Easy sub\box question for those far experienced

[shizzzon 461]

For general purposes-

is 3 10s in their largest recommended ported box going to be "potentially" louder than 2 12s in their smallest recommended ported box?

Power comparison-

10s would receive maximum recommended rms, 12s would receive double recommended but small box would control movement better.

I've kinda asked this question many different ways but i am now in a hurry and need to know from u guys who have had experience with just enough volume and just right volume and so on...

I am leaning towards the 3 10s just because i fear a just enough volume for 12s would lack low bass even if power is doubled....

It's my opinion so i am looking for facts before i place the wrong order.

[creyc 1]

I think there are a bit too many variables there to make a good assumption.

All else being equal, the old adage is that two 12s are about comparable to three 10s. Changing box size effects some woofers much more so than others. It's difficult if not impossible to say which will be louder.

I will say however that with limited space for a box, often times smaller drivers with the right size box will outperform a larger driver in too small of a box. Go by how much room you have first, then decide which driver fits best in that space.

[shizzzon 461]

i know what u mean 100% but i am getting mixed answers and it's giving me a headache!

I've been trying to decide this myself for almost a month and gave up because my head was hurting too much.

I, personally believe 3 10s would have more potential.

3 10s being thought of is 3 Fi BLs or 3 RE SXs.

2 12s being though of is 2 Audioque 12HDC3s.

Here is the dilemma-

There website states they can work in 2.5cubes gross per driver...

Well, i have exactly 5 cubes gross. I talk on the phone with DJ, the owner, he tells me they need to be in 4.6 cubes after sub displacement but then i have to add room for port....

Confusing because that's not what it says online.

He then told me with the power i plan on running, it's an iffy decision if it will hit the lows well or not... That's the main problem.

There was one guy who has his in 4 cubes NET, mine will be in 3.75 NET if i went with them.

They suggest tuning to 40hz and will drop down to 30hz fine.

He says his is tuned to 40 and starts to roll off around 33hz.

I just don't wanna make a mistake.

If you think it's a win win either route then it doesnt matter what i choose but if u were in my shoes, what sounds better to the mind?

[KU40 173]

it also depends on the tuning frequency. If you tune the 12's lower than the 10's, the lower port will help the lows a little (but a lower tune will require a longer port for the same port area, so there goes a little more internal box volume). Plus you could add polyfill to the 12's box too. And even though you say you can have double the RMS of the 12's, that doesn't mean the subs can actually handle it in order to use it. If you smoke the subs after two weeks then you'll probably wish you had gone with the 10's. So kind of a back and forth deal. I'd just go 10's and be done.

Edit since I just read your second post after I posted this: 40 hz? really? If you want to hit the lows, go 30. I don't like porting above 35 because it just gets too peaky and one note-ish.

Edited April 28, 2008 by KU40

[shizzzon 461]

I own 2 of their 15s, they can take 3kwrms briefly, 2kw all day long.

Their suspension system is different than other drivers.

38-40hz is the lowest recommended tuning.

Anything lower, and you start to lose out of the highs.

Their statements just like my experience with their 15s, tuning like that, in the right box, can drop as low as the high 20s and reach upwards to the 70s before rolloff.

The lower you tune, the longer the port, but the smaller port area can be. Turbulence increases with higher tuning... as well as smaller port area but if port area is already large enough, tuning lower can use smaller port area.

I wish not to tune lower unless i went with 10s.

If i went with 10s, i's prob tune between 33-35hz.

If u think i should go with 10s, i've been thinkin about the RE SXs.

Why? because i was told a while back that the T/S parameters of the BLs are shown AFTER break in. Where the resonance frequency is of the 10" BL, that's right around where i like it loud at and i'm pretty sure there will be a slight drop in output in that area.. especially since my Fs of my car is in that area as well...

RE SXs are in the low 30s.

[shizzzon 461]

talkn to someone else right now.

He says he has 2 of the AQs in only 3.6 running off of 10Kwrms worth of amps but gain is turned way down.

He said he has them tuned to 33hz and drop nicely so i might just have to tune a lil lower to prevent losing low end.

[///M5 2,833]

talkn to someone else right now.

He says he has 2 of the AQs in only 3.6 running off of 10Kwrms worth of amps but gain is turned way down.

He said he has them tuned to 33hz and drop nicely so i might just have to tune a lil lower to prevent losing low end.

"And he said" nothing that pertains to your setup.

What really matters is who is actually right on with their box specs and who is trying to mislead you into using too small of an enclosure. Personally I'd take the 3 10's for your application as at some point power compression will be the deciding factor and the 10's win there. Just be sure to optimize the enclosure, luckily with the Fi stuff we already know what that is.

[KU40 173]

also, "gain is turned way down" doesn't mean anything. The gain isn't a volume knob. You could be delivering full power with the gain all the way down if your input voltage is high enough. shoot, it's possible that you could even be overdriving the amp and clip it. so just be careful when you hear that and don't use it to relate to the actual power being applied.

[shizzzon 461]

i'm fully aware of that, i've been around the comp scene for a while.

These subs can't take 5kw a piece for daily.