Sundown, Image Dynamics etc...

[destined2race 10+ year member]

So ive been doing more research lately on products like sundown, image, aq etc... since alot of people trash jl and harp these companies. Im going to do a new install soon and thought of trying one of these brands out. Tonight brought me to a great point on why ive stuck by JL for over 15 years:

One thing i dont like personally is that the only sundown dealer shown near me is at least an hour or two away and its some truck repair shop or sumn lol. i like to know i can go up the street to the guys i know if i have any problems and take care of it.

I have and do buy/sell/trade stuff online and i know alot of the time it works out fine. But you take the chance of shipping crap, lack of customer service response, etc

Now to Image Dynamics. Just tried to go to there website and its just txt saying the founder is leaving the company and other sources say they might go out of business..........

BEFORE THE HATER FEEDBACK: again as stated ive been considering giving one of the brands a go, but tonight has kinda pushed me back from that. I was reading feedback on another thread in sub reviews on one of the smaller companies that youd have to ship from and heard multiple negatives on poor response/communication.

Maybe it just ***** i live in wisconsin and thers not crap here. i do like the guys at the shop i go to tho, ive shopped there for 15 years and they treat me that way. We do have other carriers like orion, memphis, eclipse and all the regular stuff like alpine, rockford, kicker blah blah but dont want none of that.

Click to read more...

 

[Wingman0121 10+ year member]

People bash on JL mainly because of their prices vs. performance standpoint(they're expensive), JL makes good stuff and I had good results from their w0 line of subs. I've seen their amps in action and they also performed well. A thing about JL stuff is that their resale value is quite good and people gobble them up on eBay.

Their w7 subs have the tendency to form cracks in their foam surrounds after a couple of years of heavy use, the newer w7 looks like it has something different but I'm not sure.

 

[Bumpin' Goalie 10+ year member]

Car audio is a hobby that appeals to a mass demographic of people who want the world, and they want it for cheap. Thus internet companies get a lot of hype built up around them, and fads form. Many times, the internet company will make a equal product for less than the big company's prices.

However, there is also something to be said about the stability of some of the car audio giants. JL and Alpine, for instance, are doing alright on the technological curve, and offering decent warranty ability. However, you do pay for the name and the reputation that they have earned and gathered over time.

 

[TIG 10+ year member]

JL FTW although I have a dc xl and aq amp I still love JL. If their prices were better I would have some w6's.

 

[destined2race 10+ year member]

ya i see all the reasons people say they dont like JL and hear what your saying. but you didnt get much to my post. I wasnt just tryin to trash the other brands(which i mentioned), just giving some examples of what people see (who dont have the product)when doing research. when people on here put down jl and say its a waste of money they always say brands like a few i mentioned... after doing research to consider purchasing those brands i came up with a closed website, no dealer in site, and having to order them. Which means if one is flawed, damaged, blows i have to pay shipping/deal with long distance customer service.

I think sometimes people forget about other stuff that goes into the pricing. Take the same old same old comparison.... cars.

I know people always say i can get more for less, or whatever. Ive always gotten killer deals on JL so maybe im on the outside there. But alot of it is personal preference either way you wanna put it. Everyone hears different, and everyone has different experiences with different manufacturers. A corvette ZR1 can take some lambos in a lot of areas for 100k less... so noone on the planet should ever consider a lambo right? those trashers forget every part of a lambo is hand built, carbon fiber, and all the other non-cheap parts and prestige that goes with it.

im getting into the jl arguement again here... not why i made this thread. I was trying to show that altho prices may be higher than some other good products people buy it because there getting a good product, a company thats proved itself for over 25 years and puts alot of R&D into there products.

 

[destined2race 10+ year member]

sorry my last post was to wingman there, thanks for posting i just wanted to reiterate that im not trashing the other brands people say alot like DD, ID, AQ, Sundown... im interested in giving them a go, just my research tonight on the service aspect didnt turn out too hot

 

[Bumpin' Goalie 10+ year member]

sorry my last post was to wingman there, thanks for posting i just wanted to reiterate that im not trashing the other brands people say alot like DD, ID, AQ, Sundown... im interested in giving them a go, just my research tonight on the service aspect didnt turn out too hot

The car audio world is just like most other markets. Small businesses are hit or miss with service. There are some that treat their customers like royalty and will do what they can to keep customers happy and satisfied. Others just want the initial purchase and not the return customer. A good product makes money, customer service makes business.

As for Image Dynamics, the ex-owner is highly respected. Many people have vowed to leave ID and follow him due to his credibility.

Here's the read:

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/industry-shop-talk/100680-no-longer-image-dynamics.html

 

[MisterDeadeye 10+ year member]

Well, the owners of Image Dynamics had some sort of a falling out, but you can still buy their stuff from eBay and the like.

The owner of Sundown is a member here, so when you have a problem you don't even have to leave the house.

I don't know about Audioque, really.

 

[MisterDeadeye 10+ year member]

Well, the owners of Image Dynamics had some sort of a falling out, but you can still buy their stuff from eBay and the like.

The owner of Sundown is a member here, so when you have a problem you don't even have to leave the house.

I don't know about Audioque, really.

 

[destined2race 10+ year member]

k so let me get back to my original goal. What would you guys recommend for me to go with on a 500/1, would like a pair of 12s or better. im sure you know, 500w rms at 1.5ohm - 4ohm. i was gonna put in my 2 13.5w1v2s but if you can give me a better setup on that amp im game to try something new.

 

[destined2race 10+ year member]

and thanks again guys for the great replys

 

[MisterDeadeye 10+ year member]

Maybe you could get a couple of SSA Dcons. I don't know if they're better in sealed or ported, but they're known for great musical reproduction.

 

[Bumpin' Goalie 10+ year member]

Maybe you could get a couple of SSA Dcons. I don't know if they're better in sealed or ported, but they're known for great musical reproduction.

This is a good idea to look into.

 

[Ninesvnsicks 10+ year member]

Well, the owners of Image Dynamics had some sort of a falling out, but you can still buy their stuff from eBay and the like.
The owner of Sundown is a member here, so when you have a problem you don't even have to leave the house.

I don't know about Audioque, really.

I just ordered an AudioQue AQ1200D and a couple of Sundown SA-12's I can't wait to hear them hopefully i will be able to let everyone know what i think of them soon //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif I didn't know the owner of Sundown was a member on this forum that is very nice to know.

 

[Ninesvnsicks 10+ year member]

Well they are installed they get pretty loud but I have yet to really test them out kindof want to break them in a little first. They are doing nice with the lows I'm having a little problem with some type of lag on certain songs mainly techno. They are handling rap and hip hop amazingly tho. Haven't tested rock that much yet.