Thinking about re-foaming my old school JL w6v1... is it worth it?

[joelx21 10+ year member]

Several days ago, I got a brand new Alpine type 3 1043D sub in my 2000 Z28 Camaro. I thought that it would blow my VERY old 10 inch JLW6V1 out of the water, but it just doesn't sound as good.

I'm not sure if it was installed incorrectly, but the W6 seemed to fill my car with base unlike the Alpine. In order to get it to hit about the same as the W6, I needed to set the "sub woofer"seeting to max, had to turn on the "Bass Boost" on my ipod, and turn the bass all the way up on my bass nob... and sadly, it still doesn't hit quite the same. The guy that installed it told me that it's a different kind of sub and that while it may not fill the car with bass as my old sub, the bass that it produces is cleaner.

With all this power going into the sub, my lights flicker... something that never happened with my W6, even when I turned it all the way up. So now I have to invest more time and money doing the BIG three, might need to get a cap, or even get a better alternator... I already have an orbital battery. The guy also told me that the JL was more efficient, thus it needed less power compared to the Alpine. This I get, but I still don't feel that it explains the big difference in bass. Needless to say, I'm definitely missing my old sub. I've even thought about getting it re-foamed.

I would hate to return the Alpine, but luckily, it's an option.

What do you guys say? Would it be a step backwards re-foaming the W6 and putting it back in my car?

Here are the specs on both:

JL W6V1 10 inch

http://mediacdn.jlaudio.com/media/mfg/9013/media_document/live_1/8_12W6_BDS.pdf?1317790304

Alpine Type R 1043D

•Sensitivity: 83 dB

•RMS Power Range : 600 Watts

•Peak Power Handling: 1800 Watts

•Impedance: 4 Ohm

•Frequency response: 23-400 Hz

•Diameter: 10 Inch

•Shallow Mount: No

•Number of Voice Coils: Dual

•Suggested Sealed Box Volume: .75 Cubic ft.

•Suggested Ported Box Volume: 1.2 Cubic ft.

•Mounting Depth: 6 Inches

Click to read more...

 

[40oz 10+ year member]

First, turn off the bass boost on the iPod and put the subwoofer level to its default position on the head unit. Second, what kind of box is it in? What kind of amp is powering it?

 

[joelx21 10+ year member]

When I do all of those things, there isn't much bass coming from the Sub.

I have it in an MTX figerglass stealth box. It's about .7 Cubic feet and it's being powered by a MB Quart ONX1.1000D @ 2 ohms.

 

[Why So Cereal? 5,000+ posts]

The w6 will be cleaner, it's more sq oriented.

The box is probably holding that alpine back though.

 

[joelx21 10+ year member]

Yeah, the SQ was definitely better with the W6... but it also hit harder. As far as the box goes... it gives it the recomended air space and it's the same box that I used for the W6. Who knows... maybe it is holding it back.

If I were to do a re-foam, any kits or places that you guys recomend?

Thanks

 

[carpenkl 10+ year member]

12" JL Flat Speaker Repair Kit For Replacing Foam Surrounds.

just refoamed my 2 jl 12w6v1's with this a few months back

been running more than recommended power and they've been holding up great

 

[joelx21 10+ year member]

12" JL Flat Speaker Repair Kit For Replacing Foam Surrounds.
just refoamed my 2 jl 12w6v1's with this a few months back

been running more than recommended power and they've been holding up great

Did the kit come with all the necessary hardware like the shims?

Also, how was the quality of the foam? I've heard that some companies use very cheap material that hinders the subs performance.

 

[goingdef 10+ year member]

with the way your cranking up the settings it sounds like your gain is set too low, how did you set it?

 

[Dirtrider4eva 10+ year member]

Is the sub wired right?..

 

[joelx21 10+ year member]

As far as the gain and the wiring, the shop assured me that all was wired and set correctly. I haven't touched the gains on the amp....However, I do see a problem with having to mess with all those settings in order to make it sound decent.

I'm seriouisly considering re-foaming my W6.. but I've heard that it's pretty tricky re-foaming the old W6V1's.

 

[skylineTT 10+ year member]

the R should get a good bit louder. you're running a dual 4 ohm woofer on a 1ohm amp, not getting much power from it.

 

[joelx21 10+ year member]

The shop wired the sub at 2 ohms and the amp at 2ohms.

 

[skylineTT 10+ year member]

right, a 1 ohm amp at 2 ohms equals half power, which is most likely around 300w or so. maybe less with gain down. The type R's need a good bit more to get going, plus you're choking it with that enclosure.

 

[carpenkl 10+ year member]

Did the kit come with all the necessary hardware like the shims?
Also, how was the quality of the foam? I've heard that some companies use very cheap material that hinders the subs performance.

it seems to be a little more dense than the OEM surround, definately not cheap

and it doesnt come with shims but i just used balled up paper towels inbetween the spider and cone to hold it up and it was fairly easy to install

i was able to do 2 in under half an hour and let them sit for a day to dry

 

[joelx21 10+ year member]

I took the W6 to a local shop to be repaired. I'm getting charged $20. The guy really seems to know what he's doing.... I guess we'll see how it turns out. I'll post pics next week.