New member -> kinda new with car audio -> here's a question
 

Alright, not really sure what to go with here, have a urge to get a system for my new truck, 2006 extend cab colorado 6 speaker factory.. gunna toss the back seats, & get custom box, but, for a rock listener, im thinking

- JL Audio 8W7 8" Subwoofer 1000 WATT SUB x2 (sealed)
http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_subs.php?series_id=1
- JL Audio XR653-CS 3-Way 6.5" x4
- thinking about 2 alpine 1000w amp for it, and obviously a deck ect... but just wanted to know if this would be a good system for this model of truck.. im not looking to kill myself, just a good sound... ect.. (please dont call me a newb)

Looks good, but I don't know if I'd trust 1000w to 8" JL's...

well...
 

i heard the w7 series 12's, 10's and 8's, they are all beautiful.. but they were in a panel... so the difference in the room and in my truck should be signifigant...

I was at a show locally (here in wisconsin) and a middle aged woman had 3 8" w3's going. I was impressed at the amount of sound generated by the 8's, but if you are going to run 2000watts you may be unimpressed by them. I think 8's are best used to make the system sound full, but I'm afraid you'll spend that much and be hoping for some bass you can really feel, and that's where 8's just don't cut it, IMO.

Well, yeah, im a rock listener, some ( and select few ) bassy tunes do i listen to, so i will be expecting some.. but, i was reccomended this system from a good friend of mine, so i said that i'd throw it up here, im open to suggestions btw, i dont have the system bought yet, still pending... should i drop the wattage? to what? maybe 600/ sub?

also consitered the t210d4's from rockford fosgate

I'm a rock/metal fan myself, but when you get something like NIN going there is nothing better than a hard bass beat.

As far as the wattage goes... I've never owned 8's so I couldn't say for sure. A good friend of mine was big into 8's, she had about 400 running to her RF and it sounded really nice. Hers was also in a truck, but it was a '01 tacoma. The only thing about running massive power is you may hear the sub maxxing out on excursion, especially when the enclosure is in the same area that you will be sitting.

..drool... those are some wicked subs. I think you'd be way more impressed with those than a JL 8. In fact I'm sure of it. Those are wonderful subs:smilie_da

ahh, i dont normally see much excursion with sealed boxes, i do believe that its a big problem with ported boxes, but i want sealed.. so the sub can catch up with itself when its bouncing... and yeah, but im not sure i really like the bass that comes with a 10" and they dont make them in 8's :(

If you are not liking the bass from 10's as compared to 8's, then the systems you have been listening to have been matched together incorrectly. A 8" driver can and will play the exact same low frequency bass note as a 15" driver can, it just can't do it with the same amplitude. There are good and bad ways to reproduce bass response, it is all about the box. The box will make or break the type of output you get from your sub.

Come up with a list of goals for what you want the system to do.

(1) sound good?
(2) play to a respectable level?
(3) lay waste to the city?
(4) come in at a budget?
(5) use good equipment, basic equipment, really good equipment?
(6) play with the engine not running?
(7) be easily upgradeable

All this and more is what I would start to ask my customer before I even though of choosing a brand and then a specific model for the task at hand. Your vehicle is a good platform for some good sound. Take it a step at a time and you will have a highly predictable outcome in the end.

well, i've answered those questions to myself already, i've come up with a price cap, i already have some hook ups to make things cheaper, i want a good sound to any system i may buy, but i think the size of the sub does matter with the frequencys u get, just like someone who absolutely needs the 4 ms response monitor over the 8 ms, because he can notice the flicker in the screen. everyone is different.. personally i love the 8's .. its just my kind of sub i guess :( alot of people tell me the same thing? stubborn? maybe, but even if its in my head.. then i unno... but i really appreciate the advice man, thanks a billion.. i encourage you all to throw in a suggestion :D GJ!

Think of this. If a sub is playing from 100hz and down, does the sound care about what sub is reproducing it? It is a function of the box that makes or breaks the output you are after. Personally I prefer a sealed box, depending on the sub and the task at hand. My favorite sub to use in a small vehicle is a 10" driver or multiples of it. In a larger vehicle a 12" or like the Jeep we have here now, dual 18's (backed up with 3 6.5" midbass drivers to help keep up). I think you are on the right path for your application with a sealed box. However, looking at the power requirement that you listed, a pair of 10's or one upper end 10 wold handle this task much better. It will of course be louder as there is more area to move air. If the box becomes too big, then the sub will for lack of better words, lose control of itself and flap in the breeze. If the box is too small, it will be nice and tight but lack depth. Get the box just right though, and good things happen to all subs. That said though, that 8" you want can and will produce the same sound as the same model 10" or 12" in the same type of box, it just will not be able to do it as loud. In your vehicle, consider at least a 10" driver for this application. Build the box for the sub and the vehicle, power it properly, match up some good front speakers and a amp on them to a good cd player and you will have a tonally balanced system that is built to do the job properly. The only factor left now, is how it is installed by the person that you choose. Hookups in the biz are great, if the products chosen are right for the application. Everyone likes a good deal, that's also the reason as to why we vendors are on the site, to give people some good deals to match up with advice.

woah! way too much thinking for me in there.. j/k :D thanks a billion man, many new things to think about and consiter... !