TDX vs. "supersubs"

[macbethpoe]

how does the Diamond Audio TDX compare to some of the "supersubs" such as Brahma, xxx, ect. And just iamgina all had there right power requirements and box demensions.

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[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

I would consider a TDX to be a "supersub" - although it has some detractors here and there.

It's a nice driver...

 

[macbethpoe]

what do you mean by detractors?

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

variables that would take away from the sub's quality??

 

[stangme01 10+ year member]

TDX is a supersub

 

[-JB 10+ year member]

I have seen this argued to hell. It's a good sound quality driver that happens to get pretty loud. Some say it is definately on the super sub level, others feel it is a step below.

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

They Look Pretty!!

 

[stangme01 10+ year member]

well they have been used heavily in SPL competitions, and CA&E found it to be the loudest sub they ever tested except for the Orion H2.

 

[slick rick 10+ year member]

I heard 2 tdx 12's ported @32 off a DA 1500.1...loudest system ive ever heard. and sounded good too.

 

[analogkid]

I have seen this argued to hell. It's a good sound quality driver that happens to get pretty loud. Some say it is definately on the super sub level, others feel it is a step below.

if this is true....and it may be, why have i heard that the m6 sounds better?

 

[Warbleed 10+ year member]

well they have been used heavily in SPL competitions, and CA&E found it to be the loudest sub they ever tested except for the Orion H2.

That's funny. Mobile Entertainment also tested the TDX, it lagged behind quite a few drivers. ME's testing is a bit more thorough than is CA&E's, as well.

The TDX is a decent driver, but it is NOT as linear the Brahma, XXX, W7, or even the ID Max. It has less output than all of them as well.

It lags behind the ID Max by about 3-4dB for linear output, behind the W7 by about 4-5dB.

This coincides quite well with the differences in displacement.

People hype the TDX up, it's really nothing special at all...

This is what I posted on the subject on carsound a while back, includes all of Tom Nousaine's actual test data:

Here are the TDX 12's test numbers (All data courtesy of Tom Nousaine, both woofers measured in identical environments, with identical source material):

IN-CAR MEASUREMENTS

FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 10 to 110 Hz ±2.7 dB

AVERAGE SPL WITH TEST TONES (at 10% distortion limit): from 25 to 62 Hz, 122.7 dB; from 10 to 62 Hz, 123 dB; maximum, 127.5 dB at 40 Hz

MAXIMUM SPL WITH THREE BASS TRACKS: average, 125.0 dB; maximum, 127.3 dB (with "976-BASS" from Neurodisc’s Bass Erotica)

Here are the W7s:

In-Car Measurements

Frequency Response: 10 to 120 Hz ±1.9 dB

Average SPL With Test Tones (at 10% distortion limit): from 25 to 62 Hz, 126.1 dB; from 10 to 62 Hz, 126.7 dB; maximum, 129.9 dB at 40 Hz

Maximum SPL With Three Bass Tracks: average, 129.8 dB; maximum, 131.2 dB (with "976-BASS," from Bass Erotica's Bass Ecstacy [sic] (Neurodisc)

So flatter response with a tighter envelope, and as you can see, it pretty well slaughters the TDX across the board.

Drop the W7 down to the TDX's output levels, and it's well below 10% THD, most likely not even at 5%, in most cases.

Just to break it down:

Test Tone differences:

25-62Hz Avg: 3.4dB

10-62Hz Avg: 3.7dB

At 40Hz: 1.4dB

Music:

Avg: 4.8dB

Max: 3.9dB

As I said, the numbers speak for themselves. Pretty loudly, at that. It's not my opinion that the W7 outperforms the TDX, it's just the truth...

 

[stangme01 10+ year member]

i know its not as linear as the xxx, brahma, w7 didn't say it was. Also when it comes to SPL output box is most important. WIth the TDX in a ported box linear output isn't even much of a concern, thermal powerhandling is. And the TDX can handle quite a bit of power. I personally like it but its not anywhere near my favorite sub.

 

[Warbleed 10+ year member]

i know its not as linear as the xxx, brahma, w7 didn't say it was. Also when it comes to SPL output box is most important. WIth the TDX in a ported box linear output isn't even much of a concern, thermal powerhandling is. And the TDX can handle quite a bit of power. I personally like it but its not anywhere near my favorite sub.

Depends on if you mean SPL as bass farting in a high tuned box or SPL has in average SPL across the driver's usable bandwidth.

The former is indeed quite dependent upon vehicle and box, whereas the second, is determined almost entirely by displacement. A vented box does not make it any less revelant.

 

[bri487 5,000+ posts]

i have used tons of tdx's. i love them. i have always ran them sealed as a SQ setup with a D5 1200.1. i think they sound great, but that is just my taste.

 

[stangme01 10+ year member]

Depends on if you mean SPL as bass farting in a high tuned box or SPL has in average SPL across the driver's usable bandwidth.
The former is indeed quite dependent upon vehicle and box, whereas the second, is determined almost entirely by displacement. A vented box does not make it any less revelant.

Yes silly i know.