How to compare subs to get the skinny on best bang for buck.

[Wbrumble]

All,

Hello, brand spankin new to the forum and this is my first post.

I am looking into building a sealed box for two 12 inch subs, and I prefer JL audio.

When comparing subs what other values other than FS freq. and SPL do I need to consider?

The 12W7 puts out 116 spl @ 1000 watts, and has a FS at 27.2.

And the 13W3 puts out 114 spl @ 500 watts, and has a FS at 26.72.

If I include the cost of the same XD model amp (takes two for the W7s and only one for the W3s).

It would cost me 1099 to do it with W3s and 2878 to do it with W7s.

1779 dollars more for 2dbs of spl really worth it?

Thank you for your advice!

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[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

That's not how it works.

 

[cfox10 10+ year member]

If you are trying to get loud go with something else all together.

If you are going for SQ go for something else.

If you are looking to spend a bunch of cash on equipment go for JL. In my opinion better can be bad for the price.

JL isn't bad, I've owned plenty.. I just wouldn't buy again after using many other brands that imo are better... To me.

Edit: and as per poster above me, he's right.... Definitely not how it works at all. Depending on the sound you are looking for you need to include variables such as vehicle, box, sub placement, power, sealed/ported - fq range for given box, etc... Just because you their double the power at the w7 doesn't mean it will be louder.

 

[mrpep]

In the last 3 years I've probably been thru about 6 subs and it's really not about a specific sub I've learned. A lot has to do with the box that it's in and the car or truck etc that it's in. I have a full size conversion van and a civic. I have sounds in both and I'm a bit more a fan of SQ and have settled on JL W6v3' I have a 10" in the civic and a 12" in the van. I bought them with the HO JL box and they're nice because they are small and are beasts - great engineering in my opinion. Also, I had the W7 12" in HO made by JL and even built my own t-line box to spec and yes it's 1000 watts and yes it's loud and thunderous but the SQ is not as nice as the w6v3's in my opinion . Hope you find what you like but agin keep in mind the true test will be once it's in the box and in your vehicle and of course the tuning and adjustment in your set up. These are my 2 cents and hope it makes sense - good luck and don't jump the gun , take your time and look around.

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[cfox10 10+ year member]

In the last 3 years I've probably been thru about 6 subs and it's really not about a specific sub I've learned. A lot has to do with the box that it's in and the car or truck etc that it's in. I have a full size conversion van and a civic. I have sounds in both and I'm a bit more a fan of SQ and have settled on JL W6v3' I have a 10" in the civic and a 12" in the van. I bought them with the HO JL box and they're nice because they are small and are beasts - great engineering in my opinion. Also, I had the W7 12" in HO made by JL and even built my own t-line box to spec and yes it's 1000 watts and yes it's loud and thunderous but the SQ is not as nice as the w6v3's in my opinion . Hope you find what you like but agin keep in mind the true test will be once it's in the box and in your vehicle and of course the tuning and adjustment in your set up. These are my 2 cents and hope it makes sense - good luck and don't jump the gun , take your time and look around.

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W6 is definitely the best sound quality sub from JL.

It's a great sub. Don't get me wrong, JL is awesome... But if going for the w3 or w7, I think better can be had. Box is very important of course.

 

[mrpep]

I won't disagree since my personal experience is limited and I forgot to add that if your setting up in a trunk of a car - I feel you can be a bit more flexible . I say this because my 10" w6 sounds amazing in my van but muzzled in the trunk of my civic since there's a seat interfering with the sound. Keep that in mind as well cause you might not get the full quality of a SQ sub in the trunk so their may not be a need to pay if you can get similar or same sound in trunk with other subs and save a couple of hundred bucks

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[Wbrumble]

Thank you all for chimming in to help a noob out.

Is there a way to calculate the sound quality of a sub woofer other than actually building spec'ed boxes and listening to both of them?

2006 crew cab Silverado, it will be inside the cab.

W7 sealed with F3 = 40.5hz, FC = 43.5hz

W3 sealed with F3 = 43.7hz, FC = 50.2

 

[mrpep]

I recently ran some punches sealed on the small side of the spec box size and one thing I learned is to stay on the large side of the spec . Bass is punchier in the small side

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[cfox10 10+ year member]

Thank you all for chimming in to help a noob out.
Is there a way to calculate the sound quality of a sub woofer other than actually building spec'ed boxes and listening to both of them?

2006 crew cab Silverado, it will be inside the cab.

W7 sealed with F3 = 40.5hz, FC = 43.5hz

W3 sealed with F3 = 43.7hz, FC = 50.2

Not really, unfortunately.

If you are looking for sound quality suggestions id go to diyma and ask on that forum.

Most the people here are spl guys with a few exceptions. Over there it's the opposite.

With that being said I really enjoyed the sound of my SSA subs. I wish I still had them, sounded great it everything I put them in.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Thank you all for chimming in to help a noob out.
Is there a way to calculate the sound quality of a sub woofer other than actually building spec'ed boxes and listening to both of them?

2006 crew cab Silverado, it will be inside the cab.

W7 sealed with F3 = 40.5hz, FC = 43.5hz

W3 sealed with F3 = 43.7hz, FC = 50.2

model the sub out in WINISD to model out the transfer function magnitude and group delay, which would be the best way to measure SQ.

However for the amount you pay for the sub, you'll get much better for the money spl wise. Hit up http://www.soundsolutionsaudio.com To see what the heavy hitting competitors use. SPL wise, it'll drop JL like a chump. SQ, is still decent and box dependent.

If you just want SQ in a small sealed box then just go with the W6s.

If you want something that does hairtricks and flexes windshields, you'll definitely want ported/4th order boxes with different subs.

 

[Wbrumble]

Thanks for the link man!

And holy cow, a 5000w 12 inch subwoofer, that's crazy! and 800 bucks cheaper than JLs.

 

[Wbrumble]

As far as my original question goes.

Is the W3 sound quality going to be noticeably poorer than the W7. Spl wise I will be getting about 25% less.

 

[mrpep]

Why w3 if you don't mind me asking? I've never herd them so can't comment but those w6v3 won't disappoint .

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[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

As far as my original question goes.
Is the W3 sound quality going to be noticeably poorer than the W7. Spl wise I will be getting about 25% less.

does not work that way man. Whatever you think your calculations for spl is, its completely wrong.

 

[Wbrumble]

No worries man. I like the input.

Just wrote down all the specs for JL subs to figure out the cheapest closes matching one to the W7. And trying to ask my self is it really worth the extra cash for 2 db.

The 12W0 only puts out 110 spl, right at half the sound.