RE vs Fi

[ronrico418 10+ year member]

The same exact subs NO but similar YES.......................VERY.

 

Scott Atwell was 1/2 owner and the designer of RE subs at its conception until 4ish years ago.

 

Now the same Scott owns, runs, and designs Fi/Ascendant Audio subs.

 

I have owned RE up until 3 months ago. Since then I have owned Fi Q's, SSD's, BTL, and Ascendant Audio Havoc 15s.

RE hasn't had Scotts (again their original designer for which reason they became so very well known) mind and ideas put into them in the last 4ish years. I have followed Scott faithfully along with apparenty S.Meade to the Fi/AA trail. Scott does not sponsor anyone but instead passes the savings along to us, the consumers, by keeping the cost down. RE's are so much more expensive and do NOT have Scott's current technology which is now in Fi/AA subs. They are not the same and in many people's eyes are simply better at a lower cost. Nobody is switching from Fi/AA to RE! (that would be going backwards) but many have already made the switch the other way. (Sorry did I mention Steve Meade?)

 

The world record to my knowledge is approaching 160Db in BassRace. (The only sound pressure that matters IMO) This record is owned by Tommy McKinnie from Tampa FL. Some of you may know his truck as Ho Problems. I do believe Mr Ho Problems is runnin 24 RE 12" SEs ran with 12 Incriminator Audio 20.1s which put at least 900rms per sub with at least 21,600rms on all. This is the recipe for owning the top record in all of what matters in SQPL. Have you heard Tommys truck? It is crystal clear and plays every note. Scott designs some good *** subs. And he designed those years ago. You wanna beet Tommy well grab you 24 12" SSDs and put 1200 rms to each and you just might be the man!!!I also know Tommy is sponsored so for him to switch to Fi.........well .....he would have to spend alot of dough. HOWEVER make no doubt about it TOMMY IS still THE KING OF BASS!!!! Dammn Scott knows how to make a great sub. Good thing I know to follow him to Fi/AA

 

Now the really funny thing is the power Tommy has is the same as if Steve added 1 more 18 and another RF40001 (actually Steve would have more) 5 18s will not keep up with 24 12s I don't car if the excursion was a foot. Nothing beets RAW cone area. If you could put a million watts on a BTL or XXX it's still not going to sound like 24-12s much less you couldn't possibly fit all the electrical needed. Would it do a # close? I don't have a clue but we need a weather instrument that records hurricane winds to measure the real difference. The turbulent wind in Tommys truck is incredible (did I mention he has 24 12s?) and if you did have a million watts to one sub that translates to running almost 100 12s at the same power Tommy has now. Point is cone area. unless your application only lets you fit one or two subs anyone would be better off running multiple subs off of as little as 250rms each than cramming a crap load to 1-2 subs. Oh and the sound would be much better to. Can you imagine the equivalent power of running 2 12" super subs at 1 million watts total 500,000 rms each or 4,000 12" subs (Ascendant Audio Assassins) at 250 rms per. I like to think in extremes. Yes this is all impractical but hopefully enlightening. You know what could beat 24 12s in cone area? 12 18s easily. Do you know you can get a Fi SSD 18 inch sub sent to your house with your specs for 239.00 each. Where can you beat that? An SSD will MOVE off of 600rms and can take 1200 rms in the right enclosure with BP option added. Personally I prefer the copper coil option which to me gives a really clean sound. 4 18s and a Sundown 3K. Thats my build and Scott even said he would help me out by making my subs with a lil lower QTS so they would play optimally in a bandpass. Fi vs RE? To me it is not a contest. All my #s are right above but I'm not sure I have evrything about Tommys truck spot on. I've looked at my pics from his truck and this is what I came up with. I know he also has a ton of batteries. He has broken like 45 windshields so I heard and I will include the vid of him breaking his windshield last month at SBN. You wanna be king? Now you know how to do it. Put as many SSDs from Fi as you can and give em hell and remember NOTHING beats cone area no matter what anybody tells you.



Here is lil jons (not the rapper) also from Tampa 18 15s Acendant Audio Chaos w/ only 800 rms each wind machine. We need to start having barometer contests to read the air pressure. NOT SPL cuz you know whats loud 2 bums fightin' over a garbage can (and sounds better than a lot of cars I've heard)





Do you know what - The Fi SSD is very comparable to the RE SE lets take a look at the 12" model. Check the sites to confirm my #s

SSD12 RE SE 12

DUAL 1 | DUAL 2

Fs: 26.3 Hz / 25.1

Qms: 4.71 / 4.5

Qes: .49 / .49

Qts: .44 / .44

Sd:480cm^2 / 480cm^2

Vas:58.7 / 72.9

Spl:85.3dB 1W/1m / 86.1

Bl: 14.1 N/A / 17.7

Xmax: 21mm / 18

Rms: 800W / 600

Sealed box: .8-1.6 cuft / .75-1.0

Ported box: 1.8-2.5 cuft @ 33Hz/ 1.5@35hz / 2.0@33hz

Sub OD: 12.500” / 12.5

Cut ID: 11.125” / 11

Mounting depth: 6.500” / 6.5

Displacement: 0.14cuft / .15

Make of it what you will but if Scott switches companies again (He won't cuz he's doin it tha right way) I will follow him again. RE are still solid subs but If you stay with the company he left.......does that sound like the smart thing to do? I didn't and neither did S.Meade hehe. By the way in all my references to Steve I must say he does his thing and i love his site. Actually been a big motivator for me. I think he's an awesome installer and wish he wasn't so far away from FLA. Personally I do not like the way BTLs or XXXs sound to me but to each there own.

 

So many people skip over the Fi Q cuz they wanna be LOUD and the Qs are SQ specific. Guys the Qs are more sub than I ever thought I could possibly own in my lifetime. Amazing SQ and incredible output (SPL) I'll end this now with 12 Q 12s just rippin a car apart. (Also from Tampa) nothing beats cone area.

 

If any help is needed with Fi/Ascendant system applications or Bandpass designs these are my specialties. Just shoot me a PM. Joe FL (originally from Tampa where in 1991 i got sponsored after the reps heard my 418s off 250 rms each in a single reflex bandpass) I ended up with 3410s in a loaded horn. Nothing beats RAW cone area. Later

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/idea.gif.5acb6a39a9b92425414c316dda202bad.gif

 

[SHOemup233 10+ year member]

The same exact subs NO but similar YES.......................VERY. 

Scott Atwell was 1/2 owner and the designer of RE subs at its conception until 4ish years ago.

 

Now the same Scott owns, runs, and designs Fi/Ascendant Audio subs.

 

I have owned RE up until 3 months ago. Since then I have owned Fi Q's, SSD's, BTL, and Ascendant Audio Havoc 15s.

RE hasn't had Scotts (again their original designer for which reason they became so very well known) mind and ideas put into them in the last 4ish years. I have followed Scott faithfully along with apparenty S.Meade to the Fi/AA trail. Scott does not sponsor anyone but instead passes the savings along to us, the consumers, by keeping the cost down. RE's are so much more expensive and do NOT have Scott's current technology which is now in Fi/AA subs. They are not the same and in many people's eyes are simply better at a lower cost. Nobody is switching from Fi/AA to RE! (that would be going backwards) but many have already made the switch the other way. (Sorry did I mention Steve Meade?)

 

The world record to my knowledge is approaching 160Db in BassRace. (The only sound pressure that matters IMO) This record is owned by Tommy McKinnie from Tampa FL. Some of you may know his truck as Ho Problems. I do believe Mr Ho Problems is runnin 24 RE 12" SEs ran with 12 Incriminator Audio 20.1s which put at least 900rms per sub with at least 21,600rms on all. This is the recipe for owning the top record in all of what matters in SQPL. Have you heard Tommys truck? It is crystal clear and plays every note. Scott designs some good *** subs. And he designed those years ago. You wanna beet Tommy well grab you 24 12" SSDs and put 1200 rms to each and you just might be the man!!!I also know Tommy is sponsored so for him to switch to Fi.........well .....he would have to spend alot of dough. HOWEVER make no doubt about it TOMMY IS still THE KING OF BASS!!!! Dammn Scott knows how to make a great sub. Good thing I know to follow him to Fi/AA

 

Now the really funny thing is the power Tommy has is the same as if Steve added 1 more 18 and another RF40001 (actually Steve would have more) 5 18s will not keep up with 24 12s I don't car if the excursion was a foot. Nothing beets RAW cone area. If you could put a million watts on a BTL or XXX it's still not going to sound like 24-12s much less you couldn't possibly fit all the electrical needed. Would it do a # close? I don't have a clue but we need a weather instrument that records hurricane winds to measure the real difference. The turbulent wind in Tommys truck is incredible (did I mention he has 24 12s?) and if you did have a million watts to one sub that translates to running almost 100 12s at the same power Tommy has now. Point is cone area. unless your application only lets you fit one or two subs anyone would be better off running multiple subs off of as little as 250rms each than cramming a crap load to 1-2 subs. Oh and the sound would be much better to. Can you imagine the equivalent power of running 2 12" super subs at 1 million watts total 500,000 rms each or 4,000 12" subs (Ascendant Audio Assassins) at 250 rms per. I like to think in extremes. Yes this is all impractical but hopefully enlightening. You know what could beat 24 12s in cone area? 12 18s easily. Do you know you can get a Fi SSD 18 inch sub sent to your house with your specs for 239.00 each. Where can you beat that? An SSD will MOVE off of 600rms and can take 1200 rms in the right enclosure with BP option added. Personally I prefer the copper coil option which to me gives a really clean sound. 4 18s and a Sundown 3K. Thats my build and Scott even said he would help me out by making my subs with a lil lower QTS so they would play optimally in a bandpass. Fi vs RE? To me it is not a contest. All my #s are right above but I'm not sure I have evrything about Tommys truck spot on. I've looked at my pics from his truck and this is what I came up with. I know he also has a ton of batteries. He has broken like 45 windshields so I heard and I will include the vid of him breaking his windshield last month at SBN. You wanna be king? Now you know how to do it. Put as many SSDs from Fi as you can and give em hell and remember NOTHING beats cone area no matter what anybody tells you.



Here is lil jons (not the rapper) also from Tampa 18 15s Acendant Audio Chaos w/ only 800 rms each wind machine. We need to start having barometer contests to read the air pressure. NOT SPL cuz you know whats loud 2 bums fightin' over a garbage can (and sounds better than a lot of cars I've heard)





Do you know what - The Fi SSD is very comparable to the RE SE lets take a look at the 12" model. Check the sites to confirm my #s

SSD12 RE SE 12

DUAL 1 | DUAL 2

Fs: 26.3 Hz / 25.1

Qms: 4.71 / 4.5

Qes: .49 / .49

Qts: .44 / .44

Sd:480cm^2 / 480cm^2

Vas:58.7 / 72.9

Spl:85.3dB 1W/1m / 86.1

Bl: 14.1 N/A / 17.7

Xmax: 21mm / 18

Rms: 800W / 600

Sealed box: .8-1.6 cuft / .75-1.0

Ported box: 1.8-2.5 cuft @ 33Hz/ 1.5@35hz / 2.0@33hz

Sub OD: 12.500” / 12.5

Cut ID: 11.125” / 11

Mounting depth: 6.500” / 6.5

Displacement: 0.14cuft / .15

Make of it what you will but if Scott switches companies again (He won't cuz he's doin it tha right way) I will follow him again. RE are still solid subs but If you stay with the company he left.......does that sound like the smart thing to do? I didn't and neither did S.Meade hehe. By the way in all my references to Steve I must say he does his thing and i love his site. Actually been a big motivator for me. I think he's an awesome installer and wish he wasn't so far away from FLA. Personally I do not like the way BTLs or XXXs sound to me but to each there own.

 

So many people skip over the Fi Q cuz they wanna be LOUD and the Qs are SQ specific. Guys the Qs are more sub than I ever thought I could possibly own in my lifetime. Amazing SQ and incredible output (SPL) I'll end this now with 12 Q 12s just rippin a car apart. (Also from Tampa) nothing beats cone area.

 

If any help is needed with Fi/Ascendant system applications or Bandpass designs these are my specialties. Just shoot me a PM. Joe FL (originally from Tampa where in 1991 i got sponsored after the reps heard my 418s off 250 rms each in a single reflex bandpass) I ended up with 3410s in a loaded horn. Nothing beats RAW cone area. Later

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/idea.gif.5acb6a39a9b92425414c316dda202bad.gif

Holy christ man. Did you write an essay on this for a class or something? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

They're both solid subs. There is Re and FI boners. Many more have the FI one though.

 

[ronrico418 10+ year member]

Yes Both Solid but one is definately goin somewhere and the other one is goin overseas hehe. I'll go with my big stiff banana shaped Fi BONER

 

[Hawaiian 10+ year member]

Well, I haven't gotten any response in about 24 hours from Fi on some of my questions on their sub. Free shipping is great, but I don't live in the 48 - they added a couple more when someone wasn't looking.

RE SX - 209 off eBay + shipping = approx 280ish

Fi BL - 260 off the site + shipping? = 260+

Also they got a bunch of add on options on the Fi order form. Anyone make reccomendations on extras like cooling, daily/spl, p chamber, flatwind, extreme lead, universal. Seems nice that they allow customization, but then it all comes at an extra cost.

We have any dealers here, or anyone have a better idea of how to get in touch with them?

 

[Hawaiian 10+ year member]

48 hours with no response from Fi after e-mailing their website adress... Starting to lean RE just because it seems like I'll be able to order the sub when I want to

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

48 hours with no response from Fi after e-mailing their website adress... Starting to lean RE just because it seems like I'll be able to order the sub when I want to

Scott gets 1,02390482390480234 emails a day, dont expect him to be able to respond to all of them.....he does have a life......

If you order the sub it will be built and shipped, simple as that, no questions asked. But dont expect to be able to get right through in a ****ing email.

ZOMG everyone stop the world!!! No response in 48hours!!?!?!?!??!>!>!?!>?!>!?!?!?!

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

All you have to do is click the button if you want the sub....how hard is that?

 

[Hawaiian 10+ year member]

Wow, someone's defensive, and hyperbole is unnecessary.

I didn't expect Scott himself to answer my e-mail. Admittedly, I know relatively little of his company, perhaps he doesn't have anyone else working for him, a customer service department of any kind? From what I hear it's a very small company, but working with Adire a few years back I received replies on product questions very quickly - they may have been larger than Fi, but they were still a relatively small company.

And perhaps I misspoke, placing the order itself is obviously simple on the website, I merely meant so say that I would be concerned of other delays (i.e. purchase -> shipping time, warranty turn around, etc.) if it seems a company has difficulty in replying to potential-customer inquiries in a timely manner.

Thank you for the information though

EDIT: Just fyi, in case you happen to know - my questions were specifically about some of the options available on the subs as well as shipping costs to Hawaii, as the site specifically notes free shipping is limited to the 48 states (mainland). I felt approaching the company directly with this inquiry was valid in this situation and was merely disappointed that I hadn't received the information I need to make a decision on my purchase.

2xEDIT: Found the SSA forums specific for Fi. After reading here it has helped me understand the company better. Looks like a solid group of guys doing their best to produce a quality product - with this in mind, and having read the experiences of others, the delay seems understandable and I don't doubt the integrity of the company.

 

[J31Rob 5,000+ posts]

this title makes me //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif:fyi:

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

Wow, someone's defensive, and hyperbole is unnecessary.
I didn't expect Scott himself to answer my e-mail. Admittedly, I know relatively little of his company, perhaps he doesn't have anyone else working for him, a customer service department of any kind? From what I hear it's a very small company, but working with Adire a few years back I received replies on product questions very quickly - they may have been larger than Fi, but they were still a relatively small company.

And perhaps I misspoke, placing the order itself is obviously simple on the website, I merely meant so say that I would be concerned of other delays (i.e. purchase -> shipping time, warranty turn around, etc.) if it seems a company has difficulty in replying to potential-customer inquiries in a timely manner.

Thank you for the information though

EDIT: Just fyi, in case you happen to know - my questions were specifically about some of the options available on the subs as well as shipping costs to Hawaii, as the site specifically notes free shipping is limited to the 48 states (mainland). I felt approaching the company directly with this inquiry was valid in this situation and was merely disappointed that I hadn't received the information I need to make a decision on my purchase.

2xEDIT: Found the SSA forums specific for Fi. After reading here it has helped me understand the company better. Looks like a solid group of guys doing their best to produce a quality product - with this in mind, and having read the experiences of others, the delay seems understandable and I don't doubt the integrity of the company.

I understand, and yes, the company is only run by a handful. You would probably be better off trying to contact him by phone as that has been the best luck for me.

 

[ronrico418 10+ year member]

dude I told you in PM I can get you a demo in Hawaii for Fi subs and Sundown amps while your at it. You should have my # in PM. Hit me up if you lost it. joe rOd

 

[NDMstang65 10+ year member]

Wow, someone's defensive, and hyperbole is unnecessary.
I didn't expect Scott himself to answer my e-mail. Admittedly, I know relatively little of his company, perhaps he doesn't have anyone else working for him, a customer service department of any kind? From what I hear it's a very small company, but working with Adire a few years back I received replies on product questions very quickly - they may have been larger than Fi, but they were still a relatively small company.

And perhaps I misspoke, placing the order itself is obviously simple on the website, I merely meant so say that I would be concerned of other delays (i.e. purchase -> shipping time, warranty turn around, etc.) if it seems a company has difficulty in replying to potential-customer inquiries in a timely manner.

Thank you for the information though

EDIT: Just fyi, in case you happen to know - my questions were specifically about some of the options available on the subs as well as shipping costs to Hawaii, as the site specifically notes free shipping is limited to the 48 states (mainland). I felt approaching the company directly with this inquiry was valid in this situation and was merely disappointed that I hadn't received the information I need to make a decision on my purchase.

2xEDIT: Found the SSA forums specific for Fi. After reading here it has helped me understand the company better. Looks like a solid group of guys doing their best to produce a quality product - with this in mind, and having read the experiences of others, the delay seems understandable and I don't doubt the integrity of the company.

Did you email me the other day about a quote? I got one on Sunday and i remember glancing at it and i forgot to write it down and send them a quote again...

None the less..email me i'll get you taken care of!

Nick " at " ficaraudio.com

Thanks!

 

[grimreper912003 5,000+ posts]

I used to have a 18" Fi BTL and now I run a 15" RE SX/MT hybrid,and honestly the build quality on the FI felt a little better. I also like Fi being such a small company, you actuly can talk to the owner and people who know best. Re never responds to my emails, as from Fi, Iv gotten recones for my sub in about 2 weeks, from the point of mailing payment to shipped to my door, so I like Fi's CS better. Honestly both companies are great, just pick one and im sure you will be happy.

 

[Xplorer217 10+ year member]

seems like they both are pretty **** equal judging by what everyone is saying. i want a FI Q 15' but i heard that it could take up to 2-3 weeks to get to my door step and i guess i am just a little impatient when it comes to things like that. so i think i will go with the RE Sx 15' for a slight bit cheaper on ebay and hopefully it will work out for me.

 

[grimreper912003 5,000+ posts]

seems like they both are pretty **** equal judging by what everyone is saying. i want a FI Q 15' but i heard that it could take up to 2-3 weeks to get to my door step and i guess i am just a little impatient when it comes to things like that. so i think i will go with the RE Sx 15' for a slight bit cheaper on ebay and hopefully it will work out for me.

the Q will have superior SQ and will be better if you plan to run sealed.