Sundown Audio SA-8 V2's vs Digital Designs 2508's

[Trancer 10+ year member]

No love for the Atomic 8? 1k rms. Aluminum coil. And the only OTHER single 8 I've seen do a 150. And in a dang 5 gallon bucket for that matter. Lol. (search my username on YouTube) Also just did a 175.2db in port wars with that sub.
Here's my take on it and I've used just about all of the 8's other than the 2508 (although I have used the 1508)... The SA8 is king of the hill until someone knocks it off. The fact that the v.2's can take more, get lower, are cheaper and are just down right beastly make it a pretty easy decision. The fact that they like a smalller box just makes them all the more attractive. To me anyway.

Just to quantify it for you... I've done 150 with a single Atomic 8 (175+ in port wars on 5k). 153.8 with (4) SA8's. 154.6 with (6) SA8's. These are SPL apps. In my daily, I did a 4th order armrest blowthrough in my Lexus for (4) SA8's on ~ 3k and could do 148's all day at 35hz.

atomic 8 has the sexiest 8 motor EVARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Thanks for bringing up the Atomic 8. I totally forgot about that sub. Do they still sell those? I might have to consider those, if I can find them. I assume you are talking about the Atomic Apocalypse 8" subwoofer, correct? What kind of ported boxes do they like and what kind of power do they like for a daily driver?

I should be able to post my thoughts on the skar vvx8s soon. Going to be running 4. I've ran sa8,dd 1508,old AA 8s and probably more that I can't remember..lol so I have a little bit to compare to and give a general idea of what I liked best in my application.

Oh man, please do post your thoughts. I could really use your thoughts on the VVX-8, SA-8, 1508, and the Atomic Apocalypse 8's. Thats pretty cool that you have already ran 3 of the 4 subs I am considering. Well 3 of the 5 if you consider the SA-8 V2.

I REALLY think if you did a full write up review on all of those subs, did a comparison, gave your opinions, with full specs, there would be TONS of interest in people wanting to know that. Not everyone gets to have the chance to run all of those 8's. Alot of people run into the same delima on which ones to run.

 

[Trancer 10+ year member]

The SA-8 v.2 in stock format is heavily optimized for 35 hz on down -- if you are comparing it to a 2508 at higher frequencies it's not the sub for you. We can adjust it and custom build for those applications if desired, though, as we will have motors, baskets, parts, and coils in stock to make them as such.
I will have a "moderately" SPL tuned version in stock in low quantities at first -- and may later on stock a fully made "SPL" version of the woofer for those so inclined.

So what you are trying to say is that it will work well for 35 hz on down, but anything in the 40-63hz is not going to do well? I know that the Version 2's were highly upgraded in the bottom end.

Im looking for something that is going to sound good overall. Its going to be a daily driver setup and be tuned at 30hz. Id like it to be musical. Im not taking this truck to car audio competitions. My dealer is suppose to contact you guys today about me ordering 4 of them today, so I need to tell him that I might have to hold off if this is the case on calling you guys. He is an authorized dealer through you all.

I really wish I could afford the 2508's, but the only way I see me getting my hands on them is if I found some used ones, although they have great resale value, Im able to get 4 cu ft out of my box, or if I am not able to get 4 cu ft, then I would need to run 3.

So I dont know what to do at this point.

Everyone is saying all DD 8's need 1 cu ft each.

So Its down to running 4 of the following

SA-8

SA-8 V2 (Depending on your response)

Skarr Audio VVX-8

Alpine Type R 8's

 

[sundownz Pro Seller]

There really isn't anything out there that compares to the SA-8 v.2 in terms of clean / high output with great low-end extension in a small vented box. I am not saying there is no output up higher at all -- only that the other woofers frequency response is stronger in those areas due to their respective resonant frequencies and suspension designs.

The v.2 was up 2 dB @ 30 Hz vs. the v1 SA-8 model and roughly on par above 35 Hz -- but for SPL burping is not going to be a great choice in it's stock form. Based on what you are saying about tuning the 30 Hz the SA-8 v.2 will be awesome for you.

 

[Trancer 10+ year member]

There really isn't anything out there that compares to the SA-8 v.2 in terms of clean / high output with great low-end extension in a small vented box. I am not saying there is no output up higher at all -- only that the other woofers frequency response is stronger in those areas due to their respective resonant frequencies and suspension designs.
The v.2 was up 2 dB @ 30 Hz vs. the v1 SA-8 model and roughly on par above 35 Hz -- but for SPL burping is not going to be a great choice in it's stock form. Based on what you are saying about tuning the 30 Hz the SA-8 v.2 will be awesome for you.

Thank you for clearing that up for me.

I know you mentioned that you can custom make a V2 for different applications. Can you make the V2 for what I am looking for? More of a flat response, but still maintain that great bottom end I am looking for? I want it to definately hit the bottom end like mad crazy, but would like to have some top end up to 63hz range.

Like I said, Im not into doing any burps, doing SPL competitions, or anything like that. This is for a daily driver setup and I am looking for some Sound Quality throughout the frequency range, but still kill on the bottom end.

Let me know what you think.

Chet, (cwill5), from McKinney, TX, was suppose to call you yesterday, but he got hung up doing an install on a customer's boat. He said he is going to contact you today. He is contacting you for 4 SA-8 V2's for me. So when you finally get to speaking with him, he is calling you to order two V2's for me.

 

[sundownz Pro Seller]

In our test the response was pretty flat to around 70 or so -- what I'm getting at is it just doesn't peak well up there when pushed into a burp //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif The suspension is too linear to peak up that high with such a low at-rest FS.

We were +/- 3 dB actual measured in car from 30 - 70 Hz in Sean's CRX test box on power levels up to ~600 actual clamped watts.