Alpine Type Rs Vs. Sundowns
 

Okay. I know I've been referred to Sundowns quite a bit. I currently have 2 Type R 10" and absolutely love them. I'm not looking to change those currently. But, I have other project cars, and cars that get driven.

I'm really sold so far on my Alpine, but this was only my first build. I've gotten rave reviews by anyone who heard my car. Even had been asked if I had JL 15s, not sure why so specific. They are great, loud, loud enough to keep up with my 100 watt door speakers, and they are extremely clean at 1000-1250 watts. I actually had trouble tuning them by ear because they just didn't distort. I fried my first one up at roughly 2700 watts, so yeah. I had to bust out the O-scope for tuning.

Now that we have a back story, onto why I asking.

I was at a audio shop the other day, and asked the guy about sundowns. He said:

"You know, I have been hearing an awful lot about Sundowns lately. Have you ever heard them in person?"

I replied:

"No. But they get rave review online. A lot of guys had referred me to them after I already got my Alpines."

He then says:

"Yes, they are extremely loud and can handle whatever I've seen them pushed with. But they aren't music woofers, they are sound woofers. The sound quality is complete garbage IMO. You'd likely win a SPL competition with these, but would be well outmatched in SQL."

This is a bid deal for me. I could give one iota about SPL, I'm all about the SQ. So I'm guessing these wouldn't be the speakers for me?

I have done a complete overhaul on my '14 Kia Optima. 4 new Type-R door speakers with 2 tweeters and 2 10" Type-R subs. Would love some feedback on that as well.

He clearly doesn't have much experience with Sundown, the SD series have excellent SQ and are often used in SQ competitions. The SA series also have decent SQ when tuned properly and in the right enclosure.

you can find sq subwoofers from sundown but you can find a lot of brands that are better than sundown in this field. focal , audison , dls , mcintosh, jl audio , helix , gladen , mosconi ... these are sq brands.

the sub in a SQ system is usually tuned as flat as Taylor Swifts chest...
I have seen L7's win in a SQ system and they sound like a farting trash can

I work with ALL brands of subs......
you could not GIVE me a Sundown to use as a SQ woofer.. or a DD , Fi or even SSA
they all move air and make noise but honestly they are not that musical , very heavy
cone assemblies and they need a lot of power ,
( some of them are built in the same build house and use the same parts)
some of them have annoying motor noise after break in or have a "muddy ness"
in the upper bass range forcing a low x-over point killing the lower mid bass

I know a few of the owners of these companies ...these subs were designed for kids
to over power and abuse with out shreading ( limit warranty returns )