JL no longer underrating subs, some info...

[BringDaBoom 10+ year member]

This was brought to my attention in another thread. The sub continuous power ratings had changed on the website and a couple poster mentioned that they'd be willing to bet it came from retailers complaining about losing sales because the stuff wasn't rated as high as others, even though you don't have to be a rocket scientist to look at the motor structure and suspension on a 13W6 a know it can handle just a tad more than 500W continous.

I was surprised however at how much they had underated their stuff. I always figured it was by 100-150W max, but most of them jumped at least 200W.

Anyways, I contacted my buddy JC at Audio Advisors, who are the biggest retailer of JL in Florida and who is very close personally to the higher ups there, and indeed the ratings were changed due to complaints from retailers and some consumer bad mouthing (I.E. This sub says it handles 1000WRMS for $300, why does JL's cost $700?) The patents and performance parameters weren't enough and only satisfy a smaller growing number of clientell. Here's what he wrote me back:

JL got tired of all the smack and shit talking so they decided this year to rate their products just like everyone else in the market has been. By doing this instead of their more strict guidelines everything in their line has increased in power handling and output power capabilities. Nothing has changed in the products. They just listed what they are fully capable of. What I'm afraid of is people are still going to have the stigma that JL under-rates their stuff and are going to push the envelope over the new power ratings, possibly resulting in a lot of blown/damaged stuff.

So in short, their subs are no longer underrated. They are listed at what they can truly do. They are what we thought they were! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

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[ThatChevyGuy 5,000+ posts]

Hmm, so what all are they going to change? Ratings on the subs? the website?

 

[BringDaBoom 10+ year member]

Hmm, so what all are they going to change? Ratings on the subs? the website?

Yes. Go to their website and you'll see the subs power ratings have gone up, substantially for the W3's, W6 and W7.

 

[Dozy_production 10+ year member]

This is sort of sad because for the people who are concerned about power ratings, when almost solely judging

the capabilities of a sub, most of the time don't run amplifiers that produce rated power or just don't run them correctly.

 

[BASS ADDiCTiON 10+ year member]

W7 13 went from 1,000 to 1,500 lol

 

[BringDaBoom 10+ year member]

This is sort of sad because for the people who are concerned about power ratings, when almost solely judging the capabilities of a sub, most of the time don't run amplifiers that produce rated power or just don't run them correctly.

Exactly. There is so much more to a sub than power handling. But in short, 80% of the folks out there honestly don't care. They want that warm fuzzy of having high power handling sub, and for all their buddies to know they got some high pwer handling stuff.

 

[BASS ADDiCTiON 10+ year member]

so i'm guessing they might be in the works of making new amps that match up perfectly with the subs so they dont lose out? Slash series 750/1 and 1500/1 lol

 

[BringDaBoom 10+ year member]

so i'm guessing they might be in the works of making new amps that match up perfectly with the subs so they dont lose out?

Not sure. the amp rating's haven't changed and I don't think they will. The have a new line of HD amps comming out, with two scheduled for release first quarter '08. Both are 600W models, one a 4 channel and one a mono block. I dont know if later HD models will come out to match up perfectly.

You can still run the slash's on the subs fine. They just wouldn't be getting power to = to their maximum continous handling. Which is fine because that's what people have been doing up to this point.

 

[sdmtnbiker420 10+ year member]

JL was underrated?

 

[Tehgregzor 10+ year member]

Meh....power handling isn't the end all tell all rating of a sub. Can't believe ignorance just won ANOTHER battle.

....One should have to take a test, and pass with a 85% or better, in order to have the privilege of owning anything above a stock stereo system. And the test, although free, will be tough. You will have to learn what RMS stands for, what xmax means, so on so forth.

 

[nauc 10+ year member]

just think how many people they told the 1000/1 is PERFECT for the 13w7 and how PERFECT the 500/1 is for 10w7

glad i never bought into their bs

 

[nauc 10+ year member]

they probably underrated their subs from the beginning, getting people to by the 1000/1 amps etc, now their gonna try and get them to buy a 1500/1 etc

maybe they should join up with US AMPS and try and sell 4000 watt amps that only put out 900 watts

 

[ntense702 10+ year member]

Interesting. I bet internet companies have put a hurting on JL's sales at this point.

 

[BringDaBoom 10+ year member]

just think how many people they told the 1000/1 is PERFECT for the 13w7 and how PERFECT the 500/1 is for 10w7
glad i never bought into their bs

Why wouldn't it still be a good match? Will the sub be operating at it's full capacity? No. Will it still sound good and have decent output? Sure. I have a W6 on a 500/1 and it sound phenominal with a good ammount of output.

It was always understood (at least by me) that JL did underrate their subs. Yeah a W7 is rated at 1000W but you could go a little more should you want to use a higher power amp. I've had many retailers tell me that. You could also deduct that by looking at their power charts.

Allthough the yellow area (optimum) was what they reccomended, it usually went a ways before reaching red and then black (thus being not reccommended and voiding warranty).

I just never thought they were underated THAT MUCH. It will still sound good and work fine. You just have the capability to "officially" throw more at it and JL will warranty it.

 

[XxSuperAdamxX 10+ year member]

W7 13 went from 1,000 to 1,500 lol

You for reals? Hmmm....i pumped 1000 watts into that subby when I had one. With the 1000/1