[REVIEW] Audioque HDC3-A 15's // AQ 2200D's

[silenkiller 10+ year member]

Alright gents. Been jamming my new setup long enough now and I thought I'd rep up AQ and give a little review.

My previous setup was two 13 inch JL W6V2's on a JL 1000/1v2.

Obviously I was concerned about lack of SQ, but I wanted to get louder (don't we all? =P )

So, I decided to pull the trigger and go with two AQ HDC3-A 15's and two AQ 2220d's.

First off, if your going to go from 1kw to 4kw, expect a lot of electrical upgrades. I was hesitant to go this route because I wasn't sure I wanted to drop the extra money on electricity.

I ended up grabbing a Mechman H.O. Alt for my 1999 Grand AM SE from mechman - a C nD technology huge *** batt from whatshisname on here, a stinger 500amp isolator, various knu wire/fuses, shit ton of MDF and vola, we have NO DIMMING at 4kw full tilt.

On with the review:

These subs are incredible for their price. Honestly they are easily twice as loud as my previous setup. Are they as clean as the JL's? hell yes. Are they as responsive? The ONLY thing I've noticed where they seemed a little muddy/slow/whatever/off was on some very quick kickdrum lines on some metal/rock. It isn't THAT noticeable really though. They get incredibly low. I'm tuned to 35 hz and I feel frequencies in my chest that I could barely hear on the JL's.

Honestly unless you are a HARDCORE sq guy, I doubt you will be disappointed. The subs are crazy loud. This is enough to where on certain frequencies I have to wear ear plugs or my ear drums start to hurt pretty bad.

Make sure you have the right vol. These subs NEED a big *** box. I'm running 8.7 cubes after disp. with 3 six inch flared ports.

The amps are sick. They look beautiful. Controls are simple and straight forward. They strap easily and work well. Get a bit warm but no thermal issues in my trunk. They are pretty efficient too, like I said, no dimming.

Also comes with a lovely remote knob with a clipping indicator. Don't really even need to set gains when you are using this sucker. Just watch for the clip light to blink.

All and all, I'd incredibly satisfied with this purchase. Just be warned that there is a shit ton more work that goes into going from 1kw to a 4kw daily driver.

Shipping was quick and packaging was excellent and very durable. Gave em a call to ask a question about some impedance and the guy who answered was very nice.

CLIFFS:

• AQ is the best bang for the buck out there IMO.
  
• Unless ur a crazy SQ guy, you wont be disappointed. (I came from JL W6's and can't really tell much of a difference on most music)
  
• Subs hit all notes with much authority, esp. low ones. Based on box/tuning.
  
• Good customer service/shipping.
  

Click to read more...

 

[dadydolas 10+ year member]

Nice review man, thanks

 

[mazda6i07 10+ year member]

I have to agree with everything you stated. I love my hdc315's.

 

[BigJoker 10+ year member]

do you plan on throwing more power at them?

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

Same way I feel about my AQ's, WAY cleaner then 99% of the stuff I've heard and unless your an SQ nut they'll play everything you throw at them.

I prefer to tune higher, especially if you listen to a lot of rock/metal as 38-42Hz sounds even better for that type of music. If you have the ability to cut back 31.5/50Hz via EQ they'll sound even better.

Also throw a couple of 3500's at them and you'll be even louder //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[silenkiller 10+ year member]

Heh. I've thought of going more juice someday, but I'm happy right now where I am. Not sure if I want to risk blowing/more electrical.

This is all in a grand am. Sucker can barely climb hills as it is now lol

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

Heh. I've thought of going more juice someday, but I'm happy right now where I am. Not sure if I want to risk blowing/more electrical.
This is all in a grand am. Sucker can barely climb hills as it is now lol

I have 4 15's, 4 3500's, and 8 Deka batts in an Altima and I can climb hills....just very slowly //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

Had it doing 105mph the other day chasing some of the other DOA fools on the way to a show //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif

 

[BigJoker 10+ year member]

I have 4 15's, 4 3500's, and 8 Deka batts in an Altima and I can climb hills....just very slowly //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif
Had it doing 105mph the other day chasing some of the other DOA fools on the way to a show //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif

 

[DNick454 10+ year member]

I have 4 15's, 4 3500's, and 8 Deka batts in an Altima and I can climb hills....just very slowly //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif
Had it doing 105mph the other day chasing some of the other DOA fools on the way to a show //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif

I was doin 135 with my system and a buddy in the car with me and the A/C running. F23A1 is a gutsy 4 cylinder.

Cop pulled me over not too long after though... 101 in a 55. He was actually a really cool guy and instead of being an *******, I just reasoned with him and acknowledged that I was being a ****ing retard and he dropped it to 70 in a 55... my luckiest break, ever.

 

[silenkiller 10+ year member]

I have 4 15's, 4 3500's, and 8 Deka batts in an Altima and I can climb hills....just very slowly //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif
Had it doing 105mph the other day chasing some of the other DOA fools on the way to a show //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif

sweet jesus. 12kw o.o //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/greedy.gif.5a53e6246569d7ab79867170f3b06629.gif

 

[sabor 10+ year member]

I switched from 2 12" L5's and a 1600.2 MMATS amp to 2 12" HDC3's pushed by a AQ3500 (thanks to mlstras' advice and help). Unbelievable difference. I can feel the low's in my chest and the whole car vibrates. The HDC3's are still loosening up and seem louder and lower every day. The box is tuned at 38 hz (another mlstras creation), and it sounds beautiful. All I need now is to get rid of my back seat. (but my wife will KILL me, she already thinks I'm nuts.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

I switched from 2 12" L5's and a 1600.2 MMATS amp to 2 12" HDC3's pushed by a AQ3500 (thanks to mlstras' advice and help). Unbelievable difference. I can feel the low's in my chest and the whole car vibrates. The HDC3's are still loosening up and seem louder and lower every day. The box is tuned at 38 hz (another mlstras creation), and it sounds beautiful. All I need now is to get rid of my back seat. (but my wife will KILL me, she already thinks I'm nuts.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif

you do have the car audio sickness, so when we installing the fold down rear seat //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[sabor 10+ year member]

you do have the car audio sickness, so when we installing the fold down rear seat //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

Your right, I'm hooked. I'm searching the internet now for fold downs, I'll be heading to the scrap yards soon

 

[SomeGuyDude 10+ year member]

I was doin 135 with my system and a buddy in the car with me and the A/C running. F23A1 is a gutsy 4 cylinder.
Cop pulled me over not too long after though... 101 in a 55. He was actually a really cool guy and instead of being an *******, I just reasoned with him and acknowledged that I was being a ****ing retard and he dropped it to 70 in a 55... my luckiest break, ever.

I managed to get 80 in a 45 dropped to "failure to obey a posted sign" because I acknowledged that I was speeding and somehow didn't see the limit change. If you don't deny how fast you were going and don't act like the cop's a jerk, you can usually get the penalty dropped.