Replace old sub or add a second?

[venoxcide]

Hi all,

I've had my setup for about two months now and I'm already looking to add some upgrades/make some changes.

Currently I have a 12" Pioneer Champ TS-W304R 300W RMS subwoofer. It sounds great but since I've replaced all front and rear dash speakers with higher quality Kickers, they easily overpower the subwoofer at louder volumes.

So my question is, what would produce more output, adding a second Pioneer, which would bring me to 600W RMS of bass, or replace my existing Pioneer with one of these:

|- DC Audio Level 3 12D2 - 900W RMS

|- Sundown SA-12 D2 - 600W RMS

|- PSi 12" Platform 1 High Performance - 1000W RMS

The reason I ask is because I know having two subs will give me more cone surface area but I'm not too sure if a single sub with a higher RMS rating could provide a noticeably louder output than two subs of a lower RMS.

I know doing either upgrade will require me to either change my existing amp or add a second one, so power isn't going to be an issue. Will be changing my battery and doing the big three as well.

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[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

single sub with a proper custom ported box and proper power should give you the output you want. whats your amp right now?

 

[venoxcide]

The amp is a Pioneer GM-D8604, and the sub is on a bridged channel for the 300W RMS.

Like I said, doing either in my case I'll have to either change the amp or add a second one.

I'll probably keep this 4 channel for my front/rear speakers and buy a proper mono or two channel for the sub(s) depending on what I go with.

 

[dbjunior 10+ year member]

If worried about cone area why not get a single 15. Before upgrading sub setup what is the box specs of your current setup. The box is the most important part to good and loud output

 

[venoxcide]

The current box I'm using is from Crutchfield. HxWxD = 14x18x15 = 1.6 cubic feet.

Definitely going to get a custom box done for the new setup.

And I'm not sure I'll be able to fit a single 15 with a proper box in my trunk. It's pretty small.

The current box as it is almost touches the top of the trunk.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

The current box I'm using is from Crutchfield. HxWxD = 14x18x15 = 1.6 cubic feet.
Definitely going to get a custom box done for the new setup.

And I'm not sure I'll be able to fit a single 15 with a proper box in my trunk. It's pretty small.

The current box as it is almost touches the top of the trunk.

you might not even fit another 12. Just get one beefy 12 and a proper monoblock amp. Put that pioneer amp to your speakers. Dont use 2 channel or 4 channel amps for subwoofers in a ported box, they do not have proper subsonic filters.

 

[venoxcide]

Between the Sundown SA-12 and the DC Audio sub, which would you recommend and what would be a good amp with the proper filters for them?

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Between the Sundown SA-12 and the DC Audio sub, which would you recommend and what would be a good amp with the proper filters for them?

need a budget for the amp. Either sub is fine.

 

[venoxcide]

I'd prefer $200-$250 and under but I can go a bit higher if need be. I just want the most potential out of whichever sub I decide on getting.

I've heard both the Sundown and the DC Audio can take some serious pounding.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

I'd prefer $200-$250 and under but I can go a bit higher if need be. I just want the most potential out of whichever sub I decide on getting.
I've heard both the Sundown and the DC Audio can take some serious pounding.

I got a hifonics brx 2400 for sale for 210 shipped. You can get a D4 and run it at 2 ohms so its not taxing on your electrical system and keep the gains low. Opens up upgrade paths in the future if you ever wanna go bigger.

If not, i'd recommend getting something from dc, soundqubed, sundown etc from the classifieds.