Printer Friendly Forum Posts - Subwoofer recommendation

can anybody recommend a sub upgrade, i am currently running a kenwood KAC-7201 amp with 2 12" kenwood subs in a sealed box. The box has 1.25 cu. ft of air space per woofer. Can i just get any subs that is rated @ the 1.25?

Perfect box size for JL W3V2 12".

thanks for the recommendation, are they good subs? or do you think i should go with a better amp and keep the subs i already have. I saw the power acoustic LT1440/2 which has a RMS of 300w x2 @ 4ohms. My subs are hooked in series @ 4ohms (i have 2 12" kenwood KFC-W3009)

300 RMS per sub is perfect although I'm not familier with power acoustic These subs are dual voice coil so you can do a parrallel/ series setup to get a 4 ohm load with their dual 4 ohm coil model. I think these are the best value in JLs line.

Wha?

No don't ever install a "power acoustik" amp. That is a goofy, goofy thing to do.

Redstorm, manufacturers do not 'rate' boxes on anything that has anything to do with sound-quality or a quality listening experience. They list 'manufacturers specifications' based on a loose-mix of "What box-size will sell lotsa subs?(Read: a 1cuft3 box is really easy to build...)" and "what will be loud(read: real peaky at 50hz) and make ppl think they bought a good sub?".... certainly absolutely nothing like sound-quality goes into what a manufacturer recommends for a enclosure.

What kinda amp do you have? Get back to us with that and we'll throw ya some recommendations.

And tcss is right, if you have a clean 300 watts or so, a W3 ought be at the top of ur list.

-------------
"I'm finished!" - Daniel Plainview

This is exactly what i have installed:
Kenwood KAC-7201 amp:
800 watt peak
150 watts RMS x 2 at 4 ohm
230 watts x 2 at 2 ohms
460 watts RMS x 1 bridged output at 4 ohms
variable low-pass crossover (50-200 Hz at 18 dB per octave)
selectable high-pass crossover (150 Hz at 12 dB per octave)
selectable bass boost (12 dB at 90 Hz)

That is powering 2 12" Kenwood KFC-W3009 4ohm subs in a sealed Q-logic QLH-12D125 box. I got this whole set from Bestbuy b/c my old system was stolen and I need a quick fix which this was b/c it was only like $250. I know it isn't show stuff but it was the best option at the time. I want to upgrade little by little but I am really not too knowledgable in this area. I appreciate the help

what r u looking for in a sub SQ or SPL and if u are looking for SPL you shuold go with 15" subs with the amp you have you could run 2 entry level 15" subs from rockford fosgate sony or JL WOs then when you ready to up grade you amp u could go with just about anything think JL rockford alpine or memphis would be good choices memphis now that i think of it has entry level 15" subs that retal 4 about $100 bucks each

-------------
1974 ford pinto 4 15" punch Z power punch bd 1001 pioneer DEH-6700

I'm looking for a combination of both SQ & SPL. What do you guys recommend, I would like to stick with the 12" for now since I already have a box for them. Should I first go with better subs then amp or vice-a-versa?

i would go with amp first and as far as the suds you dont get much SQ from 15" subs but there great for SPL how much are oyou tryiong to spend on an amp and r u gonna buy on line or retail ?

-------------
1974 ford pinto 4 15" punch Z power punch bd 1001 pioneer DEH-6700

Yea those subs look really cheesy. Keep ur box it'll do fine.

460 Kenwood watts huh? You'll want two DVC 4-ohm subs.. each VC wired in series and then in parallel to each other and then bridged off the amp.

You might want something a wee-bit more efficient then a W3... those are little hungry.. but very nice subs. Have you looked at JL's new W1 woofers? Either choice would be excellent.

Of course, if I were you, I'd buy a pair of Infinity Perfect 12.1d's... they'd sound excellent in that box and are some of the most efficient SQ subs I've ever heard off. This is where I'd put my $$$:

https://www.cardomain.com/item/INFPERFECT121D

-------------
"I'm finished!" - Daniel Plainview

I'm not looking to go too overboard on subs or an amp, i like my bass to sound loud & tight ya know. I'd probably spend no more than $200 on an amp. I will either buy online or retail depending on who's cheaper

What?

No don't buy another amp.

Kenwood makes a nice product man.. that's a solid amp. Its your subs that are cheesy. If you serve more power those things the only thing they are gonna do is break faster. The fact they cost 50 bucks and have a massive vortex-cone thing should tip ya off that that is your weakest link.

If you really mean "I'm looking for a combination of both SQ & SPL." then go look at the Perfect 12.1d. Those will punch ur teeth out and sound heavenly doing it.

-------------
"I'm finished!" - Daniel Plainview

I checked out those Infinity subs and they look & "sound" as in read pretty nice. I have a question though in wiring, you said if you run the subs in series & then parallel to the amp bridged it would be like this? Now when you go and run it to the amp just hook up the 1 positive on 1 channel & the negative on the other? this in essence will show a 4 ohm load and my amp should pump like 460 watts am i correct on this???
posted_image

well sedate is right about one thing the infinity perfect subs are great for SQ and they will provide good SPL if you put more power to them then what u have for an amp right now but the buying a bigger amp will give you more SPL than new subs subs can handle more than the ratted power if its clean power the infinity subs are going to set you back alot more than $200 for a set what do you want more SPL or SQ ? now for the amp your not going to get much more power than what you have right now

-------------
1974 ford pinto 4 15" punch Z power punch bd 1001 pioneer DEH-6700

i think u should check out ikesound.com

-------------
1974 ford pinto 4 15" punch Z power punch bd 1001 pioneer DEH-6700

you can buy 2 12" memphis subs for under 200 retail and the box that you have will work thats most likely be the best bet in your price range

-------------
1974 ford pinto 4 15" punch Z power punch bd 1001 pioneer DEH-6700

I appreciate all the help, just one last question....if i go with a DVC 4ohm sub and hook it like I have listed above....it should be ran bridged correct? for instance the infinity subs (approx RMS 300-350) or the Memphis M3's are like 400 RMS, my amp pushes 460w bridged will the subs handle it??? I'm a little confused with the wiring

yes both of those subs will handle that all day long and yes bridge the amp and you will have the amp running 4 ohms mono and set your gain at about 3/4 and you will be happy with the results by the way what kind of ride do you have

-------------
1974 ford pinto 4 15" punch Z power punch bd 1001 pioneer DEH-6700

Blowntweeters wrote this exquisite statement; "set your gain at about 3/4 and you will be happy with the results"

Happy with your results, man you need you need to check yourself and the advice you are giving out.

Setting gains is a precise procedure, not an approximation based on what you think, I am not going to go any furhter with this but just be very careful with that so called advice and do a search on this site on how to properly set the gain.

-------------