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Thread: Under appreciated Subwoofers

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    Noob JCsAudio's Avatar
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    Under appreciated Subwoofers

    During this holiday I have had some free time to just mess around and since its 28 degrees outside I have been messing around modeling different subwoofers and reading into their specifications. Some I have had and some I have done a lot of research into. I think I recognize that there seem to be only a few select brands and specific subwoofers that get all the love and others just get forgotten or cast aside as not worthy. So I came up with a small list of what I call under appreciated subwoofers that I think should get more press for what they are. I went through a decent amount of them mulling over Parts Express and Madisound and a few other select underground sites where the mainstream stuff doesn't exist. For reference I'm going to use the AudioFrog GB12 as the benchmark by which all these are measured since many here have had experience with this forum boner and for good reason. Here is the list that I came up with models attached. All are modeled as 12" subwoofers U.O.N and in ported boxes because I think ported boxes give the best SQ and SPL in car audio if they are tuned low, have DSP intervention, and built right. Some of these subwoofers are only available in 10" versions or just work better as 10" so I have noted as such.


    #1 Eminence Lab 12C, with a cast aluminum basket, paper cone, modest box requirements it works well for car audio and models very closely to the GB12 for less than half the price. Its one of those subwoofers that I think should be mentioned more often. I would say its only drawback is its surround may not stand up to UV rays over time in a car environment. This subwoofer only needs 500 watts (same as GB12) to get down. Lab 12c green Vb= 1.96 cu ft net fb= 31 Hz AF GB orange Vb= 1.633 Fb= 30.73 Hz . You can see in this graph that the two on 500 watts model closely and the Lab 12C has a little better sensitivity but requires a slightly larger box.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    #2 Scan Speak Discovery 26W/4558T00. This subwoofer is a lower powered 10" subwoofer but models well in both sealed and ported configurations. It has one of the lowest F3 points when modeling sealed. In the attached graph it is in a ported box with an Vb of 1.184 and a fb of 25.28 Hz. It has a black anodized aluminum cone, cast basket, and very low distortion. If you're looking for a very low distortion subwoofer on modest power than this subwoofer should be at the top of your list. In the attached graph below both are modeled at 425 watts RMS because the Scan runs out of excursion in this box above that power level.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    #3 CSS SDX12 XBL2 12" Subwoofer. This subwoofer is somewhat well known but still doesn't get the love it deserves. Unlike a lot of XBL subwoofers I have modeled this one does well in a ported box. It requires, like many XBL subwoofers a lot of power but it also has very low distortion too. It really wants a big box but will do fine in a smaller box for car audio. Model specifications are Vb= 2, fb= 31 hz compared to the GB12, same box specifications as above but on 600 watts. Again, CSS SDX12 (red) vs AF GB12 (orange).
    Click image for larger version. 

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    #4 Sundown SD3 10 and Sundown SD3 12. Yeah I know it is probably one of the most popular subwoofers on forums like this but seriously this subwoofer is fantastic for the price. It has an underhung voice coil design, is relatively shallow depth, and doesn’t give up Xmax or make lots of distortion either. It also hits really low in a ported box even though Sundown does not recommend it be used in a ported box. I own the SD3 10 version and it actually hits lower than my GB12 below 37 Hz with a 10" driver against a 12" driver. Sundown SD3 10 (yellow) vb= 1.577 fb= 31.49 vs AF GB12 vb= 1.633 fb= 30.73 (orange) on 500 watts.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Here is the Sundown SD3 12 (black) vs AF GB12 (orange) on 500 watts.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    #5 SSA ICON 12. This subwoofer I think is really underappreciated for the specifications it has and if you really want some ass kicking lows and have the 1250 watts it demands (probably could take more) than this beast is it. It’s also a beautiful looking subwoofer in my opinion with a very attractive price for what you get. EDIT: changed the T/S parameters because I had them input wrong before which changed the model slightly.

    Here it is modeled all by itself because an AF GB12 wont hang with this thing due to different power levels. SSA ICON 12 vb= 1.75 fb= 31 Hz.

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    SSA ICON 12 (red) vs AF GB12 (orange) on 600 watts for comparison sake.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Well that's it for now. I'm sure I missed a bunch of them and if you want you can post them up here. If I get the time I may model them for you against the benchmark GB12 and post it here.
    Last edited by JCsAudio; 11-30-2019 at 09:00 PM.
    Mazda CX5 AF GB10, AF GB25, AF GB60, JL VX800/8i, AF GB12 sealed, Mmats M1400.1

    Ford F150
    AF GB10, AF GB25, JLC5, JL twk88/Pioneer D8604, Mosconi Pico, JBL Club 5501, Sundown SD3-10 ported @ 30 Hz

    Sienna
    AF GB15, Audiofrog GS690, JL twk88/Pioneer D9500F, JBL GTX500, Alpine SWS10 ported @ 31 Hz

    https://www.diymobileaudio.com/threa.../#post-5608901






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    Senior Member Smitty's Avatar
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    Re: Under appreciated Subwoofers

    Keep this going. Very interesting.
    Meh, it'll play.

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    Re: Under appreciated Subwoofers

    Dammit, I forgot FU Audio, wanted to include that one. Will do that later on.
    Mazda CX5 AF GB10, AF GB25, AF GB60, JL VX800/8i, AF GB12 sealed, Mmats M1400.1

    Ford F150
    AF GB10, AF GB25, JLC5, JL twk88/Pioneer D8604, Mosconi Pico, JBL Club 5501, Sundown SD3-10 ported @ 30 Hz

    Sienna
    AF GB15, Audiofrog GS690, JL twk88/Pioneer D9500F, JBL GTX500, Alpine SWS10 ported @ 31 Hz

    https://www.diymobileaudio.com/threa.../#post-5608901






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    Noob Jdunk54nl's Avatar
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    Re: Under appreciated Subwoofers

    Mostly personal reasons, but I am sure a lot of others would be interested in this info as well.

    Could you model some shallow mounts that are currently available?

    Higher Priced Options:
    JL TW3 12"
    Alpine SWR-T12
    ARC Audio SW 12d2
    Illusion Audio C12 (Is this one still available? Crutchfield shows discontinued)

    More lower $$ options:
    Dayton LS10 and LS12
    Rockford Prime and Punch 12 Shallow
    Pioneer TS-SW3002S4
    2014 F150 Limited -> Kenwood DDX-9907xr -> Helix DSP.2 -> Alpine PDX-V9 -> SI M25 mki in Valicar Stuttgart Pods, Rear SB17's, Sub SI BM MKV's in MTI BOX. Alpine PDX-F6 -> SI Tm65 mkIV, SI M3 mkI in Valicar Stuttgart Pods

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    Re: Under appreciated Subwoofers

    Really cool stuff, J!!
    2019 Jeep Wrangler 2 Door - Morel Elate 3 way, Mmats HiFi 6150 & M2000.2, Hutchinson NDFEB 10", MiniDSP w/DL, Fiio X5

    #TRUMP2020

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    Noob JCsAudio's Avatar
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    Re: Under appreciated Subwoofers

    Here is #6 with an allotment of subwoofers from the same company. Sort of a fledgling company (I think) with some decent subwoofers for a good price. I had two FU300 subwoofers once that performed above expectations and took a lot more power than rated. I had a listen to a 15" 750 that literally shock the block on 1000 watts. Below is the FU Audio 1250 Vb= 1.673 Fb= 30 Hz (green) vs FU Audio 750 Vb 2.11 Fb 26.04 Hz, (red) vs the same GB12 (orange) as listed above for reference.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Here is the Fu Audio 1250 (green) on 1250 watts compared to the SSA ICON (blue) from above.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Mazda CX5 AF GB10, AF GB25, AF GB60, JL VX800/8i, AF GB12 sealed, Mmats M1400.1

    Ford F150
    AF GB10, AF GB25, JLC5, JL twk88/Pioneer D8604, Mosconi Pico, JBL Club 5501, Sundown SD3-10 ported @ 30 Hz

    Sienna
    AF GB15, Audiofrog GS690, JL twk88/Pioneer D9500F, JBL GTX500, Alpine SWS10 ported @ 31 Hz

    https://www.diymobileaudio.com/threa.../#post-5608901






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    A Refined Basshead blockrocker's Avatar
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    Re: Under appreciated Subwoofers

    Very cool thread. I love seeing comparisons like this. Thanks for the effort.
    On a side note, one of the nicest sounding subs I ever owned was the new-ish Phoenix Gold Ti3X12d2. I used the sub in a ported and a sealed enclosure and the sub performed equally well in each box. Great sound and very smooth.
    I'm not sure how the graphs would look as I never tested the sub in such a way. So it could just be me, but I loved that woofer.

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    Re: Under appreciated Subwoofers

    The fu looks like a "bandpass" with the 35 hZ !

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    Wave Shepherd - aka Jazzi Justin Zazzi's Avatar
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    Re: Under appreciated Subwoofers

    The Seas L26ROY 10" might be worth adding to the list. Tons of travel for a ten inch woofer with a reasonable enclosure size.

    https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.co...1001-04-4-ohm/
    Measure with mics, mark with chalk, cut with torch, grind to fit, sand to finish, paint to match.
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    Re: Under appreciated Subwoofers

    Quote Originally Posted by Jdunk54nl View Post
    Mostly personal reasons, but I am sure a lot of others would be interested in this info as well.

    Could you model some shallow mounts that are currently available?

    Higher Priced Options:
    JL TW3 12" JL doesn't offer Le which is needed to show the higher frequency roll off so unless I have that its not worth modeling.
    Alpine SWR-T12 See attached in green
    ARC Audio SW 12d2 See attached in yellow
    Illusion Audio C12 (Is this one still available? Crutchfield shows discontinued) Discontinued from what I can tell so I didn't bother.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    More lower $$ options:
    Dayton LS10 and LS12 See attached
    Rockford Prime and Punch 12 Shallow This was tough to get information on so I had to dig for this one. I'm not entirely sure its 100% accurate and if it is this subwoofer sucks.
    Pioneer TS-SW3002S4 Not bad but has a weak magnet and high Qts, better suited for a sealed enclosure but works ok ported too.

    Dayton LS1044 (
    blue) Dayton LS1244 (purple) RF (blue) Pioneer (red)

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Box volume and tuning frequency
    Dayton LS1044 Vb= 1.148 Fb= 30.69 Hz
    Dayton LS1244 Vb= 2.0 Fb= 31 Hz (wants a big box but forced a smaller one)
    Alpine SWR-T12 Vb= 1.5 Fb= 31 Hz
    P3SD4-12 shallow Vb= 1.25 Fb= 42.5 per manufacturer specs.
    ARC Audio SW 12d2 Vb= 1.725 Fb= 23.18
    Pioneer TS-SW3002S4 Vb= 1.6 Fb= 31
    Last edited by JCsAudio; 12-01-2019 at 05:24 AM. Reason: Mixed up Fb with Vb and fixed it
    Mazda CX5 AF GB10, AF GB25, AF GB60, JL VX800/8i, AF GB12 sealed, Mmats M1400.1

    Ford F150
    AF GB10, AF GB25, JLC5, JL twk88/Pioneer D8604, Mosconi Pico, JBL Club 5501, Sundown SD3-10 ported @ 30 Hz

    Sienna
    AF GB15, Audiofrog GS690, JL twk88/Pioneer D9500F, JBL GTX500, Alpine SWS10 ported @ 31 Hz

    https://www.diymobileaudio.com/threa.../#post-5608901






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