Sundown E8V3D2 (8" 300w) vs Soundstream R3.8 (8" 500w)

[ezarc 10+ year member]

I have both of these subs new in the box and I'm not sure which one I should keep and which one I should sell, preferably I don't want to test both and then have to sell one as used for next to nothing.

The sub will be going in a 1ft cubed box tuned to 38hz.

While I like the looks of the Sundown better the Soundstream with 500w RMS looks better on paper.

The amp powering it will be a Orion XTR 5001 (500w RMS at 1 Ohm)

Just after some other opinions on what you guys would go with and why?

Cheers.

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[Massive spl]

The sundown e will handle that 500.1 amp fine.. Run it!

 

[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

38Hz is too high imo....

Typical 35Hz is highest I'd go for daily.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

38Hz is too high imo....
Typical 35Hz is highest I'd go for daily.

Depends on music choice. You got some people that dont like lows. Yeah they do exist lol.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

I have both of these subs new in the box and I'm not sure which one I should keep and which one I should sell, preferably I don't want to test both and then have to sell one as used for next to nothing.
The sub will be going in a 1ft cubed box tuned to 38hz.

While I like the looks of the Sundown better the Soundstream with 500w RMS looks better on paper.

The amp powering it will be a Orion XTR 5001 (500w RMS at 1 Ohm)

Just after some other opinions on what you guys would go with and why?

Cheers.

simple, the soundstream has **** poor sensitivity, less x max, weaker voice coil. Overall a below average sub. The 500 rms rating is a dream that relies on box rise. A higher RMS doesnt mean louder.

 

[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

Depends on music choice. You got some people that dont like lows. Yeah they do exist lol.

Well true...just throwing that out there. I myself would prefer to have a sub to play low if it's meant/made to do so than not at all.

It could sound a little better too if that person prefers not to have low low bass.

 

[ezarc 10+ year member]

Thanks everyone so far.

I'll probably go with the Sundown after reading the replies.

38Hz is too high imo....
Typical 35Hz is highest I'd go for daily.

I wanted 35Hz myself but when I got a quote for a custom box it was over $350 (from a place that advertises they are they cheapest in Australia) and that was without carpet or any other of the options available so I went for a prefab box.

Maybe at some stage I might make my own box but I tried with a online tool they didn't have the same thickenss MDF (our MDF is measured in millimetres) and when manually converted from inches to centimetres all the measurements come out wacky. I do have a cordless drill and cordless jigsaw but I didn't want to take a gamble on building a box and getting it wrong with the measurements and tuning.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Thanks everyone so far.
I'll probably go with the Sundown after reading the replies.

I wanted 35Hz myself but when I got a quote for a custom box it was over $350 (from a place that advertises they are they cheapest in Australia) and that was without carpet or any other of the options available so I went for a prefab box.

Maybe at some stage I might make my own box but I tried with a online tool they didn't have the same thickenss MDF (our MDF is measured in millimetres) and when manually converted from inches to centimetres all the measurements come out wacky. I do have a cordless drill and cordless jigsaw but I didn't want to take a gamble on building a box and getting it wrong with the measurements and tuning.

yo, thats a rip off lol. Try building your own, buy the wood at the hardware store, have the guys cut it, take it home, glue and screw.

If you want something simple i can design you a round port box. Basically just a cube and two holes, one for the sub and the other for the port, very simple and very hard to mess up. DONT SPEND THAT 350, thats BULLLsh*T

 

[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

yo, thats a rip off lol. Try building your own, buy the wood at the hardware store, have the guys cut it, take it home, glue and screw.
If you want something simple i can design you a round port box. Basically just a cube and two holes, one for the sub and the other for the port, very simple and very hard to mess up. DONT SPEND THAT 350, thats BULLLsh*T

Yo Jeff....did ya see the OP is in Austrailia? Things might be more expensive there than the states.

I agree tho....350 bux for a small 8 box is a ripoff. Think it costed me nothing to build mine. I had leftover mdf to build my 8" sub enclosure.

Might I suggest some birch...lighter than MDF yet stronger but more $$.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Yo Jeff....did ya see the OP is in Austrailia? Things might be more expensive there than the states.
I agree tho....350 bux for a small 8 box is a ripoff. Think it costed me nothing to build mine. I had leftover mdf to build my 8" sub enclosure.

Might I suggest some birch...lighter than MDF yet stronger but more $$.

I dont think wood is that much marked up. I mean... the most should be 150 AUD for a 120cm x 240cm (around 48 x 96) sheet of mdf/ply/whatever he can get. If its more than that, might be better to look for craigslist curb alert free wooden tables and furniture and chop it up for wood.

 

[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

Ya dunno how much wood is over there.....HD, Lowes?

 

[ezarc 10+ year member]

2400 x 1200 x 18mm MDF Standard Panel | Bunnings Warehouse

$31.99 for the MDF above, we don't really get birch here unless its imported from the US and its really expencive.

We do have structural pine plywood readily available but I'm not sure if its good for making boxes, its also double the price:

Structural CD Plywood 2400 x 1200mm 17mm | Bunnings Warehouse

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

2400 x 1200 x 18mm MDF Standard Panel | Bunnings Warehouse$31.99 for the MDF above, we don't really get birch here unless its imported from the US and its really expencive.

We do have structural pine plywood readily available but I'm not sure if its good for making boxes, its also double the price:

Structural CD Plywood 2400 x 1200mm 17mm | Bunnings Warehouse

You'd have to see how many layers that plywood has, If it has more than 10 layers, preferably 13 then go for it if weight is a big issue for you. If not, then definitely stick to mdf. The box wont be that heavy since we arent going slot port with it.

 

[ezarc 10+ year member]

Pretty sure it would be 5-7 ply from memory, I've checked it out before a while back.

Weight isn't really a issue, its just going in a daily for now.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Pretty sure it would be 5-7 ply from memory, I've checked it out before a while back.
Weight isn't really a issue, its just going in a daily for now.

Mdf for sure. Yeah definitely build your own boxes. I'll say it again. 350$ is a complete rip off. You can use that for loads of experimental boxes to get the loudest and best sounding box possible too if you want to compete in audio comps. Since you can build at least two off one sheet of wood.