Good 8" sub for SQ under $150

[kenstewart]

Hey fellas, keep me in my price range now. I'm expecting my sub w/enclosure this weekend from UPS (custom box for my Explorer Sport Trac). The sub is an 8" RF 3408, 200 watt RMS. Now, I want clean bass not boomy stuff so guess that means I'm an SQ guy. So, any of you know if this sub is SQ or SPL type and also please give me your thoughts on what decent SQ subs are in my price range. Thanks ...

[MacLeod]

Im not real familiar with RF subs but they are pretty solid however they tend to be more of the SPL persuasion.

A great 8" SQ sub is our own Polk MM2084. Handles 200 RMs and sounds great.

There is also the JL 8W3, the Diamond Audio CM38D4 (but I dont think they make em anymore), MTX has a couple as well.

8's are hard to find. Which sucks cause Ive always liked em.

[kenstewart]

Mac, do you think for a cabin the size of my Sport Trac that a single 8" should do fine? Need good clean bass to help complement my DB570s. Would like a 10", but then I need to get a different box. Here's a different question ... would having that 8" behind my 40% rear passenger seat and then a 10" under the 60% part of my rear passenger seat mess up the bass sound? Just curious if this will totally screw it up or be any benefit.

[MacLeod]

Its usually not a good idea to mix subs. If you want a 10, get one.

I like an 8 cause Im not really much of a bass head. I like it as much as the next guy but I listen primarily to heavy metal and a lot of bass sounds like crap.

Ive always used 8's and have always had good luck with them. I am however thinking about going with a 10 this time around just for something new.

Personally I think an 8 would be fine for your car but you wouldnt be going wrong with a 10 either.

[kenstewart]

Ok, guess the only real deciding factor left is listening to it. Thanks for the help Mac :)

[neomagus00]

yeah, space and your dB requirements will decide... but it is generally difficult to seamlessly integrate multiple subs of different sizes, it tends to sound odd.

[kenstewart]

Ok, rec'd sub/enclosure today and hooked it up. Not sure if I've got everything set correctly but man what a difference already!!! Had my son check it out because I was fiddling with the gain and other amp settings so much I was starting to forget what it sounded like before ... he noticed an immediate difference and amazed how good it sounds. Mac, you're right this single 8" fits the bill ... unless I start shopping again later and see another new toy :D

[neomagus00]

the methodical (http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/dhuston/audioindex.html) way to fiddle with the gain...

[kenstewart]

I printed that out and used it Neo (saw your previous post). Just not sure if I have it as good as it can be since this is my first time tuning a sub, but heck it still sounds good. Today my second amp comes in for my DB570s and I'll hook that up this weekend.

[VR3]

Ascendant Audio is releasing an 8" Sub soon...will be around 100 or so

www.ascendantaudio.com

[MacLeod]

Neo, the Web-Pimp! :p

[neomagus00]

Originally posted by MacLeod
Neo, the Web-Pimp! :p
hell yeah!

[JDMCivicB16B]

I think maybe you should sell that box, and go with a MM2104 sub for the explorer. I have a MM2104 in my civic, and i have an amp pushing 200w rms to it. and i think its great for me..being a guy who is not a bass junkie..

but also it depends on what kind of music u listen to..if u into hip hop and jazz..a bigger sub would probably suit you. also you have alot of room in a explorer..so maybe a 10"inch will do better then an 8"

[kenstewart]

Thanks guys for all the help! I installed everything today; ran short on time so I don't have everything fine tuned but it sounds sweet :D No major probs and everything seems to be working great.

The 8" seems to be working out awesome so far, but thanks for the recommendation JDM ... maybe later I'll look into it since I'm happy with what I've got now :)

[neomagus00]

sweet, glad it's workin out for ya!

[1996blackmax]

Mike over at Soundsplinter (www.soundsplinter.com) is coming out with an 8" sub later this week. It is an RL-i8, and is a sub that is geared towards SQ. Look on the left side of the webpage for a picture. I have an RL-10 and I am very happy with not only its SQ, but also with its output capability. I paid $159 for it (they go for $164 now), so I think that the 8" will go for less than $150.

Here is another link where there are a few pictures of the sub.

http://www.soundsolutionsaudio.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2348
http://www.soundsplinter.com/images/drivers/rli8_angledprofile_driver_frontpage-SMALL.jpg

Here is a link for the T/S parameters. I believe Mike said that it has an Xmax of 17.8mm or so.

http://www.soundsolutionsaudio.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2348&st=90

[neomagus00]

the basket almost looks video-shielded... strange... sounds like a nice piece of equipment, though (breaks the 100 dB barrier in preliminary modelling, not bad at all)...

[MacLeod]

I dunno. Looks kind of funky to me.

Id like to hear one tho.

[AustinKP]

I've heard very good things about soundsplinter. As well as the other company as well that makes the Magnum...sound something I think...I've heard one, and they are very clean.

-Austin

[MacLeod]

Man, these little, independant subwoofer companies are springing up all over the place.

Used to be only a handfull of companies made subs. Now theyre everywhere.

Thats cool tho. Competition is always good for the consumer!

[kenstewart]

Yeah, but makes it hard for us non-physics or EE types to determine what's best bang for the buck :) Guess I'll have to just stick around here and keep on learning from y'all ...

[AustinKP]

Originally posted by kenstewart
Yeah, but makes it hard for us non-physics or EE types to determine what's best bang for the buck :) Guess I'll have to just stick around here and keep on learning from y'all ... That's the best way. Just read reviews from guys that are EE and physics types. Get on a forum that deals a lot with the specific brand in question. You'll quickly get a feeling of how good the brand is by the type of reviews it gets. If nothing else, I'd get Ascendant Audio or Polk from their EXCELLENT customer service. Ascendant recently lowered their prices for the Atlas line, and gave every customer that bought one before the drop a refund for the difference! Ever heard of a company doing that?

[neomagus00]

that's just friggin ridiculous!

[MacLeod]

Personally I like sticking with the big boys. I trust their quality more.

Not saying the indys are crapfully made, just that I trust a JL Audio or Diamond Audio more than a RE or the like.

[1996blackmax]

Originally posted by MacLeod
Personally I like sticking with the big boys. I trust their quality more.

Not saying the indys are crapfully made, just that I trust a JL Audio or Diamond Audio more than a RE or the like.

I use to say the same thing till I found out that some of the companies that sell long excursion drivers do not actually make them. They have companies like TC Sounds (www.tcsounds.com) make them to their specifications. These build houses as they are called are the OEM manufacturers to big name companies. So I kind of just went to the source(through a small company :) ). My subwoofer is actually a TC Sounds TC+2 driver. You could buy these drivers direct from them (they call them their Standard Products). The only thing is that you need to buy at leat 50 of them. I do not need that many so I went through the smaller company. Another company that also sells their stuff is Oaudio (www.oaudio.com), but they only sell the 12's at the moment.


Over at Maxima.org in the audio forums there is a guy that goes by RobertJ. He was the one that told me about TC Sounds as well as other build houses. This guy really knows his audio, and is very helpful. He also hangs out in several of the home audio forums. Once I get done moving I will unpack my old computer and get some links for you guys. Just waiting (praying) for escrow to close so I can get in my house and unpack.

[1996blackmax]

This has one of the links I mentioned earlier (I dug around Maxima.org a little). Take a look at the bottom of the page for Robert's post, it is #30. Just to show where I got it from.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=353781

This is the link where the TC2+ was tested. Take a look around his site.

[denim]

many people like to stick with the big companies, but there is usually a price premium, and customer service issues

I run the forums at SoundSolutionsAudio.com and TeamSSAudio.com, the home of Stereo Integrity and SoundSplinter,online forums,

both companies make excellent products, and have top notch customer service, I have gotten to know both of the companies staff very well,

on top of that I just recently finished a demo on the new Stereo Integrity MAG D2 prototype, you can see the pictures and short review in the Stereo Integrity forum, I can tell you this, it is one of the top SQL subs I have ever listened to, and for the price is makes other BIG companies seem like a waste of money..

I have a SoundSplinter RL-p 12 D2 on the way, it is the big brother to the RL-i 8 that is posted above, it uses the TC9 motor, and I am very excited to hear it, in a recent review it beat out the much more expensive RE XXX in a fair head to head competition,

all I am saying that the little companies need some consideration, both SoundSPlinter and Stereo Integrity have excellent quality and performance to meet or beat the big companies for less money and a lot less hype

[exalted512]

id like to see the tests against the XXX, its not exactly the best subwoofer out there for sound quality
-Cody

[denim]

here is the link from the test >>> http://www.soundsolutionsaudio.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2234

[kenstewart]

Originally posted by MacLeod
Im not real familiar with RF subs but they are pretty solid however they tend to be more of the SPL persuasion.

A great 8" SQ sub is our own Polk MM2084. Handles 200 RMs and sounds great.

There is also the JL 8W3, the Diamond Audio CM38D4 (but I dont think they make em anymore), MTX has a couple as well.

8's are hard to find. Which sucks cause Ive always liked em.

Mac,

I've been looking at this MM2084 for some time now. Crutchfield has it for $80. Have you heard it as one sub or multiple? Really debating on whether or not to go ahead and buy it, just uneasy 'cuz I haven't heard it in person.

[kenstewart]

Also, I'll need a spacer to put the MM2084 in my enclosure. The recommended mounting depth for my enclosure is 3 13/16" ... according to Crutchfield, the MM2084 w/boot is 4.182 and w/out boot is 3.94.

Any help on making one of these? I'm sure it's not hard, but I know you guys will give me good ideas w/out me having to resort to trial and error.

[exalted512]

I'm very weary of his comparisons for a few reasons. one of those is he accused the XXX of bottoming out, which it cannot do. its impossible. another is XXXs like really big ported boxes, they arent that great in sealed boxes and you can only start to see their potential in small ported boxes. this is why i have brahmas in my truck-because they do good in small ported boxes
theres a few other things im too tired to mention and theres a couple things ill just keep to myself anyway
-Cody

[MacLeod]

Originally posted by kenstewart
Mac,

I've been looking at this MM2084 for some time now. Crutchfield has it for $80. Have you heard it as one sub or multiple? Really debating on whether or not to go ahead and buy it, just uneasy 'cuz I haven't heard it in person.

I have only heard the Momo subs in the Tweeter soundroom. But the Tweeter soundroom is an isolated room with your choice of Polk, JL Audio, MB Quart and a couple other subs and you can choose JL Audio, Polk and Alpine amps to power them with.

I listened to a single 8" powered by the JL 250/1 and it sounded great! Very smooth. It was the only 8 in there but it sounded as good as any sub in the room with the exception of the $$$$$ 13W7.

I understand you being leary of buying something without hearing it first so do what you think is right. However I GUARANTEE you that this sub is as good as anything even close to its price point and that you will NOT be sorry you bought it unless youre looking to set SPL records.

[kenstewart]

Good enuf for me, thanks Mac. Looks like I'll be owning a MM2084 here soon to complement my DB570s.

[neomagus00]

a mounting ring is made with MDF and a router, you cut out a ring that will fit under the sub's mounting ring, and screw straight through the ring into the box (you'll need long screws for this).

1/2" mdf should do, for your needs.

[MacLeod]

Eh, you can cut out a ring with a jigsaw as well. It wont be as perfect as with a router but then you dont have to buy a tool for something youre not going to use more than a few times.

[neomagus00]

hell, you could use a dremel - that's what i used for my LED mounting rings - but it's much easier to bribe a friend that's got the right tools

[AustinKP]

Originally posted by exalted512
I'm very weary of his comparisons for a few reasons. one of those is he accused the XXX of bottoming out, which it cannot do. its impossible. another is XXXs like really big ported boxes, they arent that great in sealed boxes and you can only start to see their potential in small ported boxes. this is why i have brahmas in my truck-because they do good in small ported boxes
theres a few other things im too tired to mention and theres a couple things ill just keep to myself anyway
-Cody If you read further, he did the test again in a ported box that was ideal for the XXX. He gave the pros and cons of both subs. It didn't seem to be biased either way. In some setups, he actually recommended the XXX over the other one.

[exalted512]

i read the whole thing. 2.5ft is about a cube short of what a 15XXX needs
-Cody