What to look for in an SQ sub

[JazzScreamer 1]

What do you look for in an SQ sub? What t/s parameters and such makes a geat SQ sub. Now I know that SQ is subjective, but most companies make an SQ geared sub. As a buyer, what should we look for in this type of sub?

[JimJ 11]

I'd want a driver with low inductance...but I wouldn't place too much emphasis on any one parameter.

For example, if I was interested in building a horn-loaded sub, one with very low Qts would be appropriate; but if I wanted something in IB, a very high Qts would be preferred.

It all comes down to the install.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

To me SQ is subjective. Jim will like a certain driver more then me, I will like a certain driver more then you, and you will like a 3rd more then Jim. It is all relative to the install and your preference.

[mrray13 30]

i think jim has nailed it to a degree. what is the install going to be? that should be your basis for looking at sq subs. not just type of enclosure either, but budget, output desired and even what the rest of the staging is. then you can start looking at parameters. read reviews. talk to reps.

what do i actually look at for an sq geared sub? i don't, lol. i'm a basshead. but i still want my sub to be as clean as possible, be very responsive and get silly freaking loud. kinda like the rl-s.

wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[bass_lover 2]

I personally look for a low inductance, like as close to 1.0 mH as possible, and lower is better imo. A flat BL curve is nice too. A flat BL curve indicates that the driver's t/s parameters will vary less throughout the driver's operating range of motion, usually leads to less distortion as well.

On a personal note, I like a driver w/ a Qts around .4 and an EBP of around 50, these aren't really strictly for SQ drivers, but it just tells me that the box that I need to build isn't going to be huge, and it will work rather well sealed or ported.

I'm sure there's exceptions to this, but it's just something I'll look at, but again you're not going to know what it sounds like by reading specs on the internet.

[///M5 2,833]

Install is the key. To me a good substage is useless in an SQ install if you haven't done your homework to blend it with the front stage. All sorts of bass drivers are fine, but the integration and install will make a huge difference in the final product.