Icon vs DC lvl4

[Liquid Bass 10+ year member]

I guess I fail to see how owning 6 amps directly relates to your statement in question. Your running Audiopipe and then claim DC doesnt hold a candle to SSA.

I fail to see how the amp that I'm running has anything to do with x sub vs y sub. I had 2 dc lvl 4 xl on my crossfire 4k and while they got loud just like anything on 4k would I was very disappointed with the build quality and several other aspects of the subs. One of my local friends however has an icon and its a great speaker with awesome quality. I'm not alone on this forum exposing dcs build quality and sadly it has really slipped lately just as other brands have too. The fact that I have 2 ap amps is irrelevant when we are talking about subs. Especially when I'm currently running a different amp than the ap 3000 now. I picked up a mint sa3000 for 150 on Craigslist so that's been my latest toy for a few weeks

 

[jrouter76 10+ year member]

Well let's just say I run several subs that would put 2 dc lvl3s to shame. I actually think audiopipe has a better reputation for quality than dc does at this point

And have you EVER ran any DC subs? I`m curious how people make statements and don`t have a foundation to stand on,NOT saying you don`t have a foundation to stand on just want to know what are you baising your statement on about DC audio subs.....don`t get mad at me just asking a ?

 

[jrouter76 10+ year member]

I fail to see how the amp that I'm running has anything to do with x sub vs y sub. I had 2 dc lvl 4 xl on my crossfire 4k and while they got loud just like anything on 4k would I was very disappointed with the build quality and several other aspects of the subs. One of my local friends however has an icon and its a great speaker with awesome quality. I'm not alone on this forum exposing dcs build quality and sadly it has really slipped lately just as other brands have too. The fact that I have 2 ap amps is irrelevant when we are talking about subs. Especially when I'm currently running a different amp than the ap 3000 now. I picked up a mint sa3000 for 150 on Craigslist so that's been my latest toy for a few weeks

Ok so you answered my ? and when you talk about build quality, what seems to be the problem?

 

[RAM_Designs 5,000+ posts]

I have not played with many of SSA subs at all...I do want to though..just waiting for...well I don't actually know. To cheap to buy one/two/three just to write up a review. lol

Don't worry, I've got you covered.

 

[Liquid Bass 10+ year member]

Ok so you answered my ? and when you talk about build quality, what seems to be the problem?

well I couldn't get them to sound good at all. I built a a couple boxes for them and never could get the sound I desire from them. Don't get me wrong they were very loud but there's more to it than that in my opinion. As far as the build quality goes the suspension seemed weak and the glue joints were poorly done. I also had a problem with one of them and it had a short life for whatever reason. The other one is still going strong in my friends altima. I should probably clarify that I'm not claiming dc is junk I just think they have went downhill steadily compared to a couple years ago. They are not alone AQ and DD are heading down the same path

 

[jrouter76 10+ year member]

well I couldn't get them to sound good at all. I built a a couple boxes for them and never could get the sound I desire from them. Don't get me wrong they were very loud but there's more to it than that in my opinion. As far as the build quality goes the suspension seemed weak and the glue joints were poorly done. I also had a problem with one of them and it had a short life for whatever reason. The other one is still going strong in my friends altima. I should probably clarify that I'm not claiming dc is junk I just think they have went downhill steadily compared to a couple years ago. They are not alone AQ and DD are heading down the same path

That is good info...now what kind of sound were you looking for? low lows or a mixture of both? I asked this becuase I`m interested in some DC XLs and I`m looking at a 50/50 mix of sq and spl

 

[slim2fattycake 10+ year member]

Anyone that says that SSA isn't the company to go for with SPL needs get a better box. lol. I know someone doing 157s with a single 18 and 5k in a van daily driver. I remember a geo doing ****** numbers with some Icons as well.

I have had the Icon and level 4 but it was a level 4 with level 5 coils. Icon sounded better but I know the level 5 coils didn't help. Funny thing was I ran an ap30001d on the level 4. It didn't die from the bad distortion nor did my SA12 or my SSD. I guess I just have my gains set REALLY low.

OP, good luck finding the old icons.

 

[cthedinger 10+ year member]

What size box is your DC in? I had mine in 4.5 net cubes tuned at 32Hz.

My 15 is in 3.5 net cubes I believe (maybe a little less) with 2 6" pvc ports tuned to 38 hertz.

I fail to see how the amp that I'm running has anything to do with x sub vs y sub. I had 2 dc lvl 4 xl on my crossfire 4k and while they got loud just like anything on 4k would I was very disappointed with the build quality and several other aspects of the subs. One of my local friends however has an icon and its a great speaker with awesome quality. I'm not alone on this forum exposing dcs build quality and sadly it has really slipped lately just as other brands have too. The fact that I have 2 ap amps is irrelevant when we are talking about subs. Especially when I'm currently running a different amp than the ap 3000 now. I picked up a mint sa3000 for 150 on Craigslist so that's been my latest toy for a few weeks

I personally loved my XL 12s. At first I had them on a Stetsom 7k (worst amp I have ever owned) and they didn't sound that great. I switched to a hifonics sampson and gained 3 dbs. The The DC Audio XL is personally my favorite sub. I was doing a 150.7 out of my trunk with my XL's I am sure I could have done better with a different box.

Anyone that says that SSA isn't the company to go for with SPL needs get a better box. lol. I know someone doing 157s with a single 18 and 5k in a van daily driver. I remember a geo doing ****** numbers with some Icons as well.
I have had the Icon and level 4 but it was a level 4 with level 5 coils. Icon sounded better but I know the level 5 coils didn't help. Funny thing was I ran an ap30001d on the level 4. It didn't die from the bad distortion nor did my SA12 or my SSD. I guess I just have my gains set REALLY low.

OP, good luck finding the old icons.

I know someone who was doing a 158.XX with 1 DC 18 out of his trunk.

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

^^^^

what was so bad about the stetsom? i always figured they made quality stuff

 

[cthedinger 10+ year member]

^^^^
what was so bad about the stetsom? i always figured they made quality stuff

Everything. Didn't do near rated power, huge power hog, put out very dirty power, any vibration will kill the amp, they sound horrible, the list goes on and on.

There is a reason that Chris from DB-r stopped selling them.

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

Everything. Didn't do near rated power, huge power hog, put out very dirty power, any vibration will kill the amp, they sound horrible, the list goes on and on.
There is a reason that Chris from DB-r stopped carrying them.

huh, interesting

 

[jrouter76 10+ year member]

My 15 is in 3.5 net cubes I believe (maybe a little less) with 2 6" pvc ports tuned to 38 hertz.


I personally loved my XL 12s. At first I had them on a Stetsom 7k (worst amp I have ever owned) and they didn't sound that great. I switched to a hifonics sampson and gained 3 dbs. The The DC Audio XL is personally my favorite sub. I was doing a 150.7 out of my trunk with my XL's I am sure I could have done better with a different box.

I know someone who was doing a 158.XX with 1 DC 18 out of his trunk.

What did you like about the XLs,I know they will not have the SQ of my Mags...but then again the Mags will not havethe output of the XLs either.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

From what I have personaly observed with the XLs is the flexiblity. They will get loud and sound decent off 1500 watts but get straight nasty on 3K and take it

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

From what I have personaly observed with the XLs is the flexiblity. They will get loud and sound decent off 1500 watts but get straight nasty on 3K and take it

i wouldnt give an XL 3k unless they had lvl5 soft parts..i think thats why a lot of people have had issues with them lately

 

[cthedinger 10+ year member]

What did you like about the XLs,I know they will not have the SQ of my Mags...but then again the Mags will not havethe output of the XLs either.

They sound good, maybe not the best sounding sub ever but I am not an SQ guy. They can take a lot of power, they get loud off low power but can take a bunch of power and put up amazing numbers.

 

---------- Post added at 11:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:20 PM ----------

 

i wouldnt give an XL 3k unless they had lvl5 soft parts..i think thats why a lot of people have had issues with them lately

XL's come stock with LVL 5 soft parts.