Low Priced: Image Dynamics ID series (as Kietlander stated)
Mid Priced: JL Audio W3
High Priced: (SPL) Resonant Engineering MT or XXX series - (SQ) Image Dynamics IDmax or Focal K2 power (as 88supramki stated)

All-n-all, most subs can potentially sound good - the enclosure, power, and installation techniques are more important IMHO.

 

GZ Ground Zero if you want the best!

 

That's a difference in INSTALL, my friend. CANNOT be any other way. (2) W7's will blow the hell out of the car, if installed correctly. There isn't a single 12" that can really out-dB (2) 12"s, if all of them have large excursions and high power handling. The difference is in the install position, cancellations, amp power & dynamics.
Not that Treo doesn't make great stuff, but SPL comps are merely about moving enough air the right way.

Jerry

ed. Whoops! Left out subwoofer enclosure type & construction as another huge variable.

 

^^

so true, so true.

so what makes them "the best", besides your opinion?

 

Parke10, yes the treo could have been louder, but is its sound qaulity like JL? JL is awesome, the best sound quality you can get out of a sub, no matter what the volume is.

There's lot of ways to buy subs. Just depends on what your budget is, how important sound quality is to you, etc.
But with amps, you would need to go with JL, only true amp out there that puts out true wattage.

 

JL being the best sound quality, far from it, there are a a lot of other subs out there that sound better then JL. For instance the diamond audio d9 sub. I would take that any day over the w7. If you want a lot of boom, i would probably go with the boston acoustics SPG sub. But i think that the JL has been living in the lime light for too long becuase of their name.

 

DD gets my vote

 

Theres alot of good brands, subwoofer technology isnt exactly rocket science.

JL
Resonant Engineering
Treo
Eclipse
Diamond
DD
Adire
Ascendant Audio
CDT
Boston
Kicker
Image Dynamics

Theres alot more, but from all of the companies above you can find a great sub for a great price.

My Favorite is the RE SE 12" They go for like 165-200 and are the best bang for buck.

W7 is my fav no-limits subwoofer. But theres 10s of subwoofers that are just as good.

 

Bump.......looking to replace my GS 430 10" sub

 

is clarion any good?

 

I'm a big fan of Fi Audio's Q series subwoofers. They sound amazing, and they bang like you wouldn't believe. You can easily throw 1,000 watts RMS at them all day without issues, and they only seem to get louder with time. I'm throwing a Q15 into my ES300 once I get my lousy electrical system upgraded.

With their BTL series I'm seeing people throw 5,000-8,000 watts per sub all the time, and there's so many people banging in the 150's (dB) with just 2 subs these days.

Forget JL. Forget Kicker. Fi Audio subwoofers are where it's at. They're worth every penny and then some.

 

I'm also on the same boat. Looking to improve the bass in an 99GS400. I'm looking for something light: 1 sub and 1 amp. I listen to Heavy Metal and Progessive Metal. Therefore, I prefer deep, accurate bass response. I don't really need a whole lot of boom. My budget is around $250. Any input is appreciated.
Thanks

 

I recently blew my sub on 2004 Ls 430 with Mark Levinston system. I read forums for the gs models but I cant find any for the ls models. I new to CL so please be patient with me. I want to keep the stock ML system including amp but looking to replace sub. ML is over $300. through lexus. I've heard JL audio, Kicker, really heard that every free air sub will work. I reaching out to my new CL family to steer me in the right direction. I'm damn near 40 so I'm not looking for earth shattering bass. I was happy with the clean sound of the ML sub until it blew. I listen to jazz, r&b. Looking to replace the sub hopefully this weekend. I'm in the Socal area.

 

you left out

beyma
tc sounds
elemental designs
fi audio
pioneer stage 4
and on and on and on

 

I have an orion HCCA 10" sub...kinda of a power hog..but fully rebuildable..plays way deeper than I need...just enough to sound good..and not rattle the car apart!