DC Lvl 4XL

[R34P3R 10+ year member]

I know a lot of people here really dislike a 'which subwoofer is better thread', but I've decided I needed a step up in quality and I need help making a decision. I currently have (2) 12" L7's in the Kicker ported box. I love them to death because they really take a beating, but I feel like I could do better. I am planning on picking up a 15" DC Lvl 4 XL and was wondering if this would be a noticeable step up. I am looking for a little more SQ than the L7's and I wanted it to be at least as loud as my current setup. I know that the L7's have more cone area, but with their shallow xmax, I believe that the 15" single XL will be audibly louder. Please correct me if I'm wrong so I can set my facts straight.

Thank you in advance and please try not to rip on Kicker too hard. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

EDIT:The 15 will be in a spec ported box custom made to accommodate it. Just for reference.

Click to read more...

 

[AllenH427 10+ year member]

What amp do you have?

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

I know a lot of people here really dislike a 'which subwoofer is better thread', but I've decided I needed a step up in quality and I need help making a decision. I currently have (2) 12" L7's in the Kicker ported box. I love them to death because they really take a beating, but I feel like I could do better. I am planning on picking up a 15" DC Lvl 4 XL and was wondering if this would be a noticeable step up. I am looking for a little more SQ than the L7's and I wanted it to be at least as loud as my current setup. I know that the L7's have more cone area, but with their shallow xmax, I believe that the 15" single XL will be audibly louder. Please correct me if I'm wrong so I can set my facts straight. Thank you in advance and please try not to rip on Kicker too hard. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

EDIT:The 15 will be in a spec ported box custom made to accommodate it. Just for reference.

The L7's will have significantly more cone area. Even with its greater excursion potential, the XL wont be able to compete in output. And many people here know Im no fan of an L series for SQ, but the pair of 12's wont have to work as hard (less xmax) to reach the same output level as the XL, so they'll have a SQ advantage there as well. Impossible to say exactly how the two systems would compete for SQ over all however. Besides, too many people these days mistakenly consider SQ subjective, so who cares what anything sounds like (jab-jab).

IMO, it will likely be a downgrade. And this coming from someone who has bashed square subs vehemently since the day they hit the market.

 

[the Answer 10+ year member]

i would go with the xl, it get very loud and sounds really really good.

 

[R34P3R 10+ year member]

The L7's will have significantly more cone area. Even with its greater excursion potential, the XL wont be able to compete in output. And many people here know Im no fan of an L series for SQ, but the pair of 12's wont have to work as hard (less xmax) to reach the same output level as the XL, so they'll have a SQ advantage there as well. Impossible to say exactly how the two systems would compete for SQ over all however. Besides, too many people these days mistakenly consider SQ subjective, so who cares what anything sounds like (jab-jab).
IMO, it will likely be a downgrade. And this coming from someone who has bashed square subs vehemently since the day they hit the market.

I'm stumped then. I only have like 4 cubes TOTAL to work with so 2 15's are out of the question. I'm looking to keep my Hifonics BXi 1610D so I'm working with around 1300 watts. Any suggestions are appreciated. 2 Fi Q 12's were catching my interests but I'm not sure I would be able to provide them with enough power to make them shine, let alone enough space for them ported. I would also like to stay around $600 for the sub(s) not including the box.

 

[power-fanatic07 5,000+ posts]

Pair of XL 10's would get louder than your L7's and you wouldn't have to worry about not giving them enough space.

 

[R34P3R 10+ year member]

I'm actually not sure how efficient the XL's are but it seems like overkill to get 2 10's when I barely have the power to move just one.

 

[power-fanatic07 5,000+ posts]

get more power, there is no such thing as over kill

 

[R34P3R 10+ year member]

Im really limited on power atm. I'm running on my stock Eclipse alternator and a Kinetik 1400 up front so electrical is tight.

 

[nissanrider06 10+ year member]

The 15" XL will kill the l7's, I've seen ppl hit 150's in there daily setups, I used to have 2 l7's and if you do it right you can get the l7's loud but, in the kicker box i dont think so, and the XL sq cant be touched by anything with the kicker name on it...

 

[R34P3R 10+ year member]

The 15" XL will kill the l7's, I've seen ppl hit 150's in there daily setups, I used to have 2 l7's and if you do it right you can get the l7's loud but, in the kicker box i dont think so, and the XL sq cant be touched by anything with the kicker name on it...

That's what I had in my mind, but apparently the facts behind it aren't there.

 

[The HACKER 10+ year member]

If you want to be louder and sound cleaner the two 10's would be it...either that or redesign your box until it sounds to your liking. But honestly 4 cubes isnt much at all. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[nissanrider06 10+ year member]

That's what I had in my mind, but apparently the facts behind it aren't there.

Im stating the facts... and 2 10's would be a downgrade I dont know whats he's talking about, unless its 2 10" xl's but 1 15" XL in a 4-5 ft box with plenty of port tuned to 35!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

... but 1 15" XL in a 4-5 ft box with plenty of port tuned to 35!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will be a downgrade in at least output, as I stated before. SQ is hard to say. You aren't stating facts, you are stating your opinion. Id be glad to post some math to back up my previous statements (based on potential displacement) if you dont believe me.

 

[R34P3R 10+ year member]

So I guess I need to be looking into 2 twelves that will handle about 1.75-2 cubes a piece ported since harsh reality has proven that cone area is really king. I was looking at the IA Flatlyne but they don't have rec. enclosure specs. Really looking to get low low with whatever setup I get and stay in the $600 range.