TC Sounds db-500 review!

95bat
10+ year member

Senior VIP Member
406
0
CA
Well I've had a lot of time to listen to the db500s now and I must say, I am impressed. I have always wanted to own a TC product and their bottom of the line db-500 did not let me down! I can only imagine what it will be like when I can afford the TC-5200 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/naughty.gif.94359f346c0f1259df8038d60b41863e.gif

On to the pics!

db1.JPG


db2.JPG


db3.JPG


Upon first look, the Assassins looked like they had a nicer cone (haha, nice cones...). I honestly can't tell a difference between the paper cones and aluminum cones.

I initially put these in a 3.4 cubic foot sealed box. The SQ was EXCELLENT, but they were lacking output. I went from 2 Assassins in a 3.4 cF ported box to the db-500 after sealing up the box and filling with 20 ounces of Polyfill and I was not happy with the output. The assassins were much louder in their ported box than these were sealed. I really wanted to hear what the SQ would be like in the sealed box and I was VERY happy, but I wanted more output.

Sooooo... I opened the port back up. Upon opening the port back up, I immediately went //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif The bass made me giggle. It made my body tingle. It made my cornhole vibrate. These speakers still have a good amount of sound quality in the ported box and, of course, the output increased A LOT. I love these things. I am not quite sure they will really take 1000 watts musically like TC says. They are on my Kenwood 9152D (900 watts RMS) and look like they're reaching full excursion with no bass boost or anything. I'm sure that amp puts out the 900 watts at 14.4 volts too and my car is normally between 13.8-14.2 so my guess is that they're getting pretty close to 400 watts a piece.

Anybody looking to purchase the db-500 for a budget system, you will NOT be disappointed. In comparison to the Assassins, I think the Assassins had a little more SQ, but the db-500 has a bit more output. They are VERY closely performing speakers though. I was incredibly happy with Assassins and still incredibly happy with the db-500. They can keep up with the bass line in older Metallica stuff and also make my entire car vibrate with a little Late Night Tip. VERY well rounded performance.

My ONLY complaint with these speakers is the poor seal they have with the box. I put these speakers in once with 4 screws holding them in and I could hear air escape from under the sub. So, I put in all 8 screws, still heard air. Finally, I took the SOB's out, put 3 layers of rope caulk, put them back in with all 8 screws, and now they're sealed tighter than a dolphins anus. Pretty minor complaint, but a problem none-the-less.

You can't go wrong with these in a budget setup! Sealed, they're an awesome SQ driver. Ported they have tons of output. Awesome subwoofers. I really can't wait to get my hands on a TC-5200 now //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 
I don't have a camera that takes vids //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

I can see if my mom will let me borrow hers... she has a nice camera, it should take vids.

 
if u want a box with decent output and still have sealed box characteristics go with a 4th order bandpass...good review non the less
80
I have a firebird, there is no trunk room to work with //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif You have to wedge a weird shaped thing resembling a box in there, but not an actual box. Anything semi-complicated won't work or fit.

 
'as tight as a dolphions anus'

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

"as tight as a gnatts chuff"

ill do you a deal on a pair of rl-ps if yu wanna step up your tc game?

 
I have a firebird, there is no trunk room to work with //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif You have to wedge a weird shaped thing resembling a box in there, but not an actual box. Anything semi-complicated won't work or fit.
fiberglass is your friend.

 
Not when I don't have a garage big enough to work in and its freezing/raining outside LOL.

The box I have now is about the biggest that will fit in the trunk of an f-body, with or without fiberglass. The only way I can get any more space is if I start removing stuff and cutting interior panels, which I'm not ready to do yet.

Either way... the subs still sound awesome //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif They do have great output and nice SQ to go along with it. I can still play Metallica and pick up all the bass notes, or play rap and set off car alarms //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 
What did you do with the Assassins? Is that a 10" or 12"? Sounds like you have alot of space, I'm trying to fit subs under my rear seats in my truck...Now thats space limited, I can't even fir the TC sub because it is too deep!

 
I sold the Assassins. The db-500s are 12s //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif My box is about 3.4 cubic feet and it is the absolute most room I have without cutting stuff up.

My uncle puts Kicker CVRs under those trucks all the time. He's done L7s in trucks too.

 
Activity
No one is currently typing a reply...
Old Thread: Please note, there have been no replies in this thread for over 3 years!
Content in this thread may no longer be relevant.
Perhaps it would be better to start a new thread instead.

About this thread

95bat

10+ year member
Senior VIP Member
Thread starter
95bat
Joined
Location
CA
Start date
Participants
Who Replied
Replies
10
Views
1,278
Last reply date
Last reply from
95bat
1778578257023.png

Glen Rodgers

    May 12, 2026
  • 0
  • 0
Screenshot_20260511_212804_Amazon Shopping.jpg

Blackout67

    May 11, 2026
  • 0
  • 0

New threads

Top