what are some of the better subs for SQ?

I asked a very similar question to the original poster a few months ago, when I was looking for a single 10" that would play nice SQ.  The anwsers I was getting, and the subs I subsequently did research on were Eclipse Alumium, MB Quart PWE, and the Diamond Audio D3 or D5. 

I went with the MBQ, but the only reason it happened that way was becasue I got a really good deal on it.  My second choice would have been the D5.  The Eclipse is probably the best sub out of the 3, but it requires a sligtly bigger box...and as I have a small hatchback car, this is a major consideration for me. 

I dont know what type of car you have...but I can say that the above 3 subs are all top shelf, and are highly recomenrded by many members of this and other audio forums. 

-a

Thanks, I appreciate it.  We actually have quite a few companies interested in it, or already using it.  The last time I counted, I believe 5 build houses were building drivers with it.

Wow, 2.25" isn't much.  That must really limit your choices.  Good luck finding a good one for your needs. 

I guess I'm a little skeptical still about the box thing.  In car audio, the Qtc. can vary by a decent amount with very little audible difference.  Basically, you can take one of these low distortion drivers and make it sound like one's with distortion.  But you can never take the lesser driver and make it sound like the driver with no distortion.  That's why I feel that speaker selection is slightly more important than the enclosure.  On something as questionable as this topic though, I usually try to ask my boss what he thinks as well.  After all, he has WAY more knowledge and experience about this than any of us.  He seems to concur with my position.

Steven Kephart

Adire Audio

Back to the lecture at hand...

Fugit- play around wiht the orientation of your sub-box, try all different positions and directions.  I had the exact same "distant" sound at first, but I moved the box around side to side and front to back, and faced the sub all over the place and found it sounded the best tight against the back seat facing inside, it was not the loudest position, but it sounded the best.

Haha, yeah the Extremis 6 is a bit deep.  But then you just can't make a driver that can move 1/2" linear one way shallow.  Resonant Engineering is coming out with the RE components which uses a 6" XBL^2 driver with only 6mm or throw and is supposed to be shallower than the Koda.  I will have to find out how deep it is later.  XBL^2 actually offers a shallower mount for a given excursion, it's just that thus far everyone has been focusing on the other extreme; huge excursion capability.

You are absolutely right.  Even if they only have 80%, most likely to them they have 100% and are perfectly happy.  I more recomend these "special" drivers in areas where the user is looking for the best SQ.

That sounds good.  I figure I'm out of my league here anyway.  After all, you have the EE degree.  I'm just a lowly shipping boy at a small speaker manufacturer.  I actually discussed this with Dyon not too long ago.  Our conclusion was that it's all a matter of perspective.  And I would change my perspective if it wasn't for Dan Wiggins telling me that he feels that the driver selection is slightly more important.  His opinion holds a great deal of weight with me.  After all, everyone who has gone toe to toe with him in arguments that I have seen have failed.  This includes Richard Clark.

dpaton wrote: Just out of curiosity, would that be Dr. Dave? It's been a while since I actually chatted with him or Dan...around the time when the Shiva was originally designed for the BassList crew. I've been following from the sidelines ever since tho. -dave

No, unfortunately Dr. Dave doesn't come into Adire much.  He works at the local colledge in the biology department.  And any projects he does for Adire, he does at home and just sends them to Dan.  So I get to spend a lot of time with Dan, but very little with Dave.  But I hear that is changing soon.

On another side topic (sorry to the original poster), have you seen our Arachnid spider yet?  It was the spring suspension shown on the Parthanon.  I can give you the full details if you would like.

Steven Kephart

Adire Audio

Although I have never (yet) used an Adire driver in an automotive application, I can very happily vouch for their home theatre woofers (specificly the Tumult.)  If the Brahma or Shiva sounds half as good, it should be a serious competitor for any application.

Now as far as drivers i am familiar with, on the lower-cost end I recomend Infinity's Kappa Perfect.  I run a 12" in my personal car.  Image Dynamics and Resonant subs are also very clean and compete with the Infinity on price.  As we move up the cost structure a bit, I really like the sound of the Eclipse drivers and also of the Planet Audio Neo series.  The best sounding (to me) car sub I've heard lately is the JBL GTi series.

I recomend you do some homework.  Visit the sites below and read through the sections on designing and building sealed enclosures.  Come back here and ask questions after you've done this and we can help you out!  Also, once you decide on your driver (speaker) let us know and we can help you decide what size is best for it.  Cheers.

www.diysubwoofers.org, www.bcae1.com, http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage.cfm?&DID=7&WebPage_ID=236, http://www.termpro.com/articles/buildbox.html