Audiobahn vs. Rockford?
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=40268
Printed Date: April 20, 2024 at 7:51 AM
Topic: Audiobahn vs. Rockford?
Posted By: warpedhalo
Subject: Audiobahn vs. Rockford?
Date Posted: October 04, 2004 at 1:22 PM
I have a couple 15" Immortals from audiobahn and looking to step down to 3 10s (i can get 3 10s louder too). I am looking at 3 10" audiobahn sound q's, or 3 10" rockford Punch Hx2's. WinISD says rockfords will be a lot quieter, the local comps that I've been to say the rockfords. A dude hit 154 with 3 PUNCH hx2. Not powers... punches. He didn't ahve much dynamatted either. I would love to go with the audiobahns sound qs because they are designed for sound quality, but I've heard good things about the hx2s as well. And I look to screw around with comps, so I want the louder of the two. I can get a deal on the rockfords is why I want to know. NOBODY RECOMMEND REs!! It's between these two cause I'm poor as can be! These are affordable. The compe are for fun, not for records for me, so it's between these. Let me know what you think!
Replies:
Posted By: warpedhalo
Date Posted: October 04, 2004 at 1:26 PM
Oh, the resistance or the power is not an issue for my amp, it's huge. But I'll probably get a smaller one because I'm not using all of the power and it'll bump me up a class or two if I keep it. PLus if I were using it all, is a little overrated and I;d still lose in the end. 3600 rms doing about 2750. No good.
Posted By: boxmaker85
Date Posted: October 04, 2004 at 1:41 PM
Ok did this peole that recomended the RF's ever hear them? or the audio's? Have you ever heard anything other than the audio's or Rockford's? You might want to go to wal-mart and get some of the 12" neon lighted ones. They might have better sq than both. Well not quite but you get what I'm trying to say. Both companies have shown a huge disappointment to the car audio industry. Check into some used Kickers, or new Infinity reference/kappa, JL W3v2, MTX 5500 (or the old 8000's), the list goes on. There are a ton of other subs out there for a good price that have better sql and spl then audio and rf. You just need to look around for some good deals w/ the speakers. Good luck.
Posted By: Ravendarat
Date Posted: October 04, 2004 at 2:51 PM
If you are looking for advice between the 2 then I would say RF all the way. They have continually shown they can come out and play when it comes to spl. The audiobahn stuff doesnt even show up half the time so I would shy away from them.
-------------
double-secret reverse-osmosis speaker-cone-induced high-level interference distortion, Its a killer
Posted By: jeffchilcott
Date Posted: October 04, 2004 at 4:23 PM
I think you all saw this coming. Look into eclipse....will play great for day to day SQ and still hit the number's ina comp even with 10's......144.7 with 2 10 inch eclipse 7100 series using a memphis hc-50 per sub. 400 per sub rms....that good for you?
-------------
2009 0-1000 Trunk WR 154.0DB 2009 1001+ Trunk WR
2007 USACI World Champion
2007 World Record
2006 USACI Finals 2nd Place
Posted By: Rushman
Date Posted: October 04, 2004 at 6:05 PM
just throwing in my two cents..........I have 4 kicker comp 10s pushed by a Kicker 1200 amp. in my F-150 super cab. Im not out to win any contest but I can still avg. 138dbl. Plus they still maintain decent smooth sq. Anyway my point is if your on a budget as I usually am , they are pretty decent for the money. Think I paid like $50 each.
Posted By: warpedhalo
Date Posted: October 04, 2004 at 7:21 PM
well, i can get the 3 hx2s for like $250 from a friend, or 3 sound q's for like 350 total from e-bay. I'm looking at about $400 to spend on all of my subs, so I am trying to get as loud as I can for that money. I'm up to suggestions I guess, but if it's not within that price I'll be looking away really. I have no money! it sucks. But I have 2 15"s now with all of the "3600 rms" of my amp going to tham. I do not want to downgrade, so it has to be as loud or louder, you know? I'm trying to get opinions.
Posted By: customsuburb
Date Posted: October 04, 2004 at 7:58 PM
RF all the way like everyone else said. You can't compare Audiobahn to RF because..well..there is no comparison of the two! Oh, and anything that has the name Audiobahn on it cannot produce sq, check the label on the magnet of every Audiobahn sub  : 
-------------
Posted By: jeffchilcott
Date Posted: October 04, 2004 at 9:08 PM
ouch surburb! well I know that the eclipse's should be ranging from $200-$275 thanks all i have to say about that
-------------
2009 0-1000 Trunk WR 154.0DB 2009 1001+ Trunk WR
2007 USACI World Champion
2007 World Record
2006 USACI Finals 2nd Place
Posted By: xtreamcc
Date Posted: October 04, 2004 at 9:28 PM
Ok ya'll. Lets settle down. Everyone knows I'm no fan of audiobahn, I'd definately take Rockford over Audiobahn everyday of the week, there's just no comparing them. Audiobahn lacks quality and power to compete with Rockford, plain and simple. They may say 1000 watts RMS, but I've seen audiobahn flagship and Eternal subs fry at their RMS power. Rockfords, the only one I ever saw blow was being clipped at 450 watts, 250 over its RMS (RFP3412).
Now reguarless of that, if ur lookin for sound quality, ur gona wanna go with something besides an HX2. The HX2s are awsome if u want to be hear thousands of feet away like me. But if u want excellent sound quality, thats their weak point.
I'd have to agree with jeff as well as throw in some of my own. The Eclipse Titainium, JL W-3,6,7 or whatever they're at now, JBL GTO series, Infinity Kappa, MB Quart RWE's and C's, and Diamond Audio M6's will all out perform the HX2's in the SQ chapter. The HX2 is gona out pound quite a few of them but I would personally recomend either the JL's (whichever series u can get) or the Eclipse's if ur look'n for better quality, otherwise Rockford all the way.
Anyway, good luck, hope I helped.
-------------
"Shiny chrome when used in conjunction with bikini models is particularly effective in inducing brain deficit disorder"
02 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Monster System on its way.
Posted By: warpedhalo
Date Posted: October 04, 2004 at 9:42 PM
hmmm, so the majority says rockford. I have to check someting... I need to run the t/s parameters on the hx2's vs. 2 15" natural excursions, because my buddy has 2 hx2s and they are 10's and he killed me on the lows. If WinISD says that the audiobhans will be lower, I'll know better. It wasn't a comparison.. the 2 10" punch hx2s killed my 2 15" natural excursions. That's a bad sign. Maybe the t/s parameters of a audiobahn is also a lie? I would think that it would be a poor selling point for abahn to give inaccurate t/s parameters b/c it'll mess up the sub when you build a box to the inaccurate specs. That's why I guess I assumed they were right. But I'll have to see. I'm going to bet the abahn says it'll be louder. I'll let you all know.
Posted By: boxmaker85
Date Posted: October 04, 2004 at 10:57 PM
If you're wanting/able to spend a few hundred on a sub then go w/ something other than RF. That is unless you can get you're hands on some oldschool rf. Their old stuff (like 5+ years old) are some nice speakers/amps. But yeah I've heard people on this site rave about the eclipses. I personally have a 10" Infinity kappa and it's hooked up to a pos kenmore amp and it still hits as hard as two 12 audio's and this new $hit RF's w/ great sq. Have fun!!
Posted By: warpedhalo
Date Posted: October 04, 2004 at 11:19 PM
well, I'm looking for loud really for comps... do you guys think that 3 RF Punch HX2 10's will be as loud as 2 15" audiobahn immortals? Sound quality is nice, but loud is a lot what I'm after. I have an ma audio 602sx amp, "3600" rms, so like 2700. The Rfs will not take that, so with all of that considererd you know. Immortals will take it, but wattage isn't everything. Can I get 3 hx2's louder with what I got?
Posted By: Rushman
Date Posted: October 04, 2004 at 11:40 PM
Im in the process of building a system with 4 10' immortalls pushed with audiobahns A5000spl amp. I'll let you know how they hit in a couple of weeks. Lots of fiberglass work till then.
Posted By: xtreamcc
Date Posted: October 05, 2004 at 10:23 AM
3 HX2's cant take 2700 watts? Since when? HX2's Peak at 1000, so 3 of them would be 3000 watts peak. Just make sure ur not clip'n them and you'll be fine. I'd personally expect the Immortals to either over heat and burn their VC's or to over excurd and destroy their suspension, but I may be wrong, I've only played around with their Eternal series of MASSIVLY large subwoofers. Anyway, I'd say if ur only interested in RF or Audiobahn, that the 3 HX2's in a properly tuned ported box will own everything except 4 HX2's in a properly tuned ported box hehe.
-------------
"Shiny chrome when used in conjunction with bikini models is particularly effective in inducing brain deficit disorder"
02 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Monster System on its way.
Posted By: warpedhalo
Date Posted: October 05, 2004 at 10:56 AM
I ment more or less the hx2s can't take it every day all day. They wouldn't be able to get rid of the heat. I'm looking to go with a 16 volt variable alternator for comps, so I'll most likely be getting about 3600 out of the amp. That's a little much right? The Abahns were made to take it, at least my immortals are supposed to be, but like I may have said, a guy in my town hit the record aorund here with 3 hx2s, and he can get me a deal on them. He can also help me out, he got out of the comps and stuff and is still interested enought to help me. He said that he hit like 150s off a rockford 2000 watt amp. He only really had his trunk dynamatted too, he didnt' do much acoustically. This makes me VERY interested, but WinISD is saying that the audiobahns will be a lot louder, and I rely too much on that program. My mind sees the huge difference in the curves between the rf and the abahns and tells me I'd be stupid not to go with the abahns. Local records tell me to go with the rfs. It's aweful, i don't know what to do. Most everyone is telling me rockfords, but is it just because audiobahn has a crappy name? I've heard the immortals are almost exacylt the same sub as a DD9#### some other numbers... but I know DD has a good name. So if they are similar or equal in moto structure and all that stuff, why would or how could the sudiobahn be worse. I don't know weather to trust that rockford is better because everyone saya audiobahn is crap, or if this is one of those chevy vs. ford deals, you know? I know that the rockfords my buddy had killed my 15" audiobahns, but I pluged that into the WinISD program and it said that it should have. I just bought crappy audiobahns. Had I gone with the next line up, WinIDS says that I would have beaten him. I can't argue with results from the rfs, but WinISD has to be close right? and according to it, the audiobahn ound q's will be like 10 dB louder at almost any frequency. I tried the audiobahns at half rms wattage, and same thing... well, not 10 db but still higher. Everything I did to degrade the audiobahns came out in the end louder. But again, I can't argue with results. It's just hard to get over the projected outcome WinISD is giving me I guess. This is why I turned to the forum, I hoped someone had worked with both.
Posted By: boxmaker85
Date Posted: October 05, 2004 at 11:48 AM
WinISD is good for getting an idea of what you're looking for. I've seen stat sheets tellin a guy he should only be hitting around 139.5 db and they pound at 147 something. The only way to really see (or hear in this case) is to put the subs you like in your car with your setup and listen to it w/ your ears. Then you decide who is loudest. I've heard the rf hx2 and they are "loud" heard louder but if you're on a budget then..... But I've also heard Audiobahan's (not sure which some of their nicer stuff) and they were loud (probably louder then rf). But everyone's sayin' that the audio's will fry easily. I'll let you choose from the two.
Posted By: poeticdrums
Date Posted: October 05, 2004 at 3:22 PM
To answer your questions: between Rockfrod and Audiobahn I'd go with Rockford. I've never owned either of the two but from what I hear throughout the Car Audio world, I hear that Rockford Fosgate is not all that bad of a sub. They get nice and loud but lack in SQ. Altough what SQ they have they will beat Audiobahn hands down. Plus, for all the stories I've heard with Audiobahn, not a single one has been a good one. And in fact at the supernats here some poser kid pulled up with his 2 12" Audiobahns and fried them in front of my eyes. I guess he liked the sound of ripping paper all too much.
Posted By: poeticdrums
Date Posted: October 05, 2004 at 3:23 PM
But, if you ever shy away from one of those company's, hit Infinity up. They make a damn good product for the price and they sound oooooh soo good.
Posted By: 97neon
Date Posted: October 05, 2004 at 3:37 PM
don't buy audiobahn, i have(had) the AWT15X, the biggest one, 3000 RMS< i put it in a 5 cubic foot box to specs, and it blew up in 1 hour, i put 1100 rms on it from a memphis 1000d, i bitched for weeks for them to repair it, and they said they don't cover blown voicecoils, well, they tried saying IF I HAD A CAP, IT WOULDN'T HAVE BLOWN UP, lol, what a crok of sh*t, so i finally got them to fix because of FORBIDDEN form this site talked to them for me, and it has been 5 months now, and they still have not fixed the sub, so, don;t buy audiobahn, cause there sh*t,
Posted By: gus1
Date Posted: October 05, 2004 at 4:02 PM
"You can't polish a turd.... but you can chrome it!"
- CEO of AudioBahn 
Gus ------------- Wherever I go, that is where I end up......
Posted By: kfr01
Date Posted: October 05, 2004 at 4:19 PM
They should spend more money on R&D and less on chrome flame and full page ads.
-------------
New Project: 2003 Pathfinder
Posted By: warpedhalo
Date Posted: October 05, 2004 at 8:58 PM
ok, i am getting a feeling i'm going with rockfird. but wii 3 10" punch hx2s be louder than 2 15" immortals? it doesn't seem logical to me that they would. but a dude hit crazy numbers w/them... so io don't know. let me know what you think.
Posted By: MBZ oe
Date Posted: October 06, 2004 at 11:51 AM
YES, I AM SHOUTING THIS. 3 PUNCH HX2 10'S WILL "KILL TWO 15INCH IMMORTALS!!!! BUT THATS NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE IF YOU PUSH THE IMMORTALS THEY WILL KILL THEMSELVES. SERIOUSLY. I don't understand why people keep wasting their $$ on this stuff. They should have an age-restriction (18 and under) Engines have no performance gain from chrome plated parts and neither do subwoofers. IMOP, they are only good for show cars that will never pound them. I see them at every car show in a 32 roadster or such mounted with all chrome showing. Usually a free-air wall. Ask Aggie Altima how his two HX2 10's sound and how happy he is with them. Or do a search for HX2 and check out the guy who has 4 in his trunk. The power and punches are great, but the current RF subs are garbage IMOP. Here is a link to my HX2's poundin' https://www.meimann.com/movies/300E_pounding.avi Here's one beside an MTX 8000 T8104A 
------------- BOOM, BOOM, BOOM BOOM....
Posted By: speedwayaudio1
Date Posted: October 06, 2004 at 12:03 PM
Back in the spring @ Daytona my Dist guy saw the audiobahn demo car go smoky smoky in front of the world. so that should tell you that they can't get there own stuff to work. i am no fan of rf, but if i could only chose one it would be rf.
-------------
Big Dave
Posted By: warpedhalo
Date Posted: October 06, 2004 at 10:56 PM
Well, I can pick up the rockfords cheaper, I know they sound good from my friend w/ them in his truck, and all of you seem confident in the RFs, so thanks for the advice! I'm going to post another topic on the forum about a deck. I need to know if I am going to be having to worry about cd skipping. I'm trying to get opions on a deck that'll take like 160 dB (not that I expect to hit it). Just to be sure, you know. If teh cd skips then I'm out of luck right? So I wanted opinions on if it'll be a problem or not, and if so what to go with. Thanks a lot!!!!!!
|