Help selecting a 15" subwoofer for 2kW RMS

[Spectre420]

Wow. Loving the quick replies.

@Dmac1991,

My goals are:

as much if not more SPL as the L7 15" at 1000w

decent sound quality (doesnt have to be fantastic just better than the L7 and being a square thats not hard to top)

to hit as low if not lower than the L7 15

to take my amp at 1 ohm for 8 hours straight and not break like the L7 started to after 2 (Hifonics BRX2000.1D 2000W RMS Class-D Monoblock Brutus Series Amp)

and around 350$ (willing to spend more if its worth it/needed)

American Bass XFL 15 wont handle the power I want to run

Sundown X/Zv4 15 is better on the power handling and ive heard legendary things about sundowns just never heard one in person

Tantric HD/HDD 15 would work but they are a bit pricey

Im also open to smaller subwoofers as long as they can fulfill the requirements above. Im not big enough into car audio to be able to take a small sub and make it hit harder/lower/cleaner than a larger sub but I have the skills to put together the setup with a little guidance and I know it can be done.

 

[Brandon@GZUSA 10+ year member]

Spectre, take a look at the Ground Zero radioactive 15.

Ground Zero Usa - Subwoofer, Amplifier, Subwoofer Amplifier

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Wow. Loving the quick replies.@Dmac1991,

My goals are:

as much if not more SPL as the L7 15" at 1000w

decent sound quality (doesnt have to be fantastic just better than the L7 and being a square thats not hard to top)

to hit as low if not lower than the L7 15

to take my amp at 1 ohm for 8 hours straight and not break like the L7 started to after 2 (Hifonics BRX2000.1D 2000W RMS Class-D Monoblock Brutus Series Amp)

and around 350$ (willing to spend more if its worth it/needed)

American Bass XFL 15 wont handle the power I want to run

Sundown X/Zv4 15 is better on the power handling and ive heard legendary things about sundowns just never heard one in person

Tantric HD/HDD 15 would work but they are a bit pricey

Im also open to smaller subwoofers as long as they can fulfill the requirements above. Im not big enough into car audio to be able to take a small sub and make it hit harder/lower/cleaner than a larger sub but I have the skills to put together the setup with a little guidance and I know it can be done.

okay you have to know, kickers are like glass compared to each of the woofers you mentioned. American bass xfls are beastly subs that can take waaay over their rated power. Your amps are not gonna power Zv4s or tantrics properly.

What electrical upgrades have you done so far?

 

[Dmac1991]

Wow. Loving the quick replies.@Dmac1991,

My goals are:

as much if not more SPL as the L7 15" at 1000w

decent sound quality (doesnt have to be fantastic just better than the L7 and being a square thats not hard to top)

to hit as low if not lower than the L7 15

to take my amp at 1 ohm for 8 hours straight and not break like the L7 started to after 2 (Hifonics BRX2000.1D 2000W RMS Class-D Monoblock Brutus Series Amp)

and around 350$ (willing to spend more if its worth it/needed)

American Bass XFL 15 wont handle the power I want to run

Sundown X/Zv4 15 is better on the power handling and ive heard legendary things about sundowns just never heard one in person

Tantric HD/HDD 15 would work but they are a bit pricey

Im also open to smaller subwoofers as long as they can fulfill the requirements above. Im not big enough into car audio to be able to take a small sub and make it hit harder/lower/cleaner than a larger sub but I have the skills to put together the setup with a little guidance and I know it can be done.

LOL the American Bass XFL will take all the power that Hifonics amp will give it.

If you are considering the Sundown X/Zv4, then the Tantric HD and HDD are in the same ballpark. Actually cheaper

 

[Spectre420]

So your telling me if I went with this Sundown woofer (WoofersEtc.com - X-15 D2 - Sundown Audio 15" Dual 2-Ohm 1250W RMS Subwoofer) that it would take 2kW all day like a champ despite not being rated for it?

 

[Dmac1991]

So your telling me if I went with this Sundown woofer (WoofersEtc.com - X-15 D2 - Sundown Audio 15" Dual 2-Ohm 1250W RMS Subwoofer) that it would take 2kW all day like a champ despite not being rated for it?

yessir. Sundown rates them at the rms where they will take that amount of power all day, everyday, without problem. Now they are underrated, but ONLY if you know what you are doing.

Have sufficient electrical to keep voltage up, to keep heat from building up, not clipping your amp, keeping signal clean, etc. . .

if you can say yes to that last bit, then honestly, that woofer will take 2.5k all day

And even then, that woofer will never see 2k all day anyways playing music.

After rise is takin into account

 

[Spectre420]

You guys are awesome!

So after much research into these new brands I have come across thanks to the help I think I have decided on the Sundown Audio X 15.2 I need to do some measurements on my trunk and if possible I will make their recommended box. The one you can download the sketchup file for.

Only question that leaves me with is will it be as loud or louder than my L7 assuming all parameters are equal except being not square and having many more watts to play with safely?

 

[SounDrive Pro Seller]

Hey all! First post!Ive been lurking for a minute and been able to find all the info I need thus far but now I have a question and I figured I would ask it.

So currently my subwoofer setup consists of the following:

1x Kicker L7 15inch in ported box of unknown volume (I know its a bit too small thats for sure)

1x Hifonics Brutus 2kW RMS amp

1x 2F capacitor

0 gauge wire for all power/ground and 4 gauge speaker wire

1x High output battery

Stock 130A alternator

Big three augmented with 2 gauge wire from another car I was parting out. Not the best I know but its enough for stock alternator.

I used to run an 1100w amp but it blew and I replaced it with the 2kW. The 2k slammed hard for about 2 hours straight on a road trip and now the sub makes a rattle sound and medium volumes or more so im pretty sure its damaged and on its way out considering its 1kW rms rating.

So now im looking to replace it with a sub woofer that can take the 2kW all day and live.

I would like to have as much bass if not more than the L7 but I would like to improve on the sound quality. The square sub just doesn't sound right.

I would like to spend 300$ish on this sub. My friend is giving me his old box to re-face and its ported and large enough for most 15"s. Larger than the one I have now too. Ill get back with the actual size.

I'm willing to spend up to 600$ if its worth it but I was hoping to save that money and get a H/O alternator.

From my searches I have found that the Massive Audio Hippo 152 seems to be the best option for my needs and budget (Massive Audio Hippo-152 15" Hippo Series Car Subwoofer) but theirs many things about it I'm not satisfied with.

For starters the lack of detailed reviews makes me iffy. I like the 97dB sensitivity but I don't like the paper cone.

My next step up in my opinion would be the RE Audio XXX 15 (RE Audio XXX15D2 (XXX15-D2) 15" Dual 2 ohm Car Subwoofer) and I love everything about that sub woofer except the price tag.

I could also replace it with another L7 and put it in a better box but that doesn't solve my issues on SQ and power handling.

I'm looking for the communities opinion on the subs I'm looking at and suggestions on other subs that i might have overlooked.

Im sorry if my post was confusing. Thanks for reading my post =)

A SSA XCON would be loud and sound amazing while doing it. Built in the USA, too //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

You guys are awesome!So after much research into these new brands I have come across thanks to the help I think I have decided on the Sundown Audio X 15.2 I need to do some measurements on my trunk and if possible I will make their recommended box. The one you can download the sketchup file for.

Only question that leaves me with is will it be as loud or louder than my L7 assuming all parameters are equal except being not square and having many more watts to play with safely?

should be louder and dig a lot lower then 2 of your L7s....

 

[Spectre420]

A SSA XCON would be loud and sound amazing while doing it. Built in the USA, too //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

I like how that sub has more rated power handling. It would make me alot less scared of blowing it. Now I haven't heard as much hype or anything really about SSA's subs and its more expensive than the X15. I also like how it seems to take a smaller size box and its resonance is 31hz instead of 21hz because the music I listen to doesn't have that low (

Comparing the X15 and the XCON 15 would it be worth the extra $$$ for longevity of the sub/extra spl/sql?

 

[SounDrive Pro Seller]

I like how that sub has more rated power handling. It would make me alot less scared of blowing it. Now I haven't heard as much hype or anything really about SSA's subs and its more expensive than the X15. I also like how it seems to take a smaller size box and its resonance is 31hz instead of 21hz because the music I listen to doesn't have that low (Comparing the X15 and the XCON 15 would it be worth the extra $$$ for longevity of the sub/extra spl/sql?

In my opinion, you get what you pay for. SSA makes amazing subs. I have a pair of ZCONs waiting to go in my car now //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Dmac1991]

I like how that sub has more rated power handling. It would make me alot less scared of blowing it. Now I haven't heard as much hype or anything really about SSA's subs and its more expensive than the X15. I also like how it seems to take a smaller size box and its resonance is 31hz instead of 21hz because the music I listen to doesn't have that low (Comparing the X15 and the XCON 15 would it be worth the extra $$$ for longevity of the sub/extra spl/sql?

no audible difference between the X and Xcon

The X 15 may dig a tad bit lower, and the Xcon may do better on 45hz+ but that's about it

can't go wrong with either.

 

[SounDrive Pro Seller]

no audible difference between the X and Xcon
The X 15 may dig a tad bit lower, and the Xcon may do better on 45hz+ but that's about it

can't go wrong with either.

Depends on the listener...

 

[SPLaudio 5,000+ posts]

custom sub =)