JL Audio vs. Everything

[carguy6702 0]

ok i've heard all kinds of things about the W7 that its the best and also that it sucks.

i've heard one and i liked it. what subs come to its level or are better than it in both SQ and SPL

on the posts i've read someone wants to know about its performance but someone always brings up the price so when responding, the only thing i ask is dont bring up the price

[Adrian_D 520]

i would take a look at the Si Mag or Aura MR.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

I think this topic has been hit a decent amount in recent weeks. But if you after W7 like performance, there are numerous subs out there that focus on the utmost in SQ with strong out put. Keep in mind SQ is subjective in many ways.

pre-06 RE XXX's

Fi Q's

IDMAX's

SS RL-p

Crystal CMPx2

SI MAG

PG Ti Elite

Eclipse Ti

SS RL-s

and so on

[carguy6702 0]

yea its been hit alot but all i got from them was

"this sub hits harder than a 7"

"i get more SPL than a 7 with a budget"

"this sub has better SQ than a 7"

you know posts like that, just want to know whats the same or better

thanx for the list denim

[JimJ 11]

To my ears, the W7 is not the best sounding driver JL makes. I prefer the W6v2 to it...no contest.

There's a few drivers that to me, sound better than the W6v2...but it's very close. I'd suggest the Aura NS series, Madisound stocks them.

Focal Utopias or Rainbow Vanadiums would also be good choices.

None are cheap.

[mrray13 30]

i agree with jim, the w6 trumps the w7. and IME, subs like the SS rl-s walk the w7 in all catagories. subs liek the mag and rl-p more then hold their own.

and i'll say this as well, looking into competitions, how many people win with w7s?

wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[helotaxi 46]

SPL comps? None, once the going gets serious. Just doesn't have the motor strength to get really loud in a ported box.

As has been mentioned, SQ is totally subjective. The W7 is a SUB woofer. Doesn't get into the upper bass range very well at all but delves into the depth of inaudibility as good as most any sub on the planet. Factor in the broad flat Bl curve and you end up with a sub that can get pretty freakin loud at really low freqs in a sealed box with extremely low distortion. The lack of upper bass and the utter lack of distortion sounds wrong to a lot of people. I've never actually heard a properly set up W7. I've heard several installs with them but in no case would I call the setup proper. They were all street-beaters with the low pass filter set too high, the box tuned too high and the bass up too high. Sounded like ass. But then any sub would under those conditions. Same experience with W6v2s. The W7s have the potential to sound awesome and get really loud for the level of soud quality that they are delivering. There are louder (lots of drivers and lots louder) and there are probably better sounding (all personal preference, though) but the W7 blends the two as well if not better than any driver out there.

I personally LOVE my '03 XXX, but I will very likely go back to JL when I get my new car. I'm holding out for the reprise of one of their greatest subs ever in the form of a 8W6v2 but I'm not holding my breath on that one.

[carguy6702 0]

thanx for the info helotaxi

[///M5 2,833]

I have a problem with your question in the first place. An SQ sub setup will have the most pleasant frequency response to the ear, note I didn't say flat since there is a slope associated with everyone's curve of preference but nonetheless it will have a smooth and pleasant response to the ear. For an SPL setup it is the opposite as you are really looking for the most peaky response that you can possible get. While it is possible to create a box alignment that does one or the other they are pretty much the opposites. Of course to have a driver that is designed for either would also then basically be a driver designed for an opposite style enclosure. Either way it is going to come down to the install. That being said, I too am of the I prefer the w6 to the w7 sound. I have heard both in near optimal sealed enclosures and would choose the 6. I will add I have heard neither ported and also neither were setup anywhere near for SPL. This really comes down to what you are looking for and of course on either end of the spectrum there are drivers that will do either configuration much better.

[JimJ 11]

It's worth mentioning that once you're spending more than $500 or so for individual subwoofers, you really need to be looking into other parts of the system and making sure you're allocating your money properly. While there are audible reasons, to me, why I'd prefer an Aura NS over a Mag D2, for example...I wouldn't spend the extra $250 or so unless I knew my front stage was damn near perfect and I couldn't use that difference on something to improve it.

People seem to have an unneccessary fetish with subwoofers.

[helotaxi 46]

People seem to have an unneccessary fetish with subwoofers.

Totally agree there. Must be a phallic thing. The sub is really only a very tiny part of the sound of the system. In a pur SQ setup its not uncommon for the sub to only be reproducing the bottom 1.5 octaves. The other 8.5 octaves are the responsibility of the front stage and are where the complexity of the music lies. Those drivers are the make or break of the SQ system.