I'm addicted... (TC or SI?)

[Buffalohed 10+ year member]

Well I am totally and irretrievably addicted to bass now. I installed my first "real" substage a couple weeks ago and I'm loving it... but I want more and better.

So right now I have a 15" TC-3000k in 3.1 sealed on a Sundown @ 1.4ohms, forward firing in my trunk.

Next paycheck I am thinking about upgrading. A couple words about the TC3k first though. It has very good tonal clarity and hits great in the 30hz range. Has decent to good authority at 20hz, but could be a lot better. It sounds pretty good tone-wise but it is a bit sluggish and muddy on drums. It is loud (I think), but not loud enough. I have never been to a comp or heard SPL setups so I can't compare how loud it really is.

Anyway I'm looking for three things in this order: Better sound quality with emphasis on very sharp accuracy, speed and control for kickdrums and electronic music, more volume, and more powerful lows in the 20hz range!

So there are 3 setups I am considering but I am also taking suggestions of course (I have about 5.5 cubes max to work with), whichever I decide on I will be adding a Sundown to strap for +/- 3500 watts:

1 x 18" LMS-5400 in about 4.5 cubes ported tuned to 22-26hz

1 x 18" TC-5200 ported OR with passive radiator box (concerned about SQ???)

2 x 12" Mag D2 ported in about 4.2 cubes tuned to 25-30hz

I was also thinking about a 15" 06 XXX but I have heard some not so great things about them, heating up, breaking boxes, etc.

Regardless of which of these I choose I will also be getting another Sundown to strap for roughly 3500 watts.

I guess my question is, which of these will do you think will suit my needs the best? It is absolutely necessary for the upgrade to have great sound quality and faster response, but I also want it to be loud as shit.

Figured I would throw this out there a good 2 weeks or so before I buy anything, to give me time to think it over and all that. Sorry for typing so much... I'm long winded, can't help it.

Thanks guys.

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[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

SI, no question about it.

What are you listening to that has substantial material in the 20Hz range? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Buffalohed 10+ year member]

SI, no question about it.
What are you listening to that has substantial material in the 20Hz range? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I listen to a lot of experimental electronic stuff - Pan Sonic, Belong, Fennesz, Venetian Snares to name a few. I also listen to a lot of Drum N Bass and Drill N Bass and some industrial which has a lot of very low stuff, things like Enduser, Gridlock, Bong-ra, Xanopticon, etc. And finally I'm big into ambient metal which has extremely low atmospheric noise and stuff like that. I like the rumbles.

20hz extension is the least important of my 3 criteria, but it'd still be nice to have, ya know? Is there anything you can add as to why you would choose SI no question?

 

[thadman 10+ year member]

Why not get another TC 3K and equalize the pair to however you like? That seems like an easy solution to me:yumyum:

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

How about trying it ported first?

Also I "believe" the 3000 is more of an SPL sub and the 2000 is more SQL.

IMO you're looking at an 18 or 2 15's to dig down as deep as you want....

Have you posted this on the TC forum?

 

[Buffalohed 10+ year member]

Why not get another TC 3K and equalize the pair to however you like? That seems like an easy solution to me:yumyum:

No I don't think that will work, couple reasons. 1) That won't give me better SQ I am after, 2) don't have room for two 15s.

mlstrass, I most likely will get a ported box built for this, but I doubt it will satisfy me in the long run. I've read through every single thread on the LMS and tc5200 on TC's forum, but I will post the question there if I am still trying to decide.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Is there anything you can add as to why you would choose SI no question?

Paper cones don't fold up like Sprite cans, for one //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif Failure rates on SI Mags when used within their rated specs have been extremely low...to the point where I can't remember seeing someone post a problem with theirs. Can't say the same about TC's product.

I would have liked to have heard a TC driver at the test session, but we couldn't get them to send one. The SI Mag is one of the best subs I've had the chance to play with, though //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Buffalohed 10+ year member]

I see. I have heard the same things about TC subs, but I have also heard that they have gone to great lengths to fix the problems with the Aluminum cones ripping, including switching to Titanium which the LMS and 5200 use.

 

[lilmaniac2 5,000+ posts]

titanium cones still break.

id go with SI so i wouldnt even have to worry about how good the customer service is //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[02parkave 5,000+ posts]

how often do the titanium cones break? not heard of one failure yet.... or you guys still hating on tc because kyle didnt give you guys free stuff?

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

how often do the titanium cones break? not heard of one failure yet.... or you guys still hating on tc because kyle didnt give you guys free stuff?

As far as I'm aware, I haven't gotten free stuff from any company //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Not that I'd complain if I did, though //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I see. I have heard the same things about TC subs, but I have also heard that they have gone to great lengths to fix the problems with the Aluminum cones ripping, including switching to Titanium which the LMS and 5200 use.

TC did have a problem with some of their cones...they acknowledged this, fixed the problem and offered a lifetime warranty on the affected drivers.

I've owned 5 TC Sounds drivers and I didn't have a single problem with any of them....none of them "crumpled like a pop can". I think the whole thing is blown completely out of proportion.....either that, or I'm just intelligent enough to properly use the drivers.

 

[95bat 10+ year member]

Paper cones don't fold up like Sprite cans, for one //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif Failure rates on SI Mags when used within their rated specs have been extremely low...to the point where I can't remember seeing someone post a problem with theirs. Can't say the same about TC's product.
I would have liked to have heard a TC driver at the test session, but we couldn't get them to send one. The SI Mag is one of the best subs I've had the chance to play with, though //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

A guy posted yesterday about his tinsel leads falling apart after 2 weeks on his Mag. Not the type of "wear" I'd like to see on a $450 speaker after 2 weeks.

 

[WhoSayWho? 5,000+ posts]

SI, no question about it.

I just had my Mag installed this past week. I readily admit that I am pretty ignorant when it comes to the physical setting up of a system. However, I know what I like when I hear it.

I had a local shop do the install of the sub amp and load the sub in the box robin built. When I first listened to the sub it was hitting clean -- but hitting too much in the higher frequencies and overwhelming the rest of the music.

After one song I checked and they had the bass boost on. I turned that all the way off and now the Mag does just what I want a sub to do - hits the bass notes very musically and blends nicely with the rest of the music. I have mine in a sealed box which I think is perfect for my tastes.

Nice sounding sub that I really do think could fit a lot of different tastes.

 

[theCybe 5,000+ posts]

Original Poster:

Try the ported box first.