Some pics of my Mag 12" sub install and mini-review

[bamaster 10+ year member]

I posted this on DIYMA already, but I thought I'd share here as well.

Here's the original install, for some before pics:

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=371780

I had two JL Audio 8W7's replaced by one Stereo Integrity Mag 12" subwoofer. Picked up my car and am very pleased with the installer's work.

The reason I did this was so that I could use my trunk again. The Mag only needed 1cf and has a shallow depth of 5.5". Perfect specs. My only problem is that my Sundown SAX-125.2 amp only puts out 400w. I want at least 600w for this sub.

Here's the pics. The one below just gives some perspective of the size of the box and the size of the trunk.

Here's another shot of the box. Looks like a really nice fit against the rear of the trunk.

This is the back of the amp rack. A tight fit... no squeeks!

The amp rack after the seats are folded down. I had three of these amps and they were double stacked. This looks much better to me and gave me a little more depth in the trunk.

As for the sound, the Mag is the cleanest, least boomiest, sub I've ever heard. The two 8W7's are much louder, but of course each one of them had over 400w feeding them, so there should be more output.

Granted I only have an hour of listening time on the Mag. No break-in yet. I expect that this will get slightly louder with a little time.

Interestingly, my front stage sounds different. It's as if there is more definition up stage. I don't know if that is accurate, but just perception since the Mag is less overpowering.

Listening to Lil Wayne, the 8W7's sounded better. Much more bass in the Mrs. Officer track. Listening to Nine Inch Nails, the Mag sounds better. The Mag really likes that style and had lots of output.

Rock sounds better with the Mag than the 8W7's. White Zombie, Kid Rock, Nickleback... sounded more balanced. The bass didn't sound like it was coming from the back of the car. Not sure if that's "transparency" or not, but I like it.

My initial impression is that I need more power. Someone got a SAZ-1000D they want to give me in trade for two SAX-125.2? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Thoughts?

Click to read more...

 

[timaishu 10+ year member]

Dont you lose a bit of output with the trunk sealed off from the front with that false wall?

If I leave the seats up, I notice a real big difference.

 

[DEdwards 10+ year member]

If you arn't using them lose the rear deck speakers.....you should gain alittle bit of output if you leave them open....quasi-bandpass!!

 

[James Bang 5,000+ posts]

If you arn't using them lose the rear deck speakers.....you should gain alittle bit of output if you leave them open....quasi-bandpass!!

if he is using them, he should still lose them //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[DEdwards 10+ year member]

if he is using them, he should still lose them //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

true...true

 

[JL Audio 5,000+ posts]

i'm sure that 125.2 puts out more than 400... my 100.2s were a little underated.

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

Nice clean install.

I would say it should sound fine off 400rms as they as supposed to be so effecient, but I am sure off a 1000rms it would wang chung tonight! I don't think they recommend anything over 1000rms though, so be careful if you get a Sundown 1k.

 

[bamaster 10+ year member]

also if im reading this right- you like the mag because its not as loud as your 8w7's? ever think of turning them down?

No, I'm not saying that. I meant to say that the 8W7's have more output, particularly with some rap tracks, and can be overpowering. I had them pulled back through the head unit a tad. I want more output with the Mag, though.

So far... and it is still too early for a legit review... I think the sound of the Mag is much cleaner. With similar levels, the Mag is still "a part" of the music, whereas the 8W7's were dominating. The Mag has changed my definition of what SQ is.

I don't listen to enough systems or have enough experimental configs in my car to understand why. I'm sure some of the guys here have heard more setups in their car than me.

My opinion may change when I swap out the amp to the Mag.

Nice clean install.
I would say it should sound fine off 400rms as they as supposed to be so effecient, but I am sure off a 1000rms it would wang chung tonight! I don't think they recommend anything over 1000rms though, so be careful if you get a Sundown 1k.

Here's the rub. I have a modified Mustang. It's loud and I drive with my windows down a lot. So I kinda need a system that I can turn up. And the bass is the first thing to go out the window when I roll them down. Parked, the Mag is beautiful. At 70mph with the windows down it's hard to hear.

I'll buy the SAZ-1000D and be done with it. I like to wang chung. It's nice to know I can unskinny bopbop when I need it. I can always pull back the output from the head unit.

Thanks for the feedback guys!

 

[DEdwards 10+ year member]

The Mag has changed my definition of what SQ is.

A sub plays a VERY small part of a TRUE SQ system....//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Hoodlum007 10+ year member]

That is a clean install. Thanks for the pics. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[bamaster 10+ year member]

A sub plays a VERY small part of a TRUE SQ system....//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Fo sho. But an overpowered low end can ruin SQ as easily as a weak low end, would you agree.

For my personal tastes, though, I like midbass. I love drums. Here's the song that I tested my components with. And the ID's are fantastic. But I'm thinking I should have went with a three way system.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSO8fzWob3A

Maybe next round I'll revisit my front stage completely with a 3-way.

 

[DEdwards 10+ year member]

When I piece together a system...the sub is one of,if not the last, things I care about.

And yes an overpowering subwoofer can ruin ANY system IMO.

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

No, I'm not saying that. I meant to say that the 8W7's have more output, particularly with some rap tracks, and can be overpowering. I had them pulled back through the head unit a tad. I want more output with the Mag, though.
So far... and it is still too early for a legit review... I think the sound of the Mag is much cleaner. With similar levels, the Mag is still "a part" of the music, whereas the 8W7's were dominating. The Mag has changed my definition of what SQ is.

I don't listen to enough systems or have enough experimental configs in my car to understand why. I'm sure some of the guys here have heard more setups in their car than me.

My opinion may change when I swap out the amp to the Mag.

Here's the rub. I have a modified Mustang. It's loud and I drive with my windows down a lot. So I kinda need a system that I can turn up. And the bass is the first thing to go out the window when I roll them down. Parked, the Mag is beautiful. At 70mph with the windows down it's hard to hear.

I'll buy the SAZ-1000D and be done with it. I like to wang chung. It's nice to know I can unskinny bopbop when I need it. I can always pull back the output from the head unit.

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Sounds to me honestly you should have went a different route with sub choice. Don't get me wrong, I am sure the new mag sounds wonderful, but I have heard from a few it don't get loud enough for them.

I always wanted to get one, but I am more a basshead........well not SPL, but SQL I guess and I got such a good deal on the subs I have now that I opted for them instead of a mag, because I need to beat once in awhile......I am sure once you get a bigger amp, you might be happy, if not, then you know you are more a basshead than you thought. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

I loved the older Mags, the v3........hell even the claws sounded wonderful and got loud as hell!

 

[sundownz Pro Seller]

I was listening to Nick's Lexus the other day and I am still quite impressed with what the Mags can do //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

They may not be suited to those with a touch of bass-head in them - but for a system where the idea is for the sub to disappear and be part of the music they are awesome. If I could fit one in my Jeep somewhere I'd use it for daily driving around and turn my big ol' subs off most of the time. Don't get me wrong... they have some output to them - Nick's pair metered a 137 with the gain knobs still turned down pretty far out of the trunk of his Lexus. But they aren't 150 dB monsters!

PS: If you aren't already using it - turn the gain up a hair on the 125.2 and use the remote bass knob to tame it down when you want it to blend. They are surprisingly strong amps.

 

[nauc 10+ year member]

looks nice and clean!

i highly recommend you take out the rear speakers to let the bass vent into the cabin