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Help deciding on amp for subs

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callandor2k
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Post by callandor2k »

If I were to go with something different than Alpine subs. Are there any other subs out there that are equal if not better sound/quality than the Alpines at roughly same price or lower? Since I cannot buy my subs yet might as well look at what's out there and drool some more.

Also keep in mind I have already built a dual chamber sealed box at .85 cu ft per chamber for the Alpines (It's what Alpine recommends for the SWR-1222/1242 subs). But I can always make a new one with scrap I have.

Speaking of boxes. Is there a specific reason why MDF is recommended vs Plywood?

I built my box out of 3/4" plywood. Not the cheap, warped Lowe's/Menard's stuff either. This stuff is A/B grade or better.
loudwagon15s
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Post by loudwagon15s »

http://www.dcsoundlab.com/
i'm sure bill or ryan will chime in about some other subs, whats your budget?
Bwcad1
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Post by Bwcad1 »

callandor2k wrote:If I were to go with something different than Alpine subs. Are there any other subs out there that are equal if not better sound/quality than the Alpines at roughly same price or lower? Since I cannot buy my subs yet might as well look at what's out there and drool some more.
Also keep in mind I have already built a dual chamber sealed box at .85 cu ft per chamber for the Alpines (It's what Alpine recommends for the SWR-1222/1242 subs). But I can always make a new one with scrap I have.
Speaking of boxes. Is there a specific reason why MDF is recommended vs Plywood?
I built my box out of 3/4" plywood. Not the cheap, warped Lowe's/Menard's stuff either. This stuff is A/B grade or better.
MDF is recommended over cheap plywood because cheap plywood has voids and can resonate. Its not as acoustically dead as mdf. However good plywood like you have said you bought in my opinion is much better than MDF. Its stronger lighter easier on tools and less hazardous to your health.

As far as that enclosure its a good thing you didn't buy those speakers. I know what alpine recommends and while it may sound ok your definitely not utilizing those speakers to there full potential. Problem is there isn't many speakers that will work to potential in that enclosure.

What do you want to get out of this system. What do you want your bass to do? Shake your car to hell and back and blast your head or just sound good with moderate volume? I think with that box being on the smaller size your kinda limited to Sq and higher freq bass. id say your response should be about 40hz and up.
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MobileAudio219
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Post by MobileAudio219 »

I guess I missed this thread, but I just sort of skipped over it and here is my opinion on things (granted I didn't really read the whole thing.)

The Type R's are decent subs for the money. Good daily beater subs, it's not really a sq or a spl sub, it's a sql sub if you will. Sounds decent, gets fairly loud.

1,000 rms is the lowest I amount of power to a pair of these though. While they are only rated at 500 rms, that's just getting to the good stuff. Of course all that depends on the box. I'd personally try around 2.5 cuft tuned to around 32hz. I haven't model them in forever though.

As far as the ab wire, I thought it was ok. I didn't much car for their fuse holder/fuse combo (read - TRASH) but the rest of the kit seemed ok.

Still one of my favorite kits I've ever bought was one from boss. I wish I could fin more like it, I guess thats ONE thing they did OK on.
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Bwcad1
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Post by Bwcad1 »

MobileAudio219 wrote:I guess I missed this thread, but I just sort of skipped over it and here is my opinion on things (granted I didn't really read the whole thing.)

The Type R's are decent subs for the money. Good daily beater subs, it's not really a sq or a spl sub, it's a sql sub if you will. Sounds decent, gets fairly loud.

1,000 rms is the lowest I amount of power to a pair of these though. While they are only rated at 500 rms, that's just getting to the good stuff. Of course all that depends on the box. I'd personally try around 2.5 cuft tuned to around 32hz. I haven't model them in forever though.

As far as the ab wire, I thought it was ok. I didn't much car for their fuse holder/fuse combo (read - TRASH) but the rest of the kit seemed ok.

Still one of my favorite kits I've ever bought was one from boss. I wish I could fin more like it, I guess thats ONE thing they did OK on.
My first kit was a boss and it ****ing owned!
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callandor2k
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Post by callandor2k »

loudwagon15s wrote:http://www.dcsoundlab.com/
i'm sure bill or ryan will chime in about some other subs, whats your budget?

Well I can get a pair of Alpine SWR-1242D for about $250 shipped. So right around there or lower. But I want quality, not some no name piece of s**t.

Bwcad1 wrote:MDF is recommended over cheap plywood because cheap plywood has voids and can resonate. Its not as acoustically dead as mdf. However good plywood like you have said you bought in my opinion is much better than MDF. Its stronger lighter easier on tools and less hazardous to your health.
As far as that enclosure its a good thing you didn't buy those speakers. I know what alpine recommends and while it may sound ok your definitely not utilizing those speakers to there full potential. Problem is there isn't many speakers that will work to potential in that enclosure.
What do you want to get out of this system. What do you want your bass to do? Shake your car to hell and back and blast your head or just sound good with moderate volume? I think with that box being on the smaller size your kinda limited to Sq and higher freq bass. id say your response should be about 40hz and up.

Fortunately for me I can get all the good grade plywood I want for free from work. So the materials won't cost me anything to rebuild. I'll just have an unused dual chamber box now. As far as sound goes I like my music to sound good and thump as well. I can rebuild as large as....

35" wide x 14" deep x 16" tall.

Sealed boxes are the only thing I know how to build exactly. I could build ported boxes, but I would require a diagram for me to build it.

MobileAudio219 wrote:I guess I missed this thread, but I just sort of skipped over it and here is my opinion on things (granted I didn't really read the whole thing.)

The Type R's are decent subs for the money. Good daily beater subs, it's not really a sq or a spl sub, it's a sql sub if you will. Sounds decent, gets fairly loud.

1,000 rms is the lowest I amount of power to a pair of these though. While they are only rated at 500 rms, that's just getting to the good stuff. Of course all that depends on the box. I'd personally try around 2.5 cuft tuned to around 32hz. I haven't model them in forever though.

As far as the ab wire, I thought it was ok. I didn't much car for their fuse holder/fuse combo (read - TRASH) but the rest of the kit seemed ok.

Still one of my favorite kits I've ever bought was one from boss. I wish I could fin more like it, I guess thats ONE thing they did OK on.
I've been trying to figure out what everyone means by spl, sq and all that. It makes no sense to me. And as far as tuning a box, ya got me on that one as well. I usually went out to Wal-Mart and bought one of those prefab boxes and threw in a sub. This is the first time to actually build a box from scratch.

I want to do this one right. But not spend a butt load of cash in doing so. I don't plan on entering into any competitions with this setup. I just want a bad ass stereo system that will last me a long time.

My last setup lasted me 5 years till amp went up in smoke. That's why I am redoing my system. If I'm gonna replace 1 thing. Might as well replace it all.
Bwcad1
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Post by Bwcad1 »

SPL is sound pressure level. Basically as loud as ****. SQ is sound quality.

SQL is both mixed which sounds like what you want. If it were me i would do a single 15 ported.

If you want you can pm me for a box design.
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callandor2k
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Post by callandor2k »

So if I were to go a single 15" in a ported box powered by a MB Quart DSC1000.1. I assume I would need a better sub than the Alpine SWR-1542D/1522D.

So what would you recommend for sub?
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Post by Bwcad1 »

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callandor2k
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Post by callandor2k »


I like the price of the MB Quart. I can buy that sub and afford to buy all the wiring at same time.

I am assuming that I would wire it in parallel as a 1Ω load. Theoretically running all 1000w rms to it.
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