EllisD

I'm looking to buy new subwoofers for my car because in my opinion, one Alpine Type S 10" isn't enough bass.

I've narrowed it down to these two options, since I don't have a huge amount of money to spend.

1. Two Kicker Comp 12" subs with a 1000 peak watts amp, and a sealed box, for about $240.
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...s-Package.html

OR

2. Two Kenwood W112S subs with a 1600 peak watts amp, and a sealed box, for about $200.
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...s-Package.html

I'm wondering what set up will hit harder, while still sounding somewhat good quality wise. I'm leaning towards the Kenwoods because they have a slightly higher RMS, so I'm thinking they will hit harder as well.

Any help is greatly appreciated

mkorsu

Stay away from anything Kenwood!!!! Right now they are making absolute pure crap.


Best bet. Stay with the Type S you have. You're problem may be power, What is powering the Alpine?

EllisD

What about the Kickers?

And I'm powering the type S with an MRP-220T amp bridged at 4 ohms, which gives the sub about 140W RMS.

Robert_J

I'd stay away from both. I tried to come up with something that would really rock but I can't do it for your budget. I was starting with the Audiopipe APSM-1300 (1,000w @ 1 ohm). It's a great little amp that does rated power in to 1 ohm. Check the forums for some good reviews. $111 From there add a couple of Cerwin Vega V-Max subs and an enclosure but that really pushed your budget out.

93SC300.

iTrader: (7)

i got 2 12in kickers and im just fine. ive never seen anyone have an issue with them so i would go with those over any kenwood product

EllisD

Thanks for the help. How much more than $250 would that set up that you had in mind be?


The only thing that makes me think that the Kenwoods are better is that they have a little bit more RMS. But I've also read that Kicker under rates their subs and that they can handle more than 150 RMS each.

Robert_J

Unless you are going into an SPL competition, wattage is pretty much a useless spec.

Keeping that Audiopipe amp, add a Sundown SA-12 (dual 2 ohm voice coil) http://www.sundownaudio.com/index.ph...?category_id=3 which is currently on sale for $155 http://www.caraudioclassifieds.org/f...sax-1200d.html . Pair the sub with a Scosche pre-fab box http://www.walmart.com/ip/Scosche-12...osure/14667133 . $30

Here's a Sundown / AP system - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGyFMUSp6jc

If you are worried about using a "Wal-Mart" box, I did - https://www.clublexus.com/forums/6675652-post42.html . I'm not big on "bass videos" but the guy that helped me is into that thing so here's my video. A quality 10" sub in a Wal-Mart box. https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es3...ml#post6675528

EllisD

Would that set up hit harder than two W112S' or two Comp 12's? Or would it just have much better sound quality?

Robert_J

By "hitting hard" are you talking about the unnatural peak at 50 hz that gives you the thump in the chest feeling? Or pure SPL? These will play relatively flat but get pretty darn loud.

SPL in the subwoofer range is all about moving air. The Kicker sub has 9mm of xmax according to Crutchfield. http://www.crutchfield.com/p_20610C1...ures_and_specs while the Sundown has more than 22mm of excursion. So 1 SA12 can move more air than a pair of Kicker Comp 12's when given enough power. In a ported box, you can hit well over 140db with a single 12 - http://www.caraudioclassifieds.org/f...e-sa-12-a.html

EllisD

I was talking about what you feel.

Thanks for all info on the Sundown subs. Judging by the specs you've posted, the Sundown subs should have more SPL as well as more "bass that you fee;" than either of the options I was looking at. Looks like I'll just save up a little more money and go with those.

Also, would the SA-12, the Wal-Mart box, and the Autotek ATX 1600.2 be a good combo? Because it would save me some money vs the Audiopipe amp.

Robert_J

Autotek is a division of Maxxsonics (owner of MB Quart, Hifonics, & Crunch). Good brands but I have never, ever heard of them much less seem them mentioned in the car audio forums. It may or may not deliver rated power. If you can find more information on it, please post a link.

If it does deliver close to rated power, then it will work fine. The SA-12 is dual 2 so this dual channel amp will work. Wire the sub as a 4 ohm load and bridge the amp.

EllisD

Alright. Thanks again for all the info. I'll be sure to post up a video clip of whatever set up I go with.

Big Mack

iTrader: (1)

Autotek was a very good quality amp in the heyday of car audio. Their Mean Machines were always pushing the limits of what speakers could handle because they delivered their actual power, unlike some of the cheaper amps. Not sure if their quality has eroded, as Maxxsonics used to have a reputation that was less than stellar. I've not heard much about what they've done with these brands after acquiring them, other than changing the signature sound of some of the MBQ lineup.

I do know that I don't like seeing companies put their max dynamic (WLS) numbers on amps to make them seem like more than they are, and it seems that's what they are doing now. Kind of a bummer...

Big Mack

Robert_J

That's why I look at amps that have 3rd party testing (pro or amateur) or something like Sundown does and actually videos their test so that anyone can recreate it with a clamp meter.

The Audiopipe amp produces a true 1000w into 1 ohm. My Powerbass is rated at 1000w but has been measured as high as 1200w depending on the electrical system.