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Jason
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2002
02:05:40
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 Subject: Subwoofer Language?
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I'm wanting to buy a new 8" or 10" sub for a decent price. My problem is that I can't figure out what everything means so I was wondering if someone could explain how to look at all of these numbers and which was the best:
ohms (higher or lower is better?)2, 4, 8
db (higher or lower?) 85, 90, 93
voice coil (what does that mean)dual or single
frequency (higher or lower)50-200 or 30-800
any other info would be helpful. I have a rc 4.7 and I'm building my own box. Don't worry about the amp, I'll buy one to fit the speaker.
Thanks a lot in advance.
Jason
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Ripper_242
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2002
02:28:47
|  RE: Subwoofer Language?
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Check this site out might be helpful
http://www.caraudioanswers.com/index.php
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hifizn
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2002
07:41:59
| RE: Subwoofer Language?
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There isnt really a best as far as ohms,or impedance goes,the lower the number,the lower the subs resistance to the power is,the main thing is that you match your total impedance with your amplifier.So,if you buy 2 subs,that are 4 ohm subs,you can wire both of them in parallel,for a total impedance of 2 ohms,you should have an amp that is designed to be optimal at 2 ohms.Basically,you can have what ever ohm subs you want,as long as you have a good match between subs and amp(s).The db # reflects the sensitivity of the sub,the higher the number,the less power you will need to make it move.A sub with two voicecoils makes figuring your total impedance a little different,if you had 2 subs,with dual voice coils each,with each voice coil representing 4 ohms,you then have more wiring options,but not necessarily the best option for an amp that is optimal at two ohms,you should seek local assistance or learn how to wire in parallel,and in series before purchasing subs or an amp.The frequency range of 50 to 500 indicates the sub will play very well in the midbass to bass region,where the range of 30 to 800,would indicate the sub will play lower subwoofer notes,as well as very high midbass,and midrange notes,however,I have not seen many subs with a range that large.Maybe 30 to 150.That is a choice,preference thing,and,most importantly,the enclosure that these subs go in,can greatly affect the frequency range you will actually hear from the subs.My best advice,is find someone locally to help you with your choices,you will be very dissappointed to purchase a couple of subs,that want to play at either 1 ohm,or 4 ohms,but not two ohms,and you went out and bought an amp that will play best at two ohms,put out less power at 4 ohms(probably half power),and cannot play at 1 ohm without shutting down due to design restrictions.good luck
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R/Truck
Dodge Dakota
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4/12/2002
12:16:28
| RE: Subwoofer Language?
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Jason-
Short and sweet of it..
if you use 1 sub then get a 4ohm
if you are going to use 2 subs then get 8ohm
This way you can bridge an amp and operate at a safe load of 4 ohm.
Stick with single voice coil, if you don't know the diffence then it will only confuse things.
Don't worry about the dB, unless you have a small amp then go with the larger dB, otherwise that figure is useless.
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xplikt
Dodge Dakota
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4/13/2002
03:56:29
| RE: Subwoofer Language?
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the dB is inflated like hell anyways...
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drunkace
Dodge Dakota
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4/14/2002
02:23:17
| RE: Subwoofer Language?
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Don't forget that r/truck is talking about series wiring----there is also parallel wiring that does the reverse......take two 4 omh subs and hook em up in parallel and you get a load of 2 ohms....hook em up in series and u get 8 ohms.
It can get crazy fast if you have more than two subs if to combine the two.....also dB sensitivity is very importaint because only 3dB is 50% louder with the same energy...20 dB is 100 times louder....... A 88db sens. sub and 500 watt amp will sound the same as a 91db sens. and 250 watt amp.
Each voice coil is a "sub"....
hifizins said most of it----I stongly recomend good sub placement and box design as well...have fun.
PS. placement tip, put the sub where your ears are going to be and move your head around the cab at different sub locations and find the one that sounds best/loudest then reverse you and the sub and it will sound the same. This works for any speaker or sub---car or home. Try it for your home theater.....
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Jason
Dodge Dakota
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4/15/2002
09:25:09
|  RE: Subwoofer Language?
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Ok,
I get what yall are saying. The only other question I have is about the dual voice coils. It seems that a lot of the subs I'm looking at are dual and not single. Is that going to make the way I install different or do I just hook up pos. and neg. wires. I'm only having one 10" sub and I'll find an amp with enough power to work the sub. Thanks for all of the feedback. Any recommended subs for under $150 a piece.
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R/Truck
Dodge Dakota
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4/15/2002
12:03:20
| RE: Subwoofer Language?
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If your going with one sub then you need to decide what amp your going to use. If it is stable to 2ohm or 4ohm bridged/mono (or less)?
DVC subs are basically two motors in one package. So if you get a DVC sub with 4ohms per voice coil motors your amp will see 2ohms bridged, or 8ohm in series (depending upon how you wire them).
go to JL audios web site for detailed info on this subject.
http://www.jlaudio.com/tutorials/dvc/index.html
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drunkace
Dodge Dakota
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4/17/2002
02:27:45
| RE: Subwoofer Language?
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Definitly JL Audio....had 4 10's five years ago...they blew the doors off of the 25+ sub boxes I have ever owned...even 3 15's I once had. They still sould be a the top of the game....
Crisp and clear bass...ohyah
No muddy subs for this guy, I think I'll be going shopping now...nice single 10-12 behind the seat???
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Jason
Dodge Dakota
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4/18/2002
10:52:01
| RE: Subwoofer Language?
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Ok, got all that. Now as for the amp, what does mono-bridgeable mean? Also, if i plan on having only one 10" sub, prob dual voice coil and wire it for 2 ohms, in a sealed box, how many channels and watts would be required to run it properly?
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R/Truck
Dodge Dakota
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4/18/2002
11:03:48
| RE: Subwoofer Language?
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Get yourself a mono amp, or class "D" amp. But make sure it is stable in a 2ohm bridged/mono mode. Most "subwoofer" amps are capable of driving a single 2 ohm load.
MTX , Rockford Fosgate, Kenwood , Sony, JL Audio, etc. make amps that will work for you.
You will want 200-500+ watts for that sub, depending upon how loud you want it and how much you want to spend.
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jurichar
Dodge Dakota
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4/20/2002
12:48:28
| RE: Subwoofer Language?
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Image Dymanics.........IMHO JL is over priced and ooooold....the w3 and w6 pretty old subwoofers, some technology has changed since then.
this also depends on what your looking for from a subwoofer, straight up loud?? or you lookin for pure sound quality? or a mix of both. image dynamics (run by most sound quality competition vehicles) gives ya sq/spl about 60/40 but they can still get loud give the power. another good thing about them is the box size, they are reccommeded to go into anything from .25-.90 thats for a 12" optimal is about .8. i dunno how your building your box or what kind of truck you have but enclosure reccomendations are one of the big things i would be looking at in a truck setup. imaged dynamics are cheap too, i can find ya a new 12v.2 for well under 140, and a 10' for 120 ish. e-mail me if you have any other questions or are interested in a different type of sub, i can point ya in the direction of a few things to look at. or check out the forums at www.elitecaraudio.com the ppl there know their stuff...
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drunkace
Dodge Dakota
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4/21/2002
14:15:22
| RE: Subwoofer Language?
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Jurichar....Those sound to be more expensive than even JL mid grade subs.
I'm all for trying something new...tell me more about ID.
P.s. JL's new top subs are mindblowing if you got the cash---they have 6 new patents on them. Not that anybody could afford them---but it's nice to dream.
I also agree box size is very importaint. Seems like the average "Joe" should have a good balance bettween wiring,amp power, box stucture/placement,sub quality. Spread your money evenly over all of them....your system will sound only as good as your weakest link.
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Yaaaabuddy03
Dodge Dakota
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4/21/2002
23:47:22
| RE: Subwoofer Language?
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One thing that anyone has to remember is that if it's a dual voice coil,... there needs to be more volume in your box. Dual voice coil will just be a LOT louder than a single. I have a single 10" Rockford Fosgate in my RC truck,... and just that "ONE" speaker makes me think the windows are going to burst and the doors blow off. If I were you I would get what I got... a 10" Rockford Fosgate "Z-series" They are way cheaper,... and you will only need 200 watts to push it. I went to a sub. competiton in my town, and I won over 2 10" kenwoods. Thats freakin awesome I would say... I'm not talkin down on kenwoods cause I got 2 6.5's in the doors... My system is all i need and all anyone needs unless they're going into competition all the time,.. i just did it for fun!!!
"The 5-speed Man"
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drunkace
Dodge Dakota
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4/24/2002
02:26:09
| RE: Subwoofer Language?
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Agree...Two or more subs are much harder to handle. Stick with one if you are not sure about them canceling each other out. Rockfords are way cool on volume, JL are way cool on clarity...owned 'em both. Have a rockford 15 for my home theater. Maybe try those image d. subs for a little of both.
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risenflame
Dodge Dakota
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2/15/2004
16:02:18
| RE: Subwoofer Language?
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If I have a subwoofer that is 4 ohms and it is DVC (is that the right abbreviation? meaning it takes left and right hook ups and has two outputs for speakers) can I hook it up to my 8 ohms amp? I'm havin trouble...I think I am blowing it up everytime I try and turn up the volume...
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