Sr subs or Alpine Type X for SQ????

[Polkemon]

Please give your thoughts on these models.

Polk SR subs
Alpine Type X
compared to the Infinity Perfect 10.1 (I am curently looking to replace these with single or dual 10" or a Single 12").

Debating on 500/1 or 1000/1 or Polk Mono 500.1

I will be pairing these up with polk sr6500 or Focal K2p's in front with Polk db6500 in back.

[Polkemon]

Anyone????

[Josh]

Not that I'm biased...but, SR all the way.

[audiobliss]

Yeah, that's a no brainer if ever I've heard one. SR pwns Alpine.

:D

[1996blackmax]

I actually have both issues where these subs were reviewed. Vance Dickason and Eric Holdaway thought highly of the Alpine SWX-1242D (Type-X). These same guys also reviewed the SR12DVC.

The Type-X received a score of 88 out of a 100 on the subjective score chart.

Overall Sound Quality: 44 (out of 50)
Tonal Balance: 09
Low Frequency Extension: 09
Clarity at Low Volume: 09
Clarity at High Volume: 09
Impact: 08
Total: 88

On the music selection the Type-X received a score of 42 out of 50.





The Polk SR 12 also received good marks, not as high as the Type-X, but still good.

The subjective score was 71.

Overall Sound Quality: 37
Tonal Balance: 06
Low Frequency Extension: 07
Clarity at Low Volume: 07
Clarity at High Volume: 07
Impact: 07
Total: 71

On the music selection the SR received a total of 37 points.





I am currently trying the Alpine Type-X, and I have to say that I am impressed with it. Specially now that it is more broken it. I have it in a 1.07 cubic foot enclosure. I have read alot about it on several different forums, reason why I did not have very high expectations. I think many people just like to talk without really having experience with a product. This is a very nice SQ sub, that can definately give you some very nice bump. This was pretty much the same thing that was mentioned by people who actually had or once owned it. This thing can reproduce the lowest tones very, very nicely. Can't wait for it to be fully broken it to see what it can do. As of right now, I am leaning toward keeping it...

I will be going to Tweeter tomorrow to listen to the SR's and the Type-X sub side by side. I want my ears to make up my mind, not just a review in a magazine. I was also looking at the Fi-Q12, and Soundsplinter RL-p12 too. The reason why I tried the Alpine was that it requires a pretty small box. These other subs would need an enclosure closer to 1.5 cubes.

[Polkemon]

Please let me know what you think when you do the comparison????
Thanks!!!!

[MacLeod]

Would this be thread #301?

:D :p

[1996blackmax]

Please let me know what you think when you do the comparison????
Thanks!!!!


Will do... ;)

[killerb]

i have 2 sr124-dvc powered by a massive audio p1500 1500 watt amp. they sound very good. my sub choice came down to the alpine type x and the polks. i love the alpine subs! they will be a great choice for most systems. the sr124 has a very similar sound with a great kick, impact and they are smooth as glass. i went with the polks to keep the system all polk, but would have been just as happy with the alpines.

[Polkemon]

Sorry Mac but this is #298:D

[Polkemon]

I just enjoy asking question of things that I come across to keep my system as up to date as I can. Its not like I am asking about Kraco versus Durabrand for coax. speakers. I am only asking of brands that I have heared high praise of and since I have 2-suv's and 2 sports cars I have a lot of systems to build.
Donny

[MacLeod]

Just bustin' your balls dude. No harm meant.

[Polkemon]

No harm done..I just figured you were fugin around.

[PoweredByDodge]

alpine has been on a steady decline the last 4 years or so. type x / flagship... bah humbug.

i was not impressed with the 2006 variety type x drivers at all. i can't say i was 'depressed' by them either, but the dollar to performance mark just is not there.

also -- head to head with SR series polk subs, they lose, IM-not-so-humble-O.

But i'm also all about 'accurate reproduction', and so not about 'what is louder', 'what is boomier', or 'what will shake my ride more'.

that being said, the SR's will go loud, shake the fillings out of your teeth, and accurately reproduce the music being played. can't beat that... unless you go bargain hunting and want to make sacrifices here or there.

i picked up a full new system over the summer. snagged couple hundred dollar subs for under 50 bucks a pop (that included shipping)... sacrificed some things, but i did that knowingly (and ikesound took pity on me). if i wasn't frickin broke, i'd probably gut it and grab SR gear. although i am digging the blingity bling silver trim everywhere.

[1996blackmax]

The Type-X sub is no slouch. I also believe the asking price is too much for the sub, as well as the SR sub. I did not pay MSRP for this sub, nor would I pay the asking price for the SR sub.

The Type-X is geared more towards SQ, and the thing does sound nice and can also get loud. I just finished tweaking out my system a little more and I am leaning towards keeping this thing. I think properly powered this is a very nice subwoofer. Towards the end of my little session I finally turned the volume up to see what it can do. The sub got pretty loud, but never strayed from sounding very clean. This thing can get low, even in this small box I have it in. People that claim this sub does not have much output I think are mistaken. The display on my CD7000 was blurry at times from all the bass.

I will try to make my way to Tweeter tomorrow to listen to the SR (pretty darn busy this weekend). The review that the Type-X sub received was excellent, but like I said, I want to let my ears make up my mind.

[MacLeod]

But i'm also all about 'accurate reproduction', and so not about 'what is louder', 'what is boomier', or 'what will shake my ride more'.

Bingo!!

That is my sentiments exactly. The most accurate is seldom the loudest.

[1996blackmax]

That is what the Type-X is sounding like ;).

[Polkemon]

Black max please keep me posted on this and when you hear the sr's. I have not bought mine yet because I am still reviewing them and seeing what the best deal is. I can get the Type X 12" for $349 from Cruthfield after $150 discount on the sub.
I can get the sr for around $300 from Ebay. Oops did I say Ebay.

[PoweredByDodge]

.... or you can get an IDMax for around 250.

[1996blackmax]

The Image Dynamics is a nice sub, I actually was looking into getting one as well. From the many posts that I read, many users did not think that it did a great job with the really low bass material. I guess it also has to do alot with the enclosure. Reason I went with the Alpine as it only requires a pretty small box to sound very nice. One of the things that was mentioned in the review was that with the SR it was hard to discern with some of the lowest note details. He also said that a bigger box would have been better. They actually tested it in a 1.25 cubit foot box (this was the recommendation from Polk), but he still felt it needed a bigger box. If you have the room then this is not an issue, but for me going with an enclosure bigger than what I have right now would not really be a good thing.

[1996blackmax]

Black max please keep me posted on this and when you hear the sr's. I have not bought mine yet because I am still reviewing them and seeing what the best deal is. I can get the Type X 12" for $349 from Cruthfield after $150 discount on the sub.
I can get the sr for around $300 from Ebay. Oops did I say Ebay.


I will keep you posted.

Authorized is a nice way to go if you can, and if you have some customer referral credits at Crutchfield it's even nicer :D.

[PoweredByDodge]

IDMax 12 v2 was ideal at 1.43 (if i remember correctly on the 2 i had) sealed.

they performed excellently on all material from 'deep deep' bass to 'punchy' bass, however, i do recall them requiring in the neighborhood of 1200 watts rms each.

nicest damn subs i ever listened to, but very precarious. they were down for repair almost as often as they were being played. pissed me off. but, it was a new design --- the v3 has been out for a couple years now and supposedly fixes all the flaws of v1 and v2 subs.

[1996blackmax]

Went to look at the subs today and things did not turn out good.... The Alpine sub was not working (someone blew it), and the Polk SR sub was in an enclosure with two subs, and it was ported. I wanted to check one out in a sealed box. I will go to a couple other Tweeters to check them out side by side. I did not like the sound that the SR's were putting out. I think this was due to them not being in the correct ported enclosure. They were being pushed by a JL 1000/1.

I switched out my Arc Audio 12D2 today for the Alpine sub. Wanted to see how much of an output difference there was, as well as the type of sound they produced. Ofcourse the Alpine sub is wired for a 2ohm load so it will see double the power that the Arc sub sees (dual 2ohm coils wired in series for a 4ohm final load), but the Arc sub is no slouch (the thing has 16mm's of linear excursion). It's being pushed by about 100 watts more than its RMS rating, so it's playing to it's full potential. Besides, many people talk about how inefficient the Alpine sub is so you would think there would not be too much of a difference........ Well, there is a significant difference in both the level of bass felt and heard. The Arc sub is made by Image Dynamics and is well known to be a very musical sounding sub, that sounds very good and has nice output capabilities (will not win SPL comps, but that's not what is was designed for). I am really liking the Alpine sub now. I am trying to decide what to do right now, as I am nearing the 30 day return period....... I want to go to a shop and see what a 12W6V2 sounds like in my trunk...... decision, decisions

[Polkemon]

Damn! That sucks because I wanted to hear your thought of the SR sub in a sealed but it seems to work that way! I had went last year when I bought my first set of the SR6500 to Tweeters and wanted to compare the Focal K2P's and the SR when all they had running was the head unit power to these speakers..... Come On we are talking a high end chain and speakers that need a Min. of atleast 75watts and the even hooked it up to a Head Unit!!!

Keep me informed because I am liking more and more what I am hearing about the Type X. I was considering running One of these in Full size SUV or a single or double Ten set-up. What is your thought????

Donny

[killerb]

the sr124-dvc sound great in a sealed box, trust me. but you are right to listen to them first. they sound like the type x to me, very musical with great output.

[Polkemon]

Whats the thoughts on the Diamond D9 or JL w6 subs versus these being discussed? I have the Infinity Perfects 10.1 are any of these semiliar in sound??

[henee2]

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45987

[1996blackmax]

I made up my mind to return the Type-X and give either the Fi Q12, or the Soundsplinter RL-p12 a shot.

RL-p12:

http://www.soundsplinter.com/images/titles/rl-p12_series_page_image.jpg

http://www.soundsplinter.com/rlp_premium_series_12_and_15_inch_subwoofer.html

http://www.soundsplinter.com/rlp12_premium_series_12_inch_DIY_subwoofer_informa tion.html


Fi Q12:

https://ssl.perfora.net/www.ficaraudio.com/sess/utn;jsessionid=1545b02d5410ec6/shopdata/0020_Q/images/Q12_170x356.jpg

https://ssl.perfora.net/www.ficaraudio.com/sess/utn;jsessionid=1545b02d5410ec6/shopdata/product_overview.shopscript

https://ssl.perfora.net/www.ficaraudio.com/sess/utn;jsessionid=1545b02d5410ec6/shopdata/0020_Q/product_overview.shopscript

[audiobliss]

Wow. Those are both massive subs. I can only imagine having one of those in my car.....shoot...I can only imagine having a sub of any kind in my car.....shoot...right now I can only imagine having a system in my car!

:p

[Polkemon]

What caused you to return the Type X?? I have never heard of these two subs you are looking at getting. Where did you find them and has there been any reviews done??????

[1996blackmax]

I liked the sound that the Type-X produced. Having said that, I believe that these other subs can get very close in SQ to the Type-X and beat it in output. The bonus is that they cost a good deal less. Both subs have over 20mm's of linear excursion, with the Fi sub reaching 27mm's.

The RL-p is based on the TC-9 motor by TC Sounds. They are an OEM manufacturer of subwoofers (meaning that they produce subs for different audio companies). The TC-9 is a proven motor that has been around for a while. This sub is known for producing high levels of clean bass output. I previously owned a Soundsplinter RL-i 10" sub (one series down from the RL-p), and was very happy with what it could do. The thing sounded very nice, and had respectable output. I bought it for $160 bucks at the time. You would be hardpressed to find a sub that can outperform it anywhere near that price range.

Fi is a newer company that is quickly getting alot of respect for their high quality drivers. Both of these companies are putting out products that will shame products from other companies that cost alot more.

Right now I am leaning towards the Fi. I contacted them and they told me that the sub would actually sound very nice in the enclosure and power that I have available. I am wating to hear back from Mike over at Soundsplinter. I believe from the last time we emailed each other though, that the sub would have to be in an enclosure that is about 1.5 cubes gross.

I learned about these drivers from different online forums. You can get alot of high quality products that are not from mainstream companies. A home audio guy was actually the one that pointed me towards Soundsplinter, and TC Sound built subs. This guy really knows his audio.

Take a look over at:

http://realmofexcursion.com/forum.html

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/index.php

http://forum.elitecaraudio.com/



There is alot of good reading in those forums.

[1996blackmax]

Edit....


Will be putting in an RL-p12 in later this week :).