I NEED HELP! Three JL 12W7’s or Two JL 13W7’s?

[Playing4keeps]

I just paid a shit load of money for a system to be custom built/installed in my Tahoe. I bought 3 JL Audio 12W7’s…Each powered with their own JL XD1000/1 Amp. Of course I bought some highs and got another little amp for them, Two extra batteries, Etc…My question is which is the better setup? Which would produce more decibels?? Three 12’s or Two 13’s????
I drop my truck off Monday for the install so I got until then to change my mind. I love car audio but I’ll be honest…I’m far from an expert. I’ve always wanted some W7’s so thankfully I’m finally in the position to make it it happen. I chose the Three 12’s. I would’ve loved to get Four of them but damn they’re expensive. No joke…I’ve got 11k wrapped up in all of this. I bought ALOT of shit though. I would appreciate any and all feedback. Mainly I want to know which would produce the most decibels?? The Three 12’s or The Two 13’s??

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[1aespinoza Premium Member]

The Three 12’s or The Two 13’s??

A

 

[Dafaseles]

You'll have quite a bit more cone area with 3 12's. As long as the install is done correctly, I would say the 3 12's will be louder

 

[KicktheSDbasshead]

I just paid a shit load of money for a system to be custom built/installed in my Tahoe. I bought 3 JL Audio 12W7’s…Each powered with their own JL XD1000/1 Amp. Of course I bought some highs and got another little amp for them, Two extra batteries, Etc…My question is which is the better setup? Which would produce more decibels?? Three 12’s or Two 13’s????
I drop my truck off Monday for the install so I got until then to change my mind. I love car audio but I’ll be honest…I’m far from an expert. I’ve always wanted some W7’s so thankfully I’m finally in the position to make it it happen. I chose the Three 12’s. I would’ve loved to get Four of them but damn they’re expensive. No joke…I’ve got 11k wrapped up in all of this. I bought ALOT of shit though. I would appreciate any and all feedback. Mainly I want to know which would produce the most decibels?? The Three 12’s or The Two 13’s??

3 12s for sure but as a person who has ran through every jl sub made except the tw line I would pull the trigger on dc level 6, deaf bonce dB, or even the new ds 18 hooligans especially if you're upgrading the electrical. As I reread you already bought it and that's cool the only thing we always say is jl is good but it's too expensive in this day and age when car audio is growing again. As a fellow basshead I congratulate you on your dream build I know what it feels like. One more piece of advice make sure you get the right enclosure don't spend all this money and buy some prefab "spec" box I would say good luck but you don't need it the name jl speaks for itself

 

[metalheadjoe 10+ year member]

I would go with three just because of JL's unique three-ohm voice coil, so you can wire them in parallel for one-ohm if you decide to switch to a single amp.

 

[winkychevelle 10+ year member]

I would pick numerous other subs over the jl w7 but it's your money.

3 12s in the right box will stomp 2 13s.

My 2 sa10v2 stomp my previous 2 13tw5 though that's not really a fair fight considering the 10s are ported and the 13s sealed. Q

My suggestion would be 2 sundown x12s on at least 3kw with decent battery reserve

3 12w7 are $3400 that's alot not even considering you need a 3kw amp for them anyway

2 sundown xv3 12s would be about 1200

That leaves 2200 for amp and batt.

A taramps smart 3k can be had for sub 300 so 900 left for batts

Which you don't need alot for 3k and 900 would get you alot of headway bank or a decent lto bank depending on charging voltage. Headway can mix with factory agm and are fine up to 14.8v, lto don't mix with agm and need at least 15v to charge 15.8 would be optimal but most run 15.2-15.5 in order not to damage factory car systems

 

[shredder2]

If I already bought 3 12's... JL W7's no less, I'd try to make the most of my situation and NOT get into an overthinking situation. 3 12's ought to get you where you want to be if done right. As long as everything is solid and on point the enclosure you get is going to make or break the entire system. I'd either go ported to save space... haha, or possibly with a 4th (it'll be big) and should gain nicely while still being musical but I'd avoid sealed. Those subs will work and perform in sealed but you'll be leaving a LOT of performance on the table if you go that route.

 

[Old_Slapper]

For shnits and giggles, I looked up the price of the 12W7's. They are $1400! That is the most ridiculous price I have ever seen for a sub. Why does JL Audio think their W7's are worth so much money? There are other brands that make subs that sound just as good and loud, if not better and louder, for half the money.

JL, you're pricing yourself out of the industry.

 

[1aespinoza Premium Member]

JL, you're pricing yourself out of the industry.

I think they already sold out to Garmin.

 

[2RZ-FE 10+ year member]

JL develops their own stuff in house. Lots of brands just buy parts from a catalog and slap their own paint color and logo on them. If you can develop stuff in house and make it as cheap as those other brands go knock yourself out

 

[shredder1 10+ year member]

For shnits and giggles, I looked up the price of the 12W7's. They are $1400! That is the most ridiculous price I have ever seen for a sub. Why does JL Audio think their W7's are worth so much money? There are other brands that make subs that sound just as good and loud, if not better and louder, for half the money.

JL, you're pricing yourself out of the industry.

Just to throw it out there... awhile back a local hi-end shop put in a hi-dollar install with a dual 13w7 4th for a Escalade. It was doing like 151's+ with 2 13w7's on 2 slash JL 1200's. It was actually very accurate and musical as well with the ability to deliver extreme volume levels when asked. Never discount those W7. Pricey... sure, but done right they do get after it.

 

[Old_Slapper]

I think they already sold out to Garmin.

Yup.
Garmin bought them last year. I'm not sure how much though. I never looked it up.

 

[1aespinoza Premium Member]

Yup.
Garmin bought them last year. I'm not sure how much though. I never looked it up.

A wise move from Garmin being that JL was their main competitor in watersports audio.

 

[Old_Slapper]

Just to throw it out there... awhile back a local hi-end shop put in a hi-dollar install with a dual 13w7 4th for a Escalade. It was doing like 151's+ with 2 13w7's on 2 slash JL 1200's. It was actually very accurate and musical as well with the ability to deliver extreme volume levels when asked. Never discount those W7. Pricey... sure, but done right they do get after it.

Oh yea...
I don't deny they can get down and do what they were designed to do. I was once a huge JL fan. Long story short, it started after agreeing to pushing their product and helping them design a sub box, they gave me free gear. They gave me a pair of 10w3's and two sets of 653 components. I got them before they were released to the public. That should tell you how long ago it was. I'm just shaking my head at the price. After hearing their new line, at the time, I was hooked.

However, with all the new products that are out, JL Audio, in my opinion, is no longer the top dog. Everyone has reverse engineered JL's subs and have built their equipment to compete with them.

Fun fact,
My first pair of component speakers were a set of JL Audio 6.5" components. This was in the mid 90's. Now some of you will say "JL didn't make components in the mid 90's." Well, they were made by another company, and they just slapped the JL name on it. I believe they were made in Taiwan.

 

[shredder1 10+ year member]

Oh yea...
I don't deny they can get down and do what they were designed to do. I was once a huge JL fan. Long story short, it started after agreeing to pushing their product and helping them design a sub box, they gave me free gear. They gave me a pair of 10w3's and two sets of 653 components. I got them before they were released to the public. That should tell you how long ago it was. I'm just shaking my head at the price. After hearing their new line, at the time, I was hooked.

However, with all the new products that are out, JL Audio, in my opinion, is no longer the top dog. Everyone has reverse engineered JL's subs and have built their equipment to compete with them.

Fun fact,
My first pair of component speakers were a set of JL Audio 6.5" components. This was in the mid 90's. Now some of you will say "JL didn't make components in the mid 90's." Well, they were made by another company, and they just slapped the JL name on it. I believe they were made in Taiwan.

I've NEVER run JL products because of the price myself. I have however designed a ton of enclosures for their products all the way back to the original W6's. What I posted was not meant to start a conversation and I erred in quoting anyone. JL has a market and usually its people just dropping their credit card on the counter with goals given to the shop... lol.
I wish I had photos of the install because the quality of it put this one to shame...

It was truly stunning... magazine quality. A product of their now defunct "Hollywood" shop where all the hi-dollar and I mean HI-DOLLAR installs were built.