I'm just gathering opinions here, but for me, I like my music to be high quality, not LOUD. I listen to rock, alternative, and country. Is a really top-dollar subwoofer like a W7 worth the bigger pricetag for someone who doesnt do competition and isn't really an audiophile? I know W3 is a great woofer.. would one of these better suit my wallet and my tastes? I'm thinking primarily a single 10" in a sealed box.

 

I was goin to get a W7 but i decided to go with the Kicker 12"L5. and it is really nice it sounds just as good and u can make it as loud or as quiete as u want, just my opionion.

 

i was going to get the w7 also, but decided to save the money. i made a small set-up with a 12" w0(granted this is nothing like the w7) and blew the first sub. in the end i wish i just spent the money and did it right the first time.

 

wheres a good place to buy a W7

 

Clarity, sound quality, and authorized resellers... clean and capable... what is the difference?

I know the JL brand and they have always had great sounding equipment in my experience. Are you saying these other two places have better equipment? Clarity and sound quality are what I'm looking for. I don't know how they differ from being clean and capable.

 

i was about to say soundsplinter also, if you looking into RE, check the SE and the new XXX line(not listed on the site but might be a little more costly than you would pay, $650+ for the 12 direct, no 10 the magnet is to big for a 10" model), when and if adire ever comes out with their new subs you can check them out www.adireaudio.com and also www.ascendantaudio.com is just now putting out a few of their models

 

What are some of the models that would compare for these companies to a W7 or W3?

 

Kyle you don't need w7, they are nice as hell but it's way too much bass for your preferences. My 12" entry level Rockford is too much bass for most country songs.

I heard someone say once that you should look for a certain type of amp to power the sub because for rock you can control how the bass hits so it's nice and hard for the drum hit but doesn't overpower you with the constant bass guitar lines. I haven't really checked in maybe BamaBoy could shed some light on that a little more.

But you dont need to go all out to a W7

 

A W7 is nice but too much for your tastes. My roomate took his out because it was too much for normal listening in a truck. The W3v2 is a really nice woofer for everyday use. It will sound great and can still be loud as hell. The price tag will make you happier too. The major issue I have with the W7 is it is a 3Ohm sub and you need a killer amp to make it hit right. With the W3 you will save some money and can invest in a quality amp. All in all I recommend the W3 of those two but I agree with Tommy about the kicker L5 or L7. They can be found a lot cheaper and sound real good too. In fact Circuit City sells kicker products now. They also have eclipse too.

 

shssh..dont tell him that you can never have too much

on the other part sounds likeeither someone was playing with an EQ or changed up their low pass and high pass filters on the amp thats the only part i can think of

if it was the other way around i would have to saw it was a n Epicenter thats did it, the thing is amazing it can make country with even the littlest bass sound like a LIL JOn song *kinda*

http://realmofexcursion.com/videos/Kicker/l715.5.wmv

 

i'd also recommend the w3v2 over the w7 for the same reason. the w7 isn't needed to have clean subtle bass like it sounds like you're wanting. i put 2 12w3v2-d4's in my cousins thunderbird, and they sound great. he listens to most of that punk rock crap, but they still sound good. i also threw one 12w3v2-d4 into my friend's girlfriends car for xmas. sounded really good. she has an 01 integra, and it filled that car very nicely for one 12. our trucks are small. for a while i've even contimplated going down to just one sub and trying to really go all out for SQ only... i never got past the thinking part though, lol.

 

Cool deal! I was kinda leaning towards the w3v2 also, since I have heard them in person before. Ive never heard a w7 so I wanted to get some opinions. I wasn't sure if they'd just be too powerful or what. I like my bass to complement my music, not drown it out and turn my truck to a rattle-trap. I think a w3v2 with a 500/1 amp would probably suit me pretty well.

 

i have a 10" type r and tcab box for sale...i could cut you a deal

trust me...sounds better than a w3v2...IMO...i heard one properly ported with an mtx801d...mine definetly sounded better

it fits perfect in your ext cab...right behind the passenger seat i've found is best...

LMK, it will be a lot cheaper than the w3 you are considering...by a longshot.

Just the sub alone is more than what I will take...think about it

 

Type R!?! I should get one for my Civic! Juuuuust kidding. That's Alpine right?

Are some of these smaller brand names sold in stores where I could hear them first?

 

you can definetly hear it at like circuit city best buy...but...heres the one thing i will point out.

don't waste your time...the boxes they use are GARBAGE!!! they use just a regular old sealed box...the whole thing with TCAB (www.thecaraudiobox.com) is the box. It is crazy. I had a different 10" type r (made by alpine if that answers your question) in a sealed box. I then went to the ported...a WORLD of difference. It's mainly an SQL box (they are made to get loud and sound EXTREMELY good)

I don't personally know anyone or have heard (in real life) a single 10 that sounds as good or is as loud. Mark Potts (visit the website i posted before) can attest to the TCAB boxes, he is the builder/founder of the company.

The box brand new is 279
The sub can be had on ebay for about 110

PM me if you are interested and I will throw some numbers around. Visit www.thecaraudiobox.com first and look around at some of his work. check out the vids and LMK what you think of the type r

 

if you do go with the w3v2, you actually wouldnt even need anything as powerful as the 500/1 (that would be perfect for 2 12w3v2's, so you could get away with a small amp)

 

Don't sealed boxes generally give you better SQL and ported are more for SPL? I don't listen to anything with heavy bass so most people I've talked to reccommend a sealed box with a small, high quality woofer.

 

Not true. Ported boxes have better low frequency extension (depending on tuning frequency) and most of the time have a lot better SQ. All the SQ guys use ported boxes tuned crazy low (like 24, 26 or 28 hz) and they are amazing. Sound quality also comes from your amp (THD) and wiring, and installation, and sound deadener, and distortion. Your gains must be set properly (usually use a DMM) and your low pass cut off and high pass cut off must be set properly.

Putting a high quality woofer in a SMALL sealed box is like wiping before you poop...it's pointless.

You get the same sound as putting a cheap crapola wal mart woof in there (well not really but it's a good analogy). The SQ difference is unreal between a ported and sealed box.

I had both...and I'm actually an SQ guy (I just like loud bass) and the sealed SUCKS for sound quality (IMO). IMO it doesn't have the low frequency extension. All the low drums sound like they are nocking on a piece of wood or something. I could make better sound with my hands. When I switched to the ported box, it was a night and day difference. The lows were vivid and clear. And I'm not talking about "lil jon" lows...I'm talking about real lows...like even classical music. Real drums, real bass guitars.

Did you get a chance to check out the TCAB website??? I would do so, you won't be dissapointed.

And i'm not trying to sell anything here, I just know a lot about car audio and I'm trying to spread my knowledge. check out TCAB, Mark Potts knows his stuff.

 

I did look around their site... it's just hard for someone who doesn't know a terrible lot about this stuff to read about sound, ya know? It's like trying to explain light to a blind person kinda...

 

W7 = Name

They aren't all people hold them up to be really.