JBL GT5 12 inch vs Sundown e8

[qguy]

I have a JBL GT5 in 30 x 14 x 12 ported enclosure. Happy with the sound volume and quality for the inexpensive sub, sadly it eats a lot of trunk space. A friend is offering a Sundown e8 dual 2 ohms / 300 watts. Will the Sundown in a smaller enclosure create the same SPL / Quality as the 12 inch JBL ? Right now the Sundown e8 is the only option, so suggestions for other subs is appreciated but would not help my situation right now...thanks

Current Amp is EFX 2/3/4 channel amp

800W Max, 4-Channel Amplifier

RMS Power Output:

4 Ohms: 65 watts x 4 chan.

2 Ohms: 75 watts x 4 chan.

4 Ohms Bridged: 150 watts x 2 chan.

Right now the Sundown e8 is the only option, so suggestions for other subs/amps is appreciated but would not help my situation right now...thanks

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[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

You will lose a lot of loudness going from a 12 to an 8 with soo little power.

 

[qguy]

You will lose a lot of loudness going from a 12 to an 8 with soo little power.

how much power would I need to get the same SPL ? Will a box half the size of what I have work ?

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

how much power would I need to get the same SPL ? Will a box half the size of what I have work ?

You will need an sa 8 with 600 to to 800 watts to compete.

The e8 is a no go sad to say. Might be doable in a 1/4 wave transmission line enclosure but that box will be big

 

[Papermaker85 5,000+ posts]

The 8 will hit fairly hard. If you do .8 tuned to 36 with 15in^2 of vent.. Granted it would need atleast 600 rms

 

[Slo_Ride 5,000+ posts]

The 8 will hit fairly hard. If you do .8 tuned to 36 with 15in^2 of vent.. Granted it would need atleast 600 rms

Put an E8 in that box with that much power and it'll tear itself apart.

 

[Slo_Ride 5,000+ posts]

I have a JBL GT5 in 30 x 14 x 12 ported enclosure. Happy with the sound volume and quality for the inexpensive sub, sadly it eats a lot of trunk space. A friend is offering a Sundown e8 dual 2 ohms / 300 watts. Will the Sundown in a smaller enclosure create the same SPL / Quality as the 12 inch JBL ? Right now the Sundown e8 is the only option, so suggestions for other subs is appreciated but would not help my situation right now...thanks
Current Amp is EFX 2/3/4 channel amp

800W Max, 4-Channel Amplifier

RMS Power Output:

4 Ohms: 65 watts x 4 chan.

2 Ohms: 75 watts x 4 chan.

4 Ohms Bridged: 150 watts x 2 chan.

Right now the Sundown e8 is the only option, so suggestions for other subs/amps is appreciated but would not help my situation right now...thanks

How is your current setup wired? That amp isn't optimal for either sub.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Put an E8 in that box with that much power and it'll tear itself apart.

if its clamped power yeah, if its just rated rms then no, after rise it should be fine, the E8s are pretty tough.

 

[Slo_Ride 5,000+ posts]

if its clamped power yeah, if its just rated rms then no, after rise it should be fine, the E8s are pretty tough.

Thermally, tough as hell. But they will bottom out in an enclosure that is to large, with too much port area, and too much power. I've blown a handful of E8s and I wouldn't recommend it to the O.P.

 

[qguy]

it is going to a a new box. The amp is currently in 2 ch mode. I cranked the system yesterday to my "Ear defining" levels inside the car and then opened the trunk to see what the movement of the sub, its barely moving by my standards. I do have a 15 at home that does 14 hz and that thing moves like crazy. So I recon a smaller sub will work for my needs.

 

[qguy]

Speaking of boxes what kind of dimensions do I need. Will the e8 work in a sealed enclosure ?

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

it is going to a a new box. The amp is currently in 2 ch mode. I cranked the system yesterday to my "Ear defining" levels inside the car and then opened the trunk to see what the movement of the sub, its barely moving by my standards. I do have a 15 at home that does 14 hz and that thing moves like crazy. So I recon a smaller sub will work for my needs.

do you want loud or do you want pure mechanical movement? When a sub plays near its ported frequency, it will move a lot less due to the port resonance and efficiency. When played below, it will move a lot but not if you dont have enough power or if you have a subsonic filter or high pass filter in place. Also the JBLs are not high excursion subs. Their Xmax is very limited especially if you dont put power to them.

All i can say is if you go from a 12 ported to an 8 sealed, be prepared for your mids and highs to completely drown out your bass.

Going down in cone area while not increasing the power nor the efficiency of the box (rather you lose a lot of efficiency with sealed) then you will lose a lot of output.

You cannot compare home audio to car audio as the listening environment is different and you have a thing called cabin gain.

Your enclosure might also not be optimally designed as well. Those jbl gt5s can get loud in the right box even with low power. Example right here with 200 watts per sub

 

[Slo_Ride 5,000+ posts]

If space is the priority the I would sell your current sub and amp. Buy the E8 and a solid 400 watt amp. Build a ported enclosure to Sundown specs and you should have atleast twice as much space as you do now.

 

[qguy]

If space is the priority the I would sell your current sub and amp. Buy the E8 and a solid 400 watt amp. Build a ported enclosure to Sundown specs and you should have atleast twice as much space as you do now.

Thanks where do i find these specs ?

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Thanks where do i find these specs ?

EV3 SERIES