12" sub recomendations?

[lofapoo]

My friend is looking for a set of 12 inch woofers for his wagon, but neither of us are audio professionals exactly. Plus who can really trust those money-grubbing bastages at the stores anywho Looking for best bang for the buck, thump yet quality sound. Preferably ~500 watts per sub. Looking to spend a few bills on a sound system for the wagon, probably $150 per sub max.

I'm hoping to get some advice while I search around forums and google and such, thanks!

[yellowbuttah]

i have one 12 inch crossfire sub (bmf 1228) and an amp from bolt for $450 the amp was a mono at 1000 watts. The crossfire hits hard for a 12. http://www.crossfirecaraudio.com/

[Rex]

Lots of "good" brands out there, JL, Kicker, Cerwin Vega, Orion, Alpine, etc. They all have entry, mid and upper level subs, so don't be careful, cause price alone doesn't mean it's a good deal. If you check cbrstereo.com it has the Kicker Solo=baric L5 12" subs on sale for $149. It's a good sub, but there are better out ther, just going to be hard to find really good 12" subs <$150.

They also have a great deal on the Hifonics Brutus amps.

I'm also a fan of McCauley subs (pricey) and Autotek amps (fair priced). I don't have any experience with any of the Brama or Audioaire (spelling?), others do and may weigh in. Not sure of the pricing on those.

Click for link

[mello88]

HiThere are some good posts and good subs listed above. I'd like to add my suggestion...

I've used Infinity Perfect 12" subs before, they'll take 350w RMS and like 1400 peak (who cares). They have great effeciency (like 92db) and sound amazing. Plus u can get em on the cheap, check out EBAY.

My buddy has used the Alpine "Type R" subs for a while now, and they sound great, they simply pound.

I think for my current install I am going to try new-to-me brands... For a 12" sub I am going to go with an Image Dynamics IDQ dvc sub:

http://www.cardomain.com/item/...=frog

A little more pricey than u wanted but has nice specs:- dual 2 ohm coils (so it is either 1 ohm or 4 ohm)- 90db effeciency - plays 10-150hz- small sealed airspace .55cf - 1cf- 350w rms

GL!

[Rex]

FWIW, effeciency should be used as a guide, but I recommend against it as a determing factor, especially when comparing different brands. There's no "standard" and the testing is done differently. I had a McCauley sub in a CRX years back and according to the effeciency number I should have been dissappointed since I only had the back half of a Fosgate Power 300 bridged on it, but it was overwhelming, even had to keep the bass "defeasted".

[onosqv]

FWIW, effeciency should be used as a guide, but I recommend against it as a determing factor, especially when comparing different brands. There's no "standard" and the testing is done differently. I had a McCauley sub in a CRX years back and according to the effeciency number I should have been dissappointed since I only had the back half of a Fosgate Power 300 bridged on it, but it was overwhelming, even had to keep the bass "defeasted".

For sure, different subs vary so much.

Another just as important (if not more important) factor is the box the sub comes in. If you have an awesome sub in a crappy box -> it will sound crappy. If you have a crappy sub in an awesome box -> it will still sound crappy, but to a less extent.

Anyways, I ran 2 10" Rockford Fosgates entry level Punch subs w/ a 200 watt Kenwood amp and that thing BUMPED the hell out of my 240 coupe. Sound quality wasn't quite there because I didn't know how to tune it correctly and did not have all the crossover jazz, but that thing was LOUD. You can get a pair of 12" for under 300 pair. or under 200 for lower punch entry level ones.

I've had 2 different Rockford Fosgates subs and would recommend them since they are also usually under rated.

I now run 2 12" Fusion subs w/ 1 amp each, that thing is much better sound quality, but doesn't "shake" as much since they are in relatively smaller sub boxes.

[PoorManQ45]

Another just as important (if not more important) factor is the box the sub comes in. If you have an awesome sub in a crappy box -> it will sound crappy. If you have a crappy sub in an awesome box -> it will still sound crappy, but to a less extent.

Partially correct, except for the second part. You can put to Lanzar, pyramid, pyle, etc.. 12in subs in a properly designed and Built Isobarik enclosure and they will most definitely sound good if you don't over power them

Sorry for getting off topic, so here's my recommendation

Nakamichi makes an excellent 12in sub that you can get for ~$79~$100 each. If you look at them, make sure you get the D model and not the S model, as the D handles more power with about the same efficiency.

[Rex]

Good points, the box is a very "key" piece to the prefromance of a sub and picking a sub that you can't fit/build a proper box for the car you're putting it in is a bad choice.

Now does anyone have any more 12" sub recommendations for lofapoo?

[audtatious]

<nevermind>

[PoorManQ45]

NO, it is normal for companies to use the 1w/1m @ 2.83v. I don't know where you got the 13.5 volts from?

They're talking about feeding a driver 1w at 2.83v, what frequency does that work out to?

[audtatious]

LOL...

Ooops. Your right.

Strike my comments from the record. That came from nowhere but my fried head

[PoorManQ45]

LOL, it's ok, I kind of got what you were trying to say.

I think you accidently used the effective electrical system's voltage, right?

[PoorManQ45]

I don't know what the formula for this is, but can one of you figure out what frequency a 2.83v signal is at? I know that there is one, the people over at the12volt use it sometimes, but I can't remember it

[audtatious]

LOL, it's ok, I kind of got what you were trying to say.

I think you accidently used the effective electrical system's voltage, right?

Yeah...It should have been amps, but I used car voltage instead of amps. I dunno where my head was...

I will look in my GAIT book to see if it has a conversion for V - frequency...