I went to a car audio store in Chattanooga, and the guy suggested that i get 2 JL Audio W3's with two 300watt RMS alpine amps on each of them. He let me hear his and it sounded awesome, and it was very clear too. Anyways, my question is, is the W3's durable subs? and is this a good setup.

 

2 amps per sub, or one on each? Yeah, the W3 is a great sub, you'll be very happy with it.

dh

 

I've heard of running multiple amps on a single sub, but...it sounds like a wiring nightmare to me.

First time I saw it done was on pimp my ride, where they put in a wall of amps for 2 or 3 subs on that skateboarder's car..

 

Pimp my ride

W3s are nice... but I like Memphis M-Class better. They have a lower freq response than the W3s did.

 

I'm thinking he means 2 amps...one for each sub. 300W RMS sounds about right for a W3. JL Audio makes very good products, so I'm sure it will be a nice system. What size W3's r u planning on getting?

 

w3s are a great setup with one amp to each is great too but if you wanna go all out get the w7's and rattle peoples fillings out

 

Never said they weren't. Even though Ish can actually make TWEED look good, which takes some kinda taste.

 

I'm too busy doing one of the following to really watch TV. (and I just bought a 52" HDTV )

Maxima.org
Nissanfrontier.org
Playing Vietcong
Working on the Maxima
Working on the Frontier
Driving the Nissans around
playing with the kids
taking care of the yard
working
installing stereos

 

my shivas owned the w3's...both were in the same car, similar power, and same box size and type. unless you get a great deal on them I'd ask alot more questions on this forum about sub options.

 

Definatly...There r a lot of better options out there than JL's. I would definatly try RE SX, RE XXX, or an Avalanche. Not saying JL's r bad subs...just over-priced IMO.

 

i can get one 12 inch jl w3 for about 170 a piece, and one amp on each sub, it should be awesome in my own opinion

 

i can tell you for $340 you can get louder and sound better but that price is not bad at all for W3v2 12's.

 

Not at all a bad price...i hear a lot of JL setups, and in my opinion a W6v2 would sound better n a vented enclosure, than 2 W3's sealed. I used to have 2 of the 15" W6's, i loved them.

 

so i should go with just one 12 inch w6 instead of 2 w3's? what type amp should i get for that w6 then

 

what box style do you plan on using?

 

I'm just telling u what I think...everyone has different taste n system setups. IMO u should see if the guy @ the shop could let u hear a 12 W6v2 (n a vented enclosure) on a JL 500/1...if they sell JL i'm sure someone has that setup. Do more research b4 u buy anything, you'll b happy u looked around b4 u buy something. It may b longer b4 u get ur system n ur call, but u'll b making a more educated decision.

 

how much is a 500/1 jl amp?? i have heard a w6, but it was on two jl 500/1's...very clean and loud, it was in a ported box with about 2 or 3 capacitors and a crossover too

 

talk about overkill

 

lol thats what i thought, i think i made up my mind, i stayed up till 3:30 AM researching and i came up with one 12 inch W6 in a custom ported box made to the dimensions on the jlaudio site and a 500/1 jl amp. Of course with a 1.5 capacitor.

 

Im by far not a JL fan, so I wont comment there, but as far as the cap....WHY?

 

Not sure what JL's current quality is like ... but every single JL I've ever owned (from W0's to W1's to W6's) has ALWAYS needed to be re-foamed. Foam routinely separates from the cone. You're basically just paying for their marketing.

JL is overrated and overpriced. I had (2) old 10" infinity Kappa subs in my 4th gen (when I say old, I mean they're even older than the green cone ones) and they sounded GREAT. LOTS of bass ... even for bassheads. And I picked them up for $50 shipped for the pair.

Subs should only be a high ticket item if you're looking to pound them with power. If you're only looking for a nice all around system, you can pretty much get any sub you want (within reason) and give them 50%-75% of their RMS max input and you'll be just as happy if you spend twice as much.

Just my $0.02

 

Capacitors are pretty much a waste of money too ... go with a second battery and an isolator.

 

well what do you suggest then? if there is better let me know, i'm open minded to other brands, just tell me whats better than that and i'll go that route

 

What I meant to elaborate on is that you should go listen to other stuff. Pick stuff in the price range you want and listen. If you like what you hear, buy it and just don't try shoving 100% of the subs RMS rated power ... rather give it 50%-75% as I stated before. You are definitely more likely to blow your equipment if you're maxing everything out.

 

Adire Brahmas, RE SX or XXX, Avalanche, Soundsplinter RL-p, IDMax, just to name a few. There r tons of good subs out there...just depends on ur budget and what ur gonna want more SPL, SQ, or a good combo?

 

i'm spending about 400 on the amp and about 350 on the sub, so i'm not really worried about the price, just want good quality

 

Well ... since you're quoting prices ... you can probably get away with something stellar for half that.

If it were me, I'd go with the MB Quart amp currently on sale at Crutchfield for $250 or $300 and an Infinity Perfect (which I think you can get for ~$100 or so). It will sound just as good as most people who spend boat loads on their systems buying JL W3's and the uber trendy Audiobahn stuff.

Don't listen to all the hype ... just go listen.

 

eh not to much of a fan of infinity's subs, how much are the RE SX's?

 

Memphis M-Class.

1 12" M-Class in the Memphis tuned vented box from Audio Enhancers
and a 500 D Memphis amplifier will pound your little head away.

 

Not a big fan of infinty subs either, ghost. As far as the comment above audiobahns r definatly not a sub i would consider as an option. Neither of those choices I would consider a "boat load of money" either. I think the RE SX's r under $300, i know the 15" XXX is $435 shipped to NC. Definatly check n2 some different options and keep us up to date with ur search. I'm sure anything u find u'll b able to get some opinions out of everyone on here (well at least the ones that stay n the a/v forum)

 

Anyone who says "not a fan" of anything hasn't heard it done right. Just because your boy bought them and put them in a junky .5" MDF pre-fab box that sounded like crap doesn't mean they are bad subs.

The only concern subs should have for you is how well they are made/how long they will last. ANY sub can sound great in its ideal conditions given its theile-small parameters. If you're going for SPL you will have to spend a decent amount of money on a quality sub that can handle lots of power unless you can go with 4+ subs (more cone area works better than bigger subs in most applications ... look at Alma Gates' old Bronco with the 10" PPi subs)

You could buy a generic 10" sub from MCM Electronics or Parts Express, calculate the perfect box volume, build the perfect box, get it the perfect amount of power given its sensitivity and power handling and it would sound just as good as most subs. Will they last? I'm not sure ... but I can tell you they would sound good for the time they are working.

 

I pity the fool who pays $435 for a subwoofer.

 

Although I agree with most of that I am personally "not a fan" of some brands due to marketing,production,R&D,longevity,customer support,etc for business reasons. If all of the above doesnt satisfy me, then I try to deter it from my customers.

 

Although maybe not quite that much, I have paid a decent amount for subs in the past, so pity me...

 

Don, I too have paid decent money for subs in the past ... never that much per sub, but I paid $220 each for my Beta 12's back in the day. Being older now, I realize what a waste of money that was ... even though they are excellent subs. I could have spent half that and been just as happy ...

 

I'm on the same page as Pearl96Max. I'm not a fan of RF and I was running them for a 3 1/2 years. Same set of subs, and they sounded great, I'm just not a fan.

I also don't like Kickers, or MTX. Just not a fan. Doesn't say I hate them. The reason why I don't run them because of their dealer here in town is a bunch of morons.

My favorite dealer here in town also sells JL. I love Memphis... I'm a big fan. I love the customer support I've gotten. I love the quality, the sound, the design. Plus I'm from TN originally

I'm personally not a big fan of Adire. The one setup that was run out here sounds like crap. Do I think their stuff is junk NOOO. Because that was the installers fault it sounded bad.

Every brand can run hard, and sound good. But it has to be installed correctly. I ran RF low end Punch Zs. Sounded great, and no problems for 3 years. And my buddy who bought them off me loves how they sound. They should give him at least 2 more years.

But I do agree with you somewhat. A lot of people will drop a company like a hot rock just because they had something go bad with one paticular product.

 

BTW ... my comments about "not a fan" did not apply to Don anyway ... he's actually educated. That was a blanket statement for all the newbies who come in here looking for good information and only get bombarded with "use JL" or "Infinity sucks" with no real reasoning.

Don's motivation is to keep customers happy ... which is more than I can say for most people selling car stereo nowadays.

 

i never said infinity sucks, my friend has one and it sounds really good, just not what i'm looking for, his problem for one is he amp, i know there are a lot of cheaper subs out there that can sound just as good as the 600 dollar stuff, thats why i came on here to ask, i never said jl was the best or anything like that, i just know that i've heard JL audio's stuff and it sounds awesome

 

[QUOTE=Big_Ham]BTW ... my comments about "not a fan" did not apply to Don anyway ... he's actually educated. That was a blanket statement for all the newbies who come in here looking for good information and only get bombarded with "use JL" or "Infinity sucks" with no real reasoning.[QUOTE=Big_Ham]

A sub is as only as good as the enclosure u put it n. And telling him to use JL and not Infinity, is totally his decision. Personally I wouldn't use Infinity because I have never been pleased with there car audio products, not saying they can't b good, just don't please my listening taste. Just like everyone else that has posted n this thread I'm just giving my PERSONAL opinion, and i consider it an educated opinion b/c i don't consider myself a newb or a noob when it comes to car a/v. And I'll take the pity for spending lots of money on a sub, just like the look on peoples faces when they find out I only have 1 sub.

BTW Big_Ham...Ur talkin up the Infinity subs a whole lot, but aren't you getting rid of them??

 

When you can type like an educated person I will consider your opinions to be educated.

You haven't gotten my point in this whole thread ... you have only taken offense and offered no grounds for your dislike of Infinity (or anything for that matter). You say they "don't please [your] listening taste", but you quantify it with nothing. Tell me which model sub, what size enclosure, how many watts, what the enclosure was made of, how it was positioned in the trunk, what the crossover point was, slope, brand of amp, etc. and I will tell you exactly why it didn't "please your listening taste" (once I can find out what exactly that is). Unless your listening taste is crudely loud with rap music (which is possible), then I will tell you that I could have made that Infinity work (or MTX, or Kicker, or Pioneer, etc) for you and could have saved you lots of dough.

The problem with most newbs is that they don't know they are one.

FYI ... I sold my car and the system went with it. Had nothing to do with not liking the system. My system was as solid and balanced as any I've heard. Go to http://www.maximafreak.com/stereo/stereo.htm for pictures, system diagrams, enclosure sizes and other misc data.