W3 or W6 for my 2012 Audi S5?

[asb36]

I recently purchased a 2012 Audi S5. It has a 8 speaker system. Simulated bass. The interior speakers are great and will do just fine. They high highs and mids perfectly.

My plan is to upgrade the system for the highest sound quality I can put in my car. I spoke to Custom Sounds (STL) and they recommended I go with 2 10W3v3 with a 500/1v2 amp. My concern is that this system may not be strong as I want it to me. I specifically told them that I want high quality and that volume isn't that important to me, but I think they misunderstood my demands. I wish to be able to crank up the volume every now and then and enjoy some loud music, just not extremely loud. I'm not in it to show off. Also, the entire car will be hushmatted - would this make a difference in sound quality/penetration?

Others have suggested I go with two 12W6v2s with a 1000/1v2 amp. I do like the rumble and punch in the type of music I listen to (electronica/house/dance/dubstep/industrial/etc.) and was told that the W6s would be perfect for that, but would that be overkill?

Let me know what you think. Thanks.

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[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

The 2 10s should be fine. They will sound good and not be as loud as you think. 1 W6 12 would be fine also but not on a 1000/1, a 500/1 will be more then enough.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

hertz, morel and focal also make some very nice SQ subs. Much better then JL IMO. Audison, ZED makes a better amp.

 

[wenn_du_weinst 10+ year member]

hertz, morel and focal also make some very nice SQ subs. Much better then JL IMO. Audison, ZED makes a better amp.

not better then the w6 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif you will need to spend 750 to get a better sq sub from Morel, and 1100 to get one from Focal. I don't know hertz pricing but I've always been unimpressed with their equipment. the amp is also fine for low freq response. You can get much better then ZED for the same price as well. I would go with the 2w6 12's sealed.

 

[perfecxionX 10+ year member]

you want sound quality but the only aftermarket upgrade your getting is a subwoofer? You realize the subwoofer will only be playing around 20-80hz out of the total 20-20,000 hz that is audible to the human ear?

Given proper application, 2 10w3s will have more output than a single 12w6. With proper application (generally flat frequency response, similar f3 between the two options) i highly doubt youd be able to tell a difference between the sound of the two outside of the increase in output. So to make your decision i think you really need to ask yourself how much output you want and how much trunk space your willing to sacrifice.

 

[wenn_du_weinst 10+ year member]

now if you want just to fill in the low end notes with out it being overbearing a single morel ultimo 12'' will do that. You will however not be able to feel and hear it as a normal subwoofer. It actually sounds like you have no subwoofer at all, more like your mids have the ability to drop to low freq.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

not better then the w6 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif you will need to spend 750 to get a better sq sub from Morel, and 1100 to get one from Focal. I don't know hertz pricing but I've always been unimpressed with their equipment. the amp is also fine for low freq response. You can get much better then ZED for the same price as well. I would go with the 2w6 12's sealed.

You have never heard a good Hertz set up. I would take it over JL anyday. The Hertz Mille Sub is unreal in its response and output ability. the W6 is a good sub but most are not installed right and most expect more output.

 

---------- Post added at 02:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:40 PM ----------

 

now if you want just to fill in the low end notes with out it being overbearing a single morel ultimo 12'' will do that. You will however not be able to feel and hear it as a normal subwoofer. It actually sounds like you have no subwoofer at all, more like your mids have the ability to drop to low freq.

Epicenter or RF 360 will clean that up

 

[>>SQL<< 10+ year member]

you want sound quality but the only aftermarket upgrade your getting is a subwoofer? You realize the subwoofer will only be playing around 20-80hz out of the total 20-20,000 hz that is audible to the human ear?
Given proper application, 2 10w3s will have more output than a single 12w6. With proper application (generally flat frequency response, similar f3 between the two options) i highly doubt youd be able to tell a difference between the sound of the two outside of the increase in output. So to make your decision i think you really need to ask yourself how much output you want and how much trunk space your willing to sacrifice.

You must not have ever been in a high end German Car.

I have owned a S4 and an M6 and I will tell you that the factory stereo is very nice.

In the M6 I added 1 - 10w3 and was very happy with the overall sound.

 

[wenn_du_weinst 10+ year member]

no it won't, it's not a bad thing anyway. It will never be up in your face. It's entire freq range is super smooth and transient with zero distortion and extremely transparent. You don't want to "know" you have subwoofers. you want it to be like you have no speakers at all to be honest.

 

[Why So Cereal? 5,000+ posts]

my vote goes for one JL Audio 12w6 on that 500/1 or one Dayton Audio HO 12 on the same amp. Both great SQ subs that I have personal experience with.

I hear the Hertz Mille is good too but Hertz is high as crap! JL w6s can be found online around $300 or lower sometimes.

The Dayton I mentioned is the cheapest of them all, and will keep with any of them SQ wise IMO even surpasses the w6 sometimes, but the w6 gets louder.

 

[Why So Cereal? 5,000+ posts]

You must not have ever been in a high end German Car.
I have owned a S4 and an M6 and I will tell you that the factory stereo is very nice.

In the M6 I added 1 - 10w3 and was very happy with the overall sound.

i hope youre not referring to a BMW M6 lol.... I had a 06 750li and that system was...meh at best. Staging was pretty good but I dont see the volume keeping up with a sub unless its turned down pretty low

Now the LS460's Mark Levinson is another story //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[>>SQL<< 10+ year member]

i hope youre not referring to a BMW M6 lol.... I had a 06 750li and that system was...meh at best. Staging was pretty good but I dont see the volume keeping up with a sub unless its turned down pretty lowNow the LS460's Mark Levinson is another story //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

BMW M6 - 2006

While it was not super loud it def sounded very good and clear and with a 10w3 firing through the Ski port it sounded very balanced

 

[Why So Cereal? 5,000+ posts]

BMW M6 - 2006 While it was not super loud it def sounded very good and clear and with a 10w3 firing through the Ski port it sounded very balanced

dag.... maybe I shoulda tried that.

 

[asb36]

Thanks for your input. I just read my original post and I apologize for the poor wording.

The S5 has 8 internal speakers. They sound pretty **** good for stock speakers. They highs and mids are excellent. I don't see the need to upgrade them. I did however ask the folks at custom sounds about upgrading the whole system but I was told it would be a tricky process because instead of the traditional 4 speakers I had 8. That in itself would require 2 amps. Also they would need to replace the HU, something that I did not want. I like the Audi stock setup.

So the only work that will be performed is in the trunk. After they listened to my car's system they suggested I go with 2 10W3s with a 500/1v2 amp and a capacitor. That sounded very entry level to me and I think the sales person misunderstood what I meant by quality over volume. Sure I want the best quality audio but I also want to have the luxury of cranking it up for some punchy songs. I especially like the rumbling sound in my music. From what I was told, RMS is responsible for that. After talking to a few people I was told that the W3s would not give me what I want.

So now I am at a cross road. The W6 or W3? Money is not an issue here. I just don't want to get anything completely unnecessary. It is very frustrating because I am unable to sample the subs anywhere. So I can just go from your recommendations.

 

[kramer_212 10+ year member]

I love my w6s worth every penny

IMO