice. I've been extremely happy with my audio setup so far and I'm sure all of you know the butterflies you get in your stomach when trying to decide on your next major purchase.

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks again!

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[tRiGgEr 5,000+ posts]

I had great times with Rockford Fosgate, JL, Mtx, and Kicker. Why not pick one of those???

Also it's a gamble buying a sub you have never heard before.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

my choices...in no particular order...

eD 13Ov.2

Ascendant Atlas

Shiva

SS RL-p

 

[WMStateChamp18 10+ year member]

Shiva's are pretty tight!

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Yes, they are...listening to mine now //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[g30ffr3y 10+ year member]

get the ed sub... ed = //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[jtmoney 10+ year member]

i ave heard a lot of wooferage. i havent touched the ascendant audio stuff, but from everything i have hard, id stick with a Stereo Integrity Magnum....an exceptional sub. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[BOOKER 10+ year member]

I had great times with Rockford Fosgate, JL, Mtx, and Kicker. Why not pick one of those???
Also it's a gamble buying a sub you have never heard before.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/iagree.gif.15d6c075ee8d3913ba26866d06993068.gif

 

[DJ Jester 10+ year member]

Sure, it is a gamble buying a sub that you haven't heard before, but here's the way I see it.

In car audio, like many other area's of retail, companies with the highest dollar for marketing often skimp in the R&D dept. or, when they do come up with a fairly new idea, its not necessarily a groundbreaking idea, but they just come up with a nifty acronym for it like the A.S.S.R.A.P.E.R. voice coil or the S.L.U.T. cone design. Thats not to say that pop companies don't come up with new and good ideas, but history has shown that it is the underdog who will always strive for excellence.

Secondly, although car audio is extremely subjective. I feel like I am able to take the word of 1. pros and audio writers who have written rave reviews about the products I am interested in......as well as 2. the people on this board who have dedicated countless hours to researching, buying, installing, and tweaking their systems, as well as the time that they spend discussing ideas and helping others on this board.

In most of the world, subjectivity is a rule of thumb. There is no absolute truth, but when a large number of people, especially those educated on a particular topic feel that a product or group of products is the best, then their subjective judgement is far more accurate than either a small group or those who lack knowledge of a particular science. Thats not to say that all people who buy Kicker no too little about car audio..... I had two S12L7's in my old Jeep Wrangler, but MANY first time or uneducated buyers go for Kicker because they advertise, they are popular, and they are loud.

You have to admit that when you enter the realm of SQ, most people are playing on a completely different ballfield than they were when they first got into car audio. Truth be known, I've never heard a Kicker setup have good SQ. Thats not to say that they don't and I'm sure there is someone on here who says that EVERY Kicker setup they have heard has had SQ beyond my wildest imagination, but its just not what I have witnessed.

Sorry for the book. All I'm really trying to say is that after weighing all the facts, I really don't feel like I'm gambling too much. Most subwoofers can sound good if you do a proper install. I have found that in any field in which I become interested, as I delve deeper and gain knowledge, certain products come to the forefront which I was not aware of in the beginning stages of my interest. I think the same applies here.

Thanks to those who have had suggestions. Anyone else who can offer info would be a great help. Also, if you give me your answer, could you please give me a little background info as to your reason..........such as---the sub sounds comparable to this other great sub, the company made it to be an SQ sub, this specific part of the design makes a huge difference, I have 2 myself and they sound great, my friend got some and they blew away his other .

THANKS AGAIN!

 

[Diplexers 10+ year member]

Well IMO I think the good ole 12W6v2 would be the Ideal choice. If I had to choose from your list though it would have to be either the Shiva, or the Sound Splinter.

 

[Hundreth 10+ year member]

Oz Audio Matrix Elite, very similar to IDMax except with lower power handling... not too many people have the balls to try it though...

 

[DJ Jester 10+ year member]

Why don't people have the balls to try it?

the Soundsplinter RL-Premium is really out of my price range.

The Shiva is actually prefectly priced, but I'm having a hard time getting over how ugly it is. Ughghhghgggghhhhhh! I know that looks never equal performance, but it still bothers me. They look like some second rate home stereo woofer that someone ripped out of the cabinet. I've seen it before and I don't want to be having to convice someone that these are real woofers, not some crap I ripped out of a Jensen cabinet I got at the pawn shop.

Oh well, it really doens't matter though. Lots of people love the Shiva so I am seriously considering it.

 

[Hundreth 10+ year member]

Why don't people have the balls to try it?
the Soundsplinter RL-Premium is really out of my price range.

The Shiva is actually prefectly priced, but I'm having a hard time getting over how ugly it is. Ughghhghgggghhhhhh! I know that looks never equal performance, but it still bothers me. They look like some second rate home stereo woofer that someone ripped out of the cabinet. I've seen it before and I don't want to be having to convice someone that these are real woofers, not some crap I ripped out of a Jensen cabinet I got at the pawn shop.

Oh well, it really doens't matter though. Lots of people love the Shiva so I am seriously considering it.

People don't try it because its neither here nor there. It is neither a new underdog company getting started... or a popular company that everyone already knows. For some reason people trust one or the other. Not a lot of people have had experiences with the Matrix Elite, but the experienced people who have absolutely love it and swear it is on the same playing field of the IDMax which is priced much higher.

Regardless, its a great SQL sub that likes 500-700 watts and small sealed boxes

 

[anarchy57 10+ year member]

How much does the Shiva go for? I have been considering 2 12" RE SE's for awhile now and there's so many options and it seems like no one really mentions the SE's really, but the Shiva's are talked about alot lately.

So how does the Shiva and SE compare to eachother?

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

$125 MSRP.

plain = sexy //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

the less bling on the sub, the better, IMO.