IDMAX 12 or a JL Audio w7 ?

Well I have had both, and still do. The JL 13W7 is in it's box where it's been since it died after 4 seconds of 42Hz driven by one Zapco 9.0 (4 ohm version) and according to LEAP, the reactive load at 42Hz on the Zap 9.0 was ~8.3 ohms.

That means I hit it with about 900-1100 watts for 4 seconds and it opened both coils.

I was sorely PO'd because I had hoped to sell it since it reproduced bass with a plock plock sound where the ID Max sounds very ...jazzy. - Fast with timbre instead of the thud type sound I got from my JL.

I called JL and told them how it died and was informed by them it had been over 30 days and since I wasn't a certified 'installer' they declined to warranty it. $785 wasted on a lesson I didn't want or need.

Needless to say it will be the last JL product I EVER (yelling) own, and one day soon I intend to make a video for the internet of the total destruction of my JL 13W7. The video should include explosives, sledgehammers, fire, etc...

In my opinion the JL was made to look bitchin', which it used to- about 3-4 years ago, and the ID Max was made to be listened to by real music lovers.

Other than that I have no real opinion...

The 13w7 is a better sub than the IDmax. The w7 should be louder. Its pretty much a toss up to which one would sound better though. A w7 should play louder with less distortion though. Read through this thread. It has alot of good information in it.

https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=28956&KW=MTX+9500&PN=0&tpn=2

I expected my post may bring JL lovers/owners out of the woodwork, but having owned both and having used and LISTENED to both, there is truly no comparison.

Plock plock thud vs. what sounds like the perfect sub to reproduce a stand up bass cello.

Guess which...

As far as loudness, I saw 138.7 with the JL 13W7, 140.3 with the 12" Max, same same.

Just listen to each, the choice should then be a slam-dunk.

Oh, by the way, I read that thread and found it interesting that he offered a graph of simple frequency response curves, but no graphs showing TIM, group delay, rise or decay time, yet his SQ claims are all supposedly based upon "Facts" - cute, either dazzle with detail or baffle with BS.

I'll stay with what people like Pat Metheny have as their mobile reference system.

I'll stay with what sounds like musical instruments instead of bags of sawdust.

Good luck in your shopping, and let us all know what your mystery system ends up sporting for a sub(s).