Need help deciding two 12"s or four 8"s!!

[LowNotes 10+ year member]

I currently have two 12" Kicker Comps running on a 300 watt kicker amp and it just simply isn't enough anymore. I have a 2006 kia spectra "lol" so I don't have much trunk space but I want my lows to be ****ing brutal! I figured two 12"s is 24" cone surface and four 8's is 32" cone surface, so in my mind four 8's on full power should be pretty brutal... I was looking at getting four Audiopulse Epics 8", if this is a bad idea or someone has a better suggestion please reply. Thanks for feedback!

I'm pretty new to this stuff but I'm slowly learning with help from people like YOU!!

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[misfit138 5,000+ posts]

I figured two 12"s is 24" cone surface and four 8's is 32" cone surface,

It doesn't work like that. The 12"s will have more cone area.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Cone area between four 8's and two 12's is almost identical. So close as to render no audible advantage either way. But other factors are to be considered. Many times 12's have more potential excursion than 8's. 12's and 8's tend to have much different fs specs. Four 8's will have twice as many motors to soak up and dissipate heat, thereby reducing power compression. Four 8's is generally more expensive than two 12's (when comparing similar quality levels). Etc.

4-8's vs 2-12's is a close call, and many of the factors I mentioned above, plus install specifics like mounting depth and height, and even simply personal preference, should ultimately play a larger role in what to chose than should trying to compare them just on cone area alone.

 

[duro78 10+ year member]

2 12's are a lot more efficient and cheaper but the 8's have the cool factor

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

2 12's are a lot more efficient and cheaper but the 8's have the cool factor

Why do you consider 12's more efficient?