Expert Input On System Setup!!

So my 12" sub just blew, now I'm looking to upgrade, but I'm faced w/a dilemma as to which would be my "best" option.

1.Stay with my current amp(RF500A2-300wrmsX2) and add 2 12" subs with about 300wrms each(e.g.JL 12W6's)

2.Upgrade up to a 1000wrms amp and add a single 12" sub of about 1000wrms, I'm currently looking at the IDMaxs'.

My concern is as to which would be a louder and better sounding setup. I want both SQ and SPL but leaning more towards SQ I'm looking for setup opinions so tell me what you think.

I'm just putting all this on the drawing board, so it's all open to opinions/thoughts right now. Your input would be greatly appreciated and of much help. Also this is all going into the back of a 2dr hatchback.

If you want both SPL & SQ you will most likely want 2 12's with an upgraded anmplifier. The best bet is to find a set of DVC's and an amp that can handle a 2 ohm load ( likely a Class D amp ) and you'll be in business !! Run the subs in a sealed box with separate chambers and make sure you re-enforce the inner box for better substructure and less flex. I prefer Boston Acoustics or JL Audio for the subs and Xtant or Zapco for the amplifiers.

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

I just upgraded myself. Rockford Power 1000bd and 2 RFD2212's HX2's (2ohm DVC's). The amp is 1000RMS @ 2ohms, and the subs are 500RMS 1000Peak. I've got to tweak the filters a little more, but the SQ and SPL are a great match.

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Squirrel
"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"
If its too loud, then you're too old
Donate to the12volt.com

Ok, some guy is selling some new JL 12W6 subs at a good price and I'm thinking of buying them but I need to get some things cleared up here first. Will these handle 500wrms each adequately(I'm also upgrading to a 1000w amp)? Also these are the 6ohm version will that be an issue?? Anybody has some experiance as to how good they sound or not??

How's it going Squirrel? Nice to hear about your upgrade, I bet it sounds pretty good!!! How's the SPL, loud enough??? How much is your car shaking...you know, show it off a little!
Can you give a ballpark estimate as to how many db's your hitting?

I don't think I'll be able to hear anymore pretty soon! Vibrations are like the San Andreas Fault in CA. I'm still designing a new custom enclosure. I want the sub enclosure to look similiar to this. Once I get around to actually building it, I'll put dampeners in to help minimize the vibrations. I will have to do the dash earlier though. My center dash console needs some bushings behind it to keep it from rattling at times! I love putting a water bottle in the cup holder, and making it dance! I don't mean just watching the water look like it's boiling, I mean watching the whole bottle dance!

I'm not sure what the new db level is right now, I'm trying to find somewhere that can test it. I do know that my old setup (RF Power 500bd and 2 SVC RFP3412 HE's) was hitting about 142db. My new setup is twice the power, and DVC HX2 subs. I'm anticipating 150-160's easily?

I think I'm gonna need a better battery now, and possibly having my alternator rewound to about 130 or 140. Gotta pay off the plastic first though! I don't think I've ever pulled this much juice before in my life!!

From what I've found, the JL 12W6's are 300RMS unknown Peak. The 12W6V2's are 400RMS unknown Peak. From what I've read, the V2's are a better sub. I've never used a 6ohm sub before, so unfortunately I don't really have any input on that.

The 12W6's would be a good match to your 500A2 as long as you can get the ohms to match, and get the 300x2 rating. You can go with a 1000 watt amp, and just turn the gains and bass down so you don't blow the 12W6's.

I love my new setup, but I paid a pretty hefty price. I don't like getting things from non-authorized resellers because I wont get the Factory warrenty. And as hard as I push systems, I want guarenteed replacements! I got a hell of a good deal though (even though I could have paid half of what I did if I went through eBay), $500 for the 2 RFD2112 HX2's and $700 for the Power 1000bd.

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Squirrel
"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"
If its too loud, then you're too old
Donate to the12volt.com

the w6s will handle 500W without difficulties if you build your box right and know how to tune your system and set it up properly...

as far as wanting a really solid combination of SQ and SPL, you were very wise in your choice of an IDMax 12...and you may even want to look at more power for that beast...I would even think you could get 1 IDMax 12 with 1000W louder than 2 w6v1 12s, if you are only feeding them 1000W...and if you are looking more for SQ, hands down, the IDMax will sound way better than the w6v1s...

if the IDMax makes your amp budget a wee bit tight, the JBL 1200.1 would be an excellent match for that sub and is more than reasonable in price...

and if u want to get crazy, do 2 of each...buy dual 4 ohm IDMaxs, and you could run both off of 1 amp for awhile and save up for the second amp, and since the 1200.1 does optimum power in both 2 and 1 ohm settings, you could run the pair at 1 ohm until you got the second amp and then run both at 2 ohm mono...

Hehehe, glad to hear that. I'm problaly going to go with what you did now, after hearing your review. The 1000w amp and 2 500w speakers anyway. I'm looking at diff. brands though. For amp I'm looking at the Usamps Usa1000x, the Xtant X1001, Zapco C2K-6.0X/AG1000, Mmats D100HC, JBL BP1200.1, MTX Thunder 1000D.....which amp should I choose????? Someone help me out here.

BOSS 3000D AAAWSOME 1 OHM STABLE CLASSD IT SLAAAAAMMMMSSS

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Big Dave

My responds came out of whack, so it looks kind of wierd Big P. You just gave me the answer I was looking for I was confused about the setup but now I'm pretty sure on going for that the IDMax!!! As for the amp the JBL 1200 is a very likely choice also. Have you personaly heard these items? How good do they sound? Thanks again.

I've read alot of raves on the JBL BP1200.1, and I think I remember Velocity recommending Zapco before (but I'm not sure about that). I've never been a fan of MTX (personal choice, not performance). The others I haven't really heard anything on before. Here's what I found in case anyone's interested (all ratings are at 12v)...

USA Amps USA-1000X
Class AB
300 x 2 @ 4ohms
400 x 2 @ 3ohms
500 x 2 @ 2ohms
1000 x 1 @ 4ohms bridged

Xtant X1001
Class D
500 x 1 @ 4ohms
1000 x 1 @ 2ohms

Zapco C2k-6.0X
Class D
150 x 2 @ 4ohms
300 x 2 @ 2ohms
600 x 2 @ 1ohm
600 x 1 @ 4ohms bridged
1325 x 1 @ 2ohms bridged

Mmats D100HC
Class D
1200 x 1 @ 0.67ohms

JBL 1200.1
Class D
600 x 1 @ 4ohms
1200 x 1 @ 2ohms
1200 x 1 @ 1ohm

MTX Thunder 1000D
Class D
500 x 1 @ 4ohms
1000 x 1 @ 2ohms

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Squirrel
"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"
If its too loud, then you're too old
Donate to the12volt.com

boss 3000d is 800wrms @ 4 ohm 1500wrms @ 2 ohm and 3000wrms @ 1 ohm. you shuold think about it. save money. and it hits very very hard.

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Big Dave

the IDMax is an awesome sub, and 1200W is about as much as you would want to feed it...I havent personally heard this combination yet, but have heard each individually, and have heard the IDMax with similar power behind it...one word, AWESOME!

put it in a nice sealed box (dont go too big here either, cuz the smaller the box the greater the power handling capacity...) I think the one I heard was in a cube or just over a cube, and it will slam! you will not be disappointed...

and the JBL BP1200.1 is a true workhorse, as I have said in many other posts...if you wanna talk bang for buck, I honestly dont think you can beat this amp...

others may tell you about Boss 3000W amps that you can get for like 200 bux, but I think most of us are aware that 3000BossWatts equal around 800W in the real world, and that the Boss amps, much like the rest of the low-end junk like Pyramid and Legacy will only produce their peak power under extreme duress for a fraction of a second before they turn into a molten mass of garbage...

go for it man, you will not be disappointed...IDMaxs are awesome!