Help me choose a new 15" sub

[Notorious97200 339]

Hello guys,

I currently run a DD 9515 in a 3.8 ft" box tuned to 35 Hz with a 6.5" round pvc pipe. The port has a little flared on both ends.

My amplifier is Incriminator 2.0. I have 2 AGM batteries and the big3 is done. No voltage problems.

 

I am used to xcons, icon, and Fi btl n2. And I loved them all ! The btl n2 was my favorite : more punch than the xcon and still sounded good.

 

I am looking at the SSA Zcon and at the Fi sp4. But I am open to suggestions.

 

I found the DD to be brutal, it can play all the notes I want but it's "dry", not round enough. I don't know how to explain it.

It is loud and can get low in this box.

 

What would you suggest ?

I would like to keep the same box. I could make another box, but with a slot port I can't go bigger than 3.4 ft3 in my opinion.

 

 

Thanks for your help.

 

[THX_Elite 26]

I like my Fi BL, it is nice and plays high to low, it's a 12" but if I had room I'd get a 15 because it hits lows and highs very nicely...the highs become more prominent after some break in time, the lows seem to come in stronger at first.  I have not heard the SP4, but I love Fi Audio soooo....   A lot of people criticize the BL's 18mm xmax but that coupled with a REALLY powerful motor seems to be a very well rounded driver.  Don't know much about the Zcon other than you can't really go wrong with those either!

 

That is a tough choice to make between those two subs for sure...both the Zcon and the SP4 have the same xmax at 33mm, the ZCON being 2250w and the SP4 being 3000w....the SP4 is 2lbs heavier also.

Edited April 21, 2014 by THX_Elite

[Notorious97200 339]

I think I am going to try a Zcon. A bit lighter, needs less power (even if it's not a pb for me to run an sp4 with 2000w).

I like the ssa C/S !

If a friend of mine want to sell one oh his 4  btl N2 I will jump on the deal. He needs to decide quickly.

[altoncustomtech 773]

While I do love SSA and all the drivers I've experienced (DCON, ICON & XCON) I would have to admit that if I were looking at getting a new 15" driver and was considering something different I would definitely have to give a DSS Ethos a shot.  

[jcarter1885 995]

I like my Fi BL, it is nice and plays high to low, it's a 12" but if I had room I'd get a 15 because it hits lows and highs very nicely...the highs become more prominent after some break in time, the lows seem to come in stronger at first.  I have not heard the SP4, but I love Fi Audio soooo....   A lot of people criticize the BL's 18mm xmax but that coupled with a REALLY powerful motor seems to be a very well rounded driver.  Don't know much about the Zcon other than you can't really go wrong with those either!

 

That is a tough choice to make between those two subs for sure...both the Zcon and the SP4 have the same xmax at 33mm, the ZCON being 2250w and the SP4 being 3000w....the SP4 is 2lbs heavier also.

Has nothing to do with the size of a subwoofer, just a myth.

[Notorious97200 339]

I've read some very good things about the DSS Ethos, but I made my mind ! I will stay partial to SSA if I can't make the deal on the btl !

Thanks guys.

 

THX_Elite : I know the Fi bl 12" and I like it a lot. But I'm looking for more.   Thanks for your suggestion.

[puscifer2 27]

While I do love SSA and all the drivers I've experienced (DCON, ICON & XCON) I would have to admit that if I were looking at getting a new 15" driver and was considering something different I would definitely have to give a DSS Ethos a shot.

^^ this. As an owner of 2 12" I would recommend looking into these drivers.

[bassahaulic 155]

What is your goal you're going for? 


ZCON and SP4 are built for two whole separate applications. 

[Notorious97200 339]

My goal ? Listen to music, with lots of bass if I want.

I listen to a lot of reggae and dancehall : I need bass but not only the lows.

I may put some Decaf from time to time, 

So mostly reggae and rap.

 

My LPF is set to 80 Hz from my head unit.

 

I am not a competitor, I've listen to 143-145 db cars,I'd like to be loud like that with that setup ;-)

[Sencheezy 689]

FML, just wrote an entire page just for it to be lost by clicking away. 

 

Long story short. If you are hurting for space, I would recommend the ethos. I say this because it was designed to excel in smaller enclosures, 2.5-3 cuft. With my personal experience, both the Zcon and Sp4 really enjoy large net volume and port area, at rms ratings. 

 

With your current enclosure, you can expect an peaky response from the zcon. And that box won't be ideal for the SP4 as it's designed for lower tuned enclosures, the more ground and pound vehicles, were tuning is at 28-31hz. 

[Notorious97200 339]

I think I can go up to 4ft3 net, after dispalcement. Is that too small for a Zcon ?

 

I need to take a look at the DSS Ethos. I think I did not find anything in the ssa store about them. I will take a look in the forum.

 

I had a few 15" subs in 3ft3 boxes, and it was really not pefect, only suitable !

My 12" btl n2 was in a 2.5 ft3 box at 34 Hz, but it was not enough bass, not enough pressure for my taste ! So, I need the 15" sub  

[Shogen 325]

 

 

I think I can go up to 4ft3 net, after dispalcement. Is that too small for a Zcon ?

 

I need to take a look at the DSS Ethos. I think I did not find anything in the ssa store about them. I will take a look in the forum.

 

I had a few 15" subs in 3ft3 boxes, and it was really not pefect, only suitable !

My 12" btl n2 was in a 2.5 ft3 box at 34 Hz, but it was not enough bass, not enough pressure for my taste ! So, I need the 15" sub  

[ohio45113 24]

lol what about a phantom soundz ps15?

[Notorious97200 339]

Thanks for the sub specs Shogen.

The Fs is lower than a lot of subs I had ! I don't know how will this affect the sound, because I'm not looking to play only the lower notes !
I need to look at some reviews, from respectable or experimented users.

[Shogen 325]

The nice thing is he posted the F3 according to how it models so you know what to expect for that tuning... I'm sure if you message him OR get a thread going as far as recommendations for your listening style he might actually give you a better tuning spec for YOUR needs ... just a suggestion..

 

and you're very welcome Notor

 

 

Thanks for the sub specs Shogen.

The Fs is lower than a lot of subs I had ! I don't know how will this affect the sound, because I'm not looking to play only the lower notes !
I need to look at some reviews, from respectable or experimented users.

[Notorious97200 339]

I was reading about those subs : impressive results and reviews.

I like the fact they perform well in "small" enclosures, but I worry about the "punch" I can get out of this DSS.

I had Xcons15, btl12, and now a DD9515 : I want more output than the xcon15 but I don't want it to sound like a DD9515.

I'll send QJ an email.

[swift 501]

Loving my Ethos. The sub plays with more authority down low than the Q but hits the higher notes way better. The Q didnt play all that great up above 40hz (I mean it played well just nothing to write home about) The Ethos plays a much wider range it seems. My box is 3.6 tuned at 29hz. Has plenty of punch on the rock stuff I was listening to. 

[Quentin Jarrell 671]

I was reading about those subs : impressive results and reviews.

I like the fact they perform well in "small" enclosures, but I worry about the "punch" I can get out of this DSS.

I had Xcons15, btl12, and now a DD9515 : I want more output than the xcon15 but I don't want it to sound like a DD9515.

I'll send QJ an email.

Mark is working on a website for me so my email is down. Shoot me a PM

[jonbearsmt 919]

Loving my Ethos. The sub plays with more authority down low than the Q but hits the higher notes way better. The Q didnt play all that great up above 40hz (I mean it played well just nothing to write home about) The Ethos plays a much wider range it seems. My box is 3.6 tuned at 29hz. Has plenty of punch on the rock stuff I was listening to. 

thank you !!

 

 i had someone challenge me when i stated such in my review, as if i was making stuff up , quote "how can it play lower and higher, then other subs, thats not possible, its one or the other"

 

 all i could tell them was to pick one up for them selfs and see..... its true. great subs

[Quentin Jarrell 671]

It all comes down to proper engineering. There is a reason why I deal with who's considered the best group of engineers in the world. The more people get to hear these drivers will learn to understand this and realize just because a driver may utilize similar parts as something else doesn't make it the same.

[Sencheezy 689]

 

Loving my Ethos. The sub plays with more authority down low than the Q but hits the higher notes way better. The Q didnt play all that great up above 40hz (I mean it played well just nothing to write home about) The Ethos plays a much wider range it seems. My box is 3.6 tuned at 29hz. Has plenty of punch on the rock stuff I was listening to. 

thank you !!

 

 i had someone challenge me when i stated such in my review, as if i was making stuff up , quote "how can it play lower and higher, then other subs, thats not possible, its one or the other"

 

 all i could tell them was to pick one up for them selfs and see..... its true. great subs

 

 

 

PHUCK the both's of you's!!!!!