Okay on to the next step of my SQ system. I just ordered a JBL BP1200.1 to power a JLW7. I got to thinking last night about what size would best compliment my music. So I guess I need your opinons on which would be the better buy. I listen to just about everything. Mostly R&B and rap, but rock and alternitive come in a close second. I know the 12 will give me more boom but would the 10 have a better response to most music? thanks guys

If you are going for an all out SQ system, I would highly suggest you check out Resonant Engineering (www.respl.com) and check out the HC and XXX series subs, and would also look at Elemental Design (http://edesignaudio.com/ep/products.htm) and Check out the A series. I think for high dollar subs, especially in a SQ setup, these subs are hard to beat...

As much as I'd like to agree with Vairking.. The JL 12w7 is definately the way to go. I can tell you because i've owned both a 12w7 and a 15HC and can say that the 12w7 has blown away anything i've ever heard as far as SQ goes. The difference in SQ between the 10 and 12 w7's isn't even going to be audible. Go with the 12 and do it right the first time. Dont get me wrong, Resonant engineering and elemental designs make great subs but it's just plain fact that the w7's are the best SQ subs made to date... All custom machined parts to make a seriously BADASS sub. Wether the expense is worth it or not is up to you but if you have the money, go with the w7.

just plain fact that the w7's are the best SQ subs made to date... All custom machined parts to make a seriously BADASS sub. Wether the expense is worth it or not is up to you but if you have the money, go with the w7.

thats only possibly true if your trying to buy your crap from a mainstream dealer in america.

there are whole lines of subs by other companies that will blow a w7 away in sq.

check out focal-america.com for a few of them and some of my personal favorites (not that i'd ever build a system for sq though- lol)

http://focal-america.com/catalog/utopia/38wx.htm

I know there are many many brands out there, and many of which could possibly be better than the W7, the only thing is Many of those companies dont have dealers around here or dont use dealers at all, (ex. elemental design.) I base which sub I want only on what I have heard. It will be hard for me to buy a sub from a company before ever listening to it. I have really thought about getting a focal sub, only because that is what all of my components are. They do make great sounding equip. So what are the pro's of a 10'vs. a 12' and vise versa. Right now I am really just trying to figure out which are better sounding 10's or 12's. Keep in mind the whole SQ deal. Thanks guys lets keep em coming.

definitely get a 12. it will hit lower and a good one won't have any looser sound than a 10 (or at least it won't be audibly worse) you'll kick yourself later when the 10 doesn't reproduce the lowest lows in your music fathfully.

also keep in mind that the dealers usually don't do a very good job of showcasing the equipment. the best places here in mn try to show off the stuff, but their sound proof rooms don't do an adequate job of showing how it would actually sound in a car. sometimes you just need to take a leap of faith or listen in a friends car in a real world environment.

Is there any way to hear other subs that are not sold locally? I would really like to hear some others, before I buy. I told myself before I started putting together this system that I would go All Out......within reason. So I want to do this right with out doubt. I dont want to get a sub and then wish I had a different one. I have always had just one 12' and have been happy..... except when I play songs that have bass but it at a higher freq. and my 12 sounds just gross. But also allthe 12's have been entry level stuff.

Go with the 12. My experience is with MTX's but I have owned both 10's and 12's in my experiences. The 10's are a little more tight hitting but the 12's definetly hit lower and sound louder. Just my opinion.

expo... name this whole line of subs that will blow away the w7s.. I'd love to see one that could blow it away.
Lets see just how well that Focal compares.. I'd like to see some reviews on it.. I've heard a couple focals personally but thing they sound like poop. Here, here's a few reviews on the w7..

"Astonishing engineering. This speaker is the cleanest, tightest, most accurate thing I've ever gotten (excited about)." – Fast Cars (UK) – Spring, 2002…on the 10W7

"Meet the woofer they will all be measured against… This is the most magnificent piece of acoustic engineering I've ever seen in my entire life." - Fast Cars (UK) – Spring, 2002…on the 10W7

"Fast Cars Rating: 10" (out of 10) - Fast Cars (UK) – Spring, 2002 …on the 10W7

"…this speaker will do cataclysmic wave fronts — that happen at the front of the bass hit, something that is utterly profound." – Fast Cars (UK) – Spring, 2002…on the 10W7

"You'll be amazed at the sound produced — it's smooth, deep and musical but can also be played to hurt… You've simply got to hear the new W7…" – Redline (UK), March, 2002

"You'll need to buy two or even three subs of a similar size to make the same (output) and you probably won't have room for them." – Redline (UK), March, 2002

"This gives an all round performance of such high quality on every level that bettering it will be very hard to achieve." --– Peter Hawkins, Total Car Audio (UK), April/May 2002

"The reward for this entire endeavour comes in the audition. Bass is tight, fast and musical at whatever sound level you choose. It really does pack the punch and easily shakes the walls, but never sounds out of control." – Peter Hawkins, Total Car Audio (UK), April/May 2002

"If you want quality and quantity and have the ancillaries to support it, the 10W7 or its bigger brothers will take you as close as it currently gets to ultimate bass." – Peter Hawkins, Total Car Audio (UK), April/May 2002

"Five Stars" (out of five) Total Car Audio (UK), April/May 2002

"The 12W7-3 delivers a very impressive sense of power that's absolutely addictive on this type of material." (Jennifer Warnes' "Ain't no cure for love") – Tom Nousaine, Mobile Entertainment (USA), April/May 2002

"It's a totally seductive and completely absorbing engulfment in bass." – Tom Nousaine, Mobile Entertainment (USA), April/May 2002

"So, what do we have here? We have an extremely impressive technological tour de force, that's what." – Tom Nousaine, Mobile Entertainment (USA), April/May 2002

"The 12W7-3 has more peak-to-peak linear suspension travel than any subwoofer I've tested so far (Xsus of more than 3 inches). The motor also has more stroke than any other subwoofer I've tested (Xmag of 26.3 mm, which is over 2 inches peak-to-peak). – Tom Nousaine, Mobile Entertainment (USA), April/May 2002

"The new subwoofer reference" – Car&HiFi, March/April 2002 (Germany) – test of 12W7

"Listening to recordings of acoustic bass material leaves us with no wishes for improved reproduction and large organ pipe notes reveal a low bass that could not possibly be any fuller. The W7 reproduces rock and jazz with merciless precision, bass drums have the correct size and perfect impact, and these qualities are not diminished as volume is increased. Hard techno beat attacks really bring the W7's special dynamic qualities to light, even fat, brutal synthesized bass blasts cannot exceed this woofer's reserve capabilities… A "Killerwoofer"." – Car&HiFi, March/April 2002 (Germany) – test of 12W7

"The W7 is a woofer which has it all. Not only are its ingenious technical solutions impressive, but also its sonic abilities which leave no desire unfulfilled. Without exaggeration, one can call the W7 one of the best woofers of all times." – Car&HiFi, March/April 2002 (Germany) – test of 12W7

"…the W7 is made for people who cannot escape the fascination of a truly exceptional loudspeaker." – Car&HiFi, March/April 2002 (Germany) – test of 12W7

i love getting w7 fans riled up.

i know which loudspeakers i'd buy and we'll just leave it at that

I dont think that anyone can say that the W7 is not a good sub. Plain and simple it is a very technologically advanced speaker. Granted there may be other brands that could be equally as good, but I personally have not been able to listen to the competition, I am very open minded when it comes to this stuff. I like the W7, but I would be willing to give others a chance as well.

Hey Big Green, you'll have to let me know how this sounds... You're going to be using the same amp that I have... And the W7's were one of the speakers that I was looking at... That and the w6v2's anyway...

I ended up with an audiobahn flame Q and I'm really not happy with it like everyone said I would be... It hits and bumps, but dosn't sound the way I thought it would... So I'm looking into selling it and getting something different...

flame q 12? i bet i have a buyer for one

Thats the problem that I have been running into, I really want the W7 but I would like to listen to the competition first. I dont just want to take another persons opinion until I can listen to it myself. People's opinions on what sounds best differ from one to another. I just want to hear other subs so that I dont make the wrong choice. I dont want to have any regrets about what I buy. You guys opinions are very important to me, so keep them coming.

Expo5.0- I couldnt look at the resonant engineering web site it is being worked on appearently. I have heard good things about those subs and want to further inspect them.

hey, i didn't suggest re. although i do think they make pretty good subs.

so far as i know they are done selling their 2002 subs and there are no 2003 models available yet. and just what that means i do not know. its very possible that they are going down the crapper.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=82892

Sorry Big Green, not trying to hijack your thread...

Its okay no problem.

Heath- please dont be offended but man...... your wife is pretty cute!!! Take it as a compliment ;)

I have 2 12" RE SE's, and my system is set up for SQ. They sound awesome! They are also very good for SPL. I did a comp last weekend, and with a crappy Boss amp, I scored a 134.5 db. They are in a ported box, and sound awesome with any kind of music. I highly doubt that RE is going down the crapper with the amount of product they moved last year, and with how happy their customers are. They are just improving service.

Originally posted by Big Green
Its okay no problem.

Heath- please dont be offended but man...... your wife is pretty cute!!! Take it as a compliment ;)


Its okay... I do take it as a compliment... I need to get some better pics up of her... She's not looking her best in that one...

I was doing some searching on all different kinds of subs, many of which were much lower in price than the W7's (one of the highest, $900). Why is that? I think that I would be very happy with the W7 but I dont want to get it and install it to find out that its not what I thought it would be like, I guess thats all part of the game though. Maybe I worry too much. I dunno.

My opinion on the w7 is that it's the best sub you could ever hope to see at cartoys or tweeter.

For the true audiophiles, there's a whole other realm of great sounding speakers without the hollywood pricetag.

Adire, elemental designs, idk, phoenix gold, blueprint (out of business, but I think they made some quality equipment), stereo integrity, the list goes on.

Most of those brands are geared directly towards sound quality. They'll still push like crazy, but they'll do it nice and clean.

The w7 just doesn't do anything for me.. The speaker itself seems to make a weird whooshing noise when it's pushing air. But try to listen to one in a car and see what you think.. It might be what you're looking for. If not, there are always other options.

Hey thanks, I'm glad you put it the way you did. All I want is to be happy with what I get, and to try and avoid the guessing game of which sounds best. Thanks for the info guys its been helpful.

think that I would be very happy with the W7 but I dont want to get it and install it to find out that its not what I thought it would be like

Most audio shops will let you test one out. You'll buy the 12w7 (or whatever else), and drive around for a week or so. Take the truck back, and swap out for another sub to test out. As long as the subs come back in working order, I've never had a problem. Just tell the sales guy that's what you'll be doing ahead of time.
Give it a try. Any one who stands behind their merchandise will let that fly. Check out Tweeter if you don't believe me.

Karl

Tweeter being a Audio shop? That would be so great and so much help. I'll have to ask to see if he'll let me do that. Thanks

what's funny is that I asked nearly the same question on a different forum, but I got totally blitzed by W7 haters who tried to push their ED's and Brahma's up my ass and actually ridiculed me for even considering a W7. I finally decided that I wouldn't get anything they suggested, mainly because I've heard most of those subs and prefer the W7, but also because I'd rather shut them up by proving all of them wrong.

Big Green, so how has this turned out??? I'm still waiting to hear from you... I'm still not happy with my setup...

Well money has been kinda tight lately, my car got broken into so I had to buy I new $500 HU. The 12w7 is going to be the next thing. I have definalty decided to get the W7...... I just have had great experiences with JL audio and hope that they will continue to impress me. I work next to an audio shop that sells JL stuff, and one of the installers told me that he would use his discount and get the W7 for me. So the total cost is going to be like $475, compared to $800-900 that I've seen other places.

Heath- what do you want to change? Just your sub?

Just my sub... I have JL in my doors not... Not as impressed as I though I'd be... JBL for amps... Love those... and Alpine for my HU and XM... But the Audiobahn Sub needs some help... I just don't care for the sound it puts out...

Well when I finally get the sub and hook it up I'll be sure to let you know my honest opinion.

If you want a cheap sub to use in the meantime my Audiobahn is for sale... $200 plus shipping, in a sealed box...

There is a thread about it in the FSTW forum...

For that price, it's really hard to argue against getting a w7.. The only reason I recommended otherwise, is because you can get a very competitive setup (if not better) for less.

The JL markup in stores is just insane. Not worth the 80% inflation over factory cost. It's not a horrible sub, just not worth the cost after inflation.

One advantage to JL versus Adire is JL will replace their subs under warranty if you blow them. I've blown three 12 W0's and gotten all of them replaced. One even got upgraded to a W3.

My brother blew an Adire Shiva 12" and Adire wants $75 to fix it.

Does anyone know how much wholesale/cost is for a 12W7? I just want to know just how much the dealers pay. The cheapest I have found is $599, and the most expensive I have seen is $899, thats a $300 difference. Wow!

Visit www.respl.com

I'm getting a XXX 15" at some point.... Might I suggest you look into a 10 or a 12 XXX.

why not get the mtx 9500 like i am going to get. i don't know how low you can find them on the net, but i know i can sell the 15s for around 350. they maybe aren't quite as good as the w7s, but they are close.

Well now I want to hear the RE 12'XXX, that sounds like a good sub, what kinda power does it need? I am getting really impatient, and just want to get a sub. Someone told me that with a 12W7 I would be hitting in the mid 140's is that true, and is that good for one sub? I want I sub that has awesome sound quality but can rattle my brain if I want it to. I've said it before, I just dont want to play the whole guessing game. For the people who have a RE 12XXX let me hear your honest opinions.

Originally posted by Big Green
Does anyone know how much wholesale/cost is for a 12W7? I just want to know just how much the dealers pay. The cheapest I have found is $599, and the most expensive I have seen is $899, thats a $300 difference. Wow!

I got a 12w7 in the JL ported box from a wholesale dealer for $650.