TC vs FI

[rexxx 0]

right now i have a 15" TC Sounds LMS-5400. when i bought it i was looking for very clean and loud bass. the LMS-5400 is without a doubt the nicest sounding subwoofer i have ever heard, but now i want to go even louder. i don't really care if the subwoofer sounds increadibly clean and undistorted because i'm just looking for more output. I was looking at either the 18" TC Sounds TC5200 or the 18" FI BTL. What should i get?? any input would be appreciated!

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

First welcome to SSA. Second, I always say build before you buy. Meaning try a different box before you by another driver. If you love the sound and just want more output why not an 18 of what you have? $$$ If not, then look at the FI BL as an option. Keep in mind the BL is a great driver but is biased towards output and not so much towards sound quality.

[JimJ 11]

I'd try a high tuned ported box with lots of port area...should work well for you if all you're concerned about is SPL.

[DevilDriver 28]

right now i have a 15" TC Sounds LMS-5400. when i bought it i was looking for very clean and loud bass. the LMS-5400 is without a doubt the nicest sounding subwoofer i have ever heard, but now i want to go even louder. i don't really care if the subwoofer sounds increadibly clean and undistorted because i'm just looking for more output. I was looking at either the 18" TC Sounds TC5200 or the 18" FI BTL. What should i get?? any input would be appreciated!

Greetings!

The LMS-5400 is indeed a quality driver. Your distaste for quality sound aside, I think it would be very worthwhile to review enclosure options, as Denim mentioned. Let's hear more about your current enclosure; there may very well be a better solution available for you. The LMS-5400 has enough stroke and BL to give things a real pounding. What amplifier are you using as well?

The BTL is a great option, but it would be a shame to give up on a $1000 driver without assessing the possible solutions.

Cheers!

[007 0]

What are you box dimentions, specs?

what is the size of your port (if you have one)

what is the lenght of your port

what kind of amplifer do you have and how is it wired?

[rexxx 0]

the enclosure i have it in now is about 3cubic ft. sealed. i was told to build a box that was 4cubic ft. with 70sq in. of port. its powered by a 500 watt sony home amp. i was still in the market for a car amp before i decided that i wanted more output than sq. i have no doubt that my 5400 will be very loud, i just doubt that it will be loud enough. thats why i was looking at larger subs. i was looking at the 18" BTL. has anyone ever owned or used a 18" BTL here??

[JimJ 11]

You're powering a sub like that with 500W and you're surprised at the lack of output?

Upgrade the amp first, and go to a ported enclosure...then think about changing drivers.

[DevilDriver 28]

Multiply your power by a factor of at least 5 and you're in the right area. I think then you will find it to be sufficiently loud.

[CBFryman 2]

Mo Powa and Ported is mo bettah.

[rexxx 0]

The 500watt amp was just a temporary home theater amp. I am still looking for an amp so i have the sub in the house. the reason that i am not sure if the 5400 will be loud enough is the review i read on TC's website said it could have had more output. another reason that i bought the 5400 was because i got it for only $720. i preordered a 12" version but they decided not to make the 12"s so the gave me a 15" instead at no extra cost.

[JimJ 11]

$720?

I'm sure the 5400 has a lot of output potential...but for that price you could have spend your money elsewhere and gotten more. Would have required more in the way of amplification though.

[CBFryman 2]

for $720 you could have had two Avalanche 18's with change left over. You just would have worked to get them. over 8l of linear displacement.

[rexxx 0]

i know i could have gotten something louder than the 5400 for $720 but when i got it i wanted very clean and undestorted bass. Thats why i didnt go with anything else. you think you have heard bass but when you listen to a 5400, even with only 500 watts, it sounds totally different to what you have heard from any other speaker, simply amazing. but now im just looking to go as loud as possible. i really like the idea of 2 18"s so i think that is the way i want to go. what 18"s would be really loud in a subaru legacy station wagon??

[CBFryman 2]

Avalanche's are some of the best SQ woofers I've heard.

[007 0]

If you want PURE SPL and size does not matter and you want it as cheap as you can get it, then you really bought the wrong driver by a long shot.

May I suggest dual 18" PA-2000's. They are less than the LMS and they will be a lot louder. They won

Edited March 6, 2007 by 7

[HawaiianBassHead 0]

If you want PURE SPL and size does not matter and you want it as cheap as you can get it, then you really bought the wrong driver by a long shot.

May I suggest dual 18" PA-2000's. They are less than the LMS and they will be a lot louder. They won

[rexxx 0]

how much would a pair of 18" PA-2000s cost and how much power could they take??

Edited March 12, 2007 by rexxx