Help me out with picking a set-up

[hayes55987 0]

Hey guys! got another topic about a new set-up idea i'm looking at

Current set-up is an 18" BL on a JBL BP1200.1 amplifier

Currently though, i'm looking at picking up another BP1200.1 for a total of 2.

this means I would start changing around my subs then.

Here's where i'll give you the info and you try to help me decide

Limitations:

Each BP puts out 1200 watts @ 2 ohms. I'll have two of them and they're not strappable so it'll be two subs i'm looking at.

I have around 5.8 cubes of space to play with. Max sub size I can fit in terms of still being able to get the box in the trunk are 2 15's. I'm leaning more towards 12's though just because then i can actually give them ample space to work with and it makes it easier for me to fit a port in with them.

Current subs I was looking at were between:

2 12" BL's with P Chamfer

or

2 12" ICONS.

My goals for this build are I wanna say LSQ...but i know id be lying about the definition of what that means haha. I want it to be louder then my 18" BL and somewhere around the same sounding which I dont think should be that hard to match the "SQ" of a BL.

forgot to add..this will be going into a trunk car and as for the orientation of the drivers, i'm not sure about front firing or rear firing. see how big the box is.

let me know what your guys's opinions are on this! thanks!

what are your guys's reccomendations on these? Any other ones out there?

[flakko 1]

what kind of music do you listen to mostly?

[hayes55987 0]

I listen to a variety of music...

everything from rap to rock etc

I like my boxes ported and usually are tuned to around 32-35Hz unless they're a competition box

I like my rap bass to be loud when I want it, but usually dont like my rock to be over-bassy; so its turned down when i listen to that.

hope this helps!

I haven't listened to a lot of "SQ" subs because most people around here mainly just crank their stuff up and go for as loud as possible (Orion HCCA's, Type-R's, etc). The best sounding subs i've listened to I think are RE SE's. I really liked the way they sounded.

My BL sounds pretty good to me though for everything I use my sub for.

[flakko 1]

well just from the reviews alone, it looks like a pair of Icon's will sound a whole lot better than the BL. seeing neil compared the Icon to the IDQ in terms of sound quality. thats saying a lot. I mean A LOT. I guess the ICON is more of an "all around" sub, and the BL is geared more towards the heavy bass rap music kinda thing (like an RE SX)

if the decision were mine, id pick the icons. but thats just me

[johnecon2001 82]

You want the next setup to be louder than an 18" BL on 1200w, and you want it to sound better as well.

If you end up going with the 12" ICON's.. I'd use a 5^3ft, dual chamber box tuned to 30-33hz. They should get plenty loud on 1200w each.

[///M5 2,833]

I pick the Icons as well.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

I know what I would pick.

[hayes55987 0]

my goals are maybe a little confused. I am hoping to achieve better SPL, but I don't have to sound better then the BL. I'm just hoping to not sound worse haha

Im hoping to keep my SPL up if I opt to use these subs in a tiny competition we have in the summer. Typically, i'd just try to add more power to my 18" BL, but Its a D1 configuration and this makes it way harder for me to find an amp that'll put out a large amount of power at 2 ohms without breaking my wallet.

The ICONS have been very tempting though seeing as i'd be powering them nicely, i've seen some amazing numbers with them on here, and when i'm not bumping them, they still sound amazing.

[johnecon2001 82]

^ you'll have no problem sounding better than the BL you currently have with the ICON's

You didn't really mention whether you have the BL in a ported or sealed box (I'd hope ported) and what it's tuned to if ported.

[hayes55987 0]

Sorry about that

I have the BL in a 5.5 cu ft box firing upward tuned to 34Hz

How will the ICONS sound compared to the 18" BL in terms of SPL?

just give me your best guess seeing as how its an impossible question to answer if you can!

It'd be:

1 18" BL in a 5.5 cu ft box @ 34Hz running off 1200 watts

firing upward

trunked car

versus:

2 12" ICONs in a 5.8 cu ft box @ 34Hz running off 2400 watts

firing front facing

trunked car

let me know if you guys have any possible predictions at all

[Sgaynor1 0]

How does a 18 sound in a car?! ive never heard that before...arent the notes too long?

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

I wonder if the box is too small for the BL. I know I should be pressing the Icon's, but if you want more output maybe a larger box based on Fi's suggestions might be worth trying, if you can fit it.

[todd.brust 29]

the space is no option! i've seen the BL in the Camry...hayes and i damn near had to force that beast in there

go for the icons hayes...you know you want to

[hayes55987 0]

yea, space is at a minimum for the BL, but 5.5-5.8 is the max I can go for space in my trunk unless i like whip everything out and start doing the whole spare tire fiberglass, etc

i realize i'm choking it at the minimum.

Thats why if i upgrade, i'm almost 100% positive i'm going to go with the 12's because i'll actually have some ample room for them to work with. Even if i went with 2 15's...i'd be cutting them short in terms of air space and even fitting in a port correctly.

my only question with the ICONS is how loud they'll get compared to my BL right now

do you guys have any predictions on this? Or are there any 2 12's out there that can run off 2 1200 rms amplifiers with around 250 a driver or so and be louder?

I really dont wanna go down in output over my 18" BL right now

[DC Audio 0]

I would roll with the 2 12 set up, they might work better with your box limitations, Ive never hears the Icon but seems like its got a lot of support so why not give it a shot!

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

It is all in the install really. But you are talking about going from an 18" output biased sub to a pair of 12" SQ subs.