I have 2 JL 12W3V2-d4 on a sealed box 3.2 cu ft. I want to try them ported, but the box will be too big for my taste, I like to carry a lot of things on my trunk. Sincerely I'm not that impressed with their output, although they sound good, I've heard them ported on other installs, definately better than sealed, but they don't hit that hard.

I wanto to change those for either a pair of Pioneer TS-W254 DVC or DB DRIVE Speed series, both 10s, but ported and powered by my MTX 3002 Blue Thunder.

What is your opinion on these?

I know the 12's will tend to go a lil deeper and louder, but I don'r think it will be THAT much..........or am I wrong?

 

Honestly, stick with 12's, would the ported box really be too big for ya?

 

first thing I would try is to reduce the internal volume by placing styrofoam blocks inside the box. Listen to it and decide if it's hitting harder or not. 3.2 cubes is more than enough for many 12's to be ported, so maybe you can sell your jl's, and get another brand that is optimized for that volume in a ported set up. i know Alpine type r's work well in a 1.5 cube ported box for each 12", as does many other brands.

 

Sorry, I mistyped the enclosure volume, it's 3.0 cu.ft, JL recommends 1.75 cu.ft. per sub, that's 3.5 cu.ft.

I think I will give it a try to see how big it comes out, mine is a wedge shaped one, that way it goes back into the seats, so I will try one of this same shape.

I also considered on changing the subs and port the same box with an other brand or model.

I'm interested on DB DRIVE and PIONEER subs, right now, nice, cheap and uses smaller enclosures than the JLs.

I'm no more into the "big name bass" speaker.

 

I just thought of something, talk to your local shop about ported boxes for the new Pioneed shallow mount subs. They are freakin' shallow and they actually hit! You could use 2 of those in a ported box and probably use as much space as your current box.

 

Thanks for all your comments.

Fusion: I can fit the Pioneers TS-W306dvc in my actual box, just adding the ports which are two 3" dia. X 8" long (as of pioneer's specs).

I remember back in the day when I had a pair of Pioneer's IMPP 12" subs that where 150watts rms powered by a Power Acoustik amp, on a ported box, and those things hit hard . I changed those for a pair of JLs 12W3v1-d2 on a sealed box, sounded good but still not as hard, oh and for like 3 times the price .

I think I'm missing that ported feeling.

 

The Db's are nice speakers.