94 replies to this topic

[Marc ♫]

I've just been doing some very thourough searching through our forums, and one thing that is extremely obvious from reading peoples recommendations is that nine times out of 10 their opinions are based purely on what the member has read on the forums, what there mate told them, or just completely unfounded in general.

I'm proposing we should put together the biggest SQ Review yet. I'm suggesting 20 x 12" subwoofers under $800.00 (most common budget for a 12" subwoofer) from various brands.

Now the question I put to you guys is how is the best possible way to conduct this when every subwoofer has a different suggested enclosure, as well as obviously different power handling capabilities and configurations etc.

Is is acceptable to use one enclosure only that is a general volume for all subs being tested? What about power handling differences of woofers? What should be "measured" and what should be audibly "judged"? etc.

I'm just throwing this out there, and if we can come up with a suitable compromise to achieve satisfactory, repeatable results then I am prepared to source 20 woofers from suggested brands and have a crack at this, and involve some CAA members to assist in it.

[fuddbutter]

organise the 20 sub's, then get a general census of what size enclosures are reccomended and build 3 different type's

test all subs in the 3 different types
scoring each enclosure

maybe have 3 different Sealed and a few ported just to see how they go in that...

[fuddbutter]

and now to make a shortlist of subs

Adire audio Brahmah (??)
A/D/S R series ?
Alpine type R
Boston Pro 12.5
Dimond Audio ??
Focal ??
ID v3, IDMAX(??) IDQ
JL 12w3v2
PG ??
Rainbow ???
Soundstreem ???



sofar..... dont know all models cuse i dont know all price's

[atmo]

Just a thought....How about throwing in some cheaper models for comparison?

For example, the JL 12W3v2 and the 12W0, DD 3512 and the 2512 and so on. I know it would make judging more difficult as price would inevitably come into the equation, but as a lot of members are on a budget, it would be good to have a comparison so people can decide whether it's worth spending the extra money for the higher end models.

It might make it a bit easier to organise too, as sourcing 20 subs from 20 different manufacturers could be a bit difficult.

[Wrayza]

How about, going by the manufactures box recommendations but running each sub at the same level.

Maybe this can be done using the driver's sensitivity rating and working out mathematically how much power each sub would need to play at the same level.
Or even play pink noise through each sub and setting that to a certain volume for adequate judging.

I'll be looking forward to this review anyway, good luck on it comming together!

[DG Phil]

You should contact the sub's distributor and inform them of the test parameters (vehicle, power etc) and let them supply their recommended enclosure. You should run two tests, 1. SQ tune, 2. Boomer tune

It's not fair to run all the woofers in the same box.

Phil

[gooki]

I've got a DD2012 I can donate to the cause provided someone pays return shipping etc.

I would propse each sub is tested in manufactures recomended enclosure, testers recomended enclosure and generic sealed enclosure.

[fuddbutter]

DD Phil said:

You should run two tests, 1. SQ tune, 2. Boomer tune

topic title said:

Review of 20 x 12" Subwoofers in a SQ only application.

[DG Phil]

Bobby_Digital said:

DD Phil said:

You should run two tests, 1. SQ tune, 2. Boomer tune

topic title said:

Review of 20 x 12" Subwoofers in a SQ only application.

Why not do two tests if you're going to all the effort. It was a suggestion!

Phil

[Marc ♫]

Thanks for the offer of donating your sub, but that won't be necessary. We won't have much trouble rounding up 20 subwoofers.

Oh and don't worry Bobby_Digital, I intend on putting a DD or 2 into the equation to prove or disprove some people's percpetions.

[mooseBoY]

i would think that building a recomended enclosure for each woofer, whether it be sealed or ported (or both) , would be an exspensive task?

y not use a generic box for all woofers...
i do realise that this may not be fair to some of the woofers and would probably be biast to others....but i would think that there could be some compromise between box design...to generally suit all of the woofers. just my 2 cents.

I think this comparison would be an excellent idea and would help a LOT of CAA members in determining which woofer they should choose in their given application....

[roughcactus]

Recomended box volumes supplied by the manufactturer are the fairest way to go for all subs...let the importer/distributor supply their recommended box for the sub...or maybe 2 boxes per sub...one sealed and one ported...

I mean seriously if you are considering buying a subwoofer valued at up to $800 or so and you can't be bothered building the right enclosure for it...why did you buy it in the first place???....wank factor?

[Shieldsy]

Yeh recomended box volume by each company is the only fair way to do this.
maybe as phil said let the distributers decide on the box?
they should kno the product well enough.

[HISPL]

roughcactus said:

Recomended box volumes supplied by the manufactturer are the fairest way to go for all subs...let the importer/distributor supply their recommended box for the sub...or maybe 2 boxes per sub...one sealed and one ported...

I mean seriously if you are considering buying a subwoofer valued at up to $800 or so and you can't be bothered building the right enclosure for it...why did you buy it in the first place???....wank factor?

x2

(Very well said BTW)

[RTTZ]

HISPL said:

roughcactus said:

Recomended box volumes supplied by the manufactturer are the fairest way to go for all subs...let the importer/distributor supply their recommended box for the sub...or maybe 2 boxes per sub...one sealed and one ported...

I mean seriously if you are considering buying a subwoofer valued at up to $800 or so and you can't be bothered building the right enclosure for it...why did you buy it in the first place???....wank factor?

x2

(Very well said BTW)

X3

And as far as the amp to power them, I think 500watts would be a good amount of power for a sub in a SQ application.

Bye,
Mo