JL Audio 10W1V2 Subwoofer

[cam5860]

I have always heard great things about jl audio subwoofers. So I decided to buy one of these entry level subs. It's suppose to be pretty good with alot of technologies from the W7 subs. One reason I decided to purchase this was because of the mounting depth. It will fit perfect in my sub box without the plate. The mounting depth is only 4.34. So it should fit like a glove. Also it only requires a 150 watts RMS which is good considering my amp is only 200 watts RMS in bridged mode.

[exalted512]

I'd like to know what technologies from the w7 went into the w1...
-Cody

[cam5860]

About five patents from the W7 Went into these according to there website. Like Elevated frame cooling, Floating cone attach method, surround stress relief, Interlocking cone and dustcap, vented reinforcement collar, DMA optimized motor system. From the way they talk this is not your everyday entry level subwoofer. It looks decent with 9.5 mm of xmax.

[cam5860]

Although that JBL grand touring series sub looks like a steal. With a price tag of 89.99 and 12.5 mm of xmax. Thats getting your money's worth if you ask me.

[cam5860]

It looks like it's on par with the momo 10 inch sub. I checked the volume displacement on both subs and they are about equal. The momo checked in at 20.2 in. And the jl checked in at 20.1 in. so there's no difference in the loudest of the subs. But the sound quality of the subs is another story. Volume displacement just tells you how loud a sub will play.

[exalted512]

x-max and VD arent the only factors in deciding how 'loud' a sub is going to be. And then you have companies like our beloved Polk that list x-mech as x-max.

'Technologies' like you listed sound like a bunch of marketing BS as well.
-Cody

[1996blackmax]

One reason why JL is viewed so negatively......you do have to admit they have a very good marketing department.

[cam5860]

I agree it sounds to good to be true. I just hope I don't get dissappointed by this BS company. I would of went with the momo 10 but in regular cab trucks you have to deal with mounting depth. And the momo's are 5 3/4 deep. I only have 5 inchs of depth in my sub box. Thats if I want to keep my seat all the way back.

[1996blackmax]

It should sound fine, just don't expect W7 results. My friend has a couple of 8" WO's in his truck...I think they sound pretty good.

[exalted512]

One reason why JL is viewed so negatively......you do have to admit they have a very good marketing department.

So does Bose:p

Theyre not bad subs, but theyre not first on my list of subs I'd buy in that price range.
-Cody

[cam5860]

I did not do to bad on this sub. I picked up a new one for 109.00. Which I probally won't recieve before the weekend. Since it's coming from california.

[exalted512]

Not a bad price.
-Cody

[exalted512]

For future reference, some of the shallow subs I like, but not limited to:
4.75"
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=264-854
4.25"
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=264-862
5"
http://mach5audio.com/index-2.html (MAW 10)

-Cody

[cam5860]

Tang Bang thats a new one on me. You sure this is not knock off products man. The prices are decent but should be cheaper for off brand stuff.

[killerb]

you can say what you want about jl, but i have never purchased anything from them that was b.s. they make solid gear period. maybe overpriced, but solid. im still running 3 10w6's in my girls car, the originals and they are still pounding!! over 10 years of kicking bass, and they sound great.

[exalted512]

Tang Bang thats a new one on me. You sure this is not knock off products man. The prices are decent but should be cheaper for off brand stuff.

I dont post knock offs. Just because you havent heard of them, doesnt mean they're not good.
-Cody

[BaggedLancer]

Ahhh seeing this thread makes me wish i still had my 2 13w7's, first one got stolen, second one they tried to steal but i bolted the box with lags bolts through the trunk from inside the box so they decided just to puncture a hole through it......that was the end of my w7 run, just couldnt afford to pay to play anymore.

I now use 2 kicker s10L7's and a kicker 1200.1 and couldn't be happy, most of the time its too loud so i gotta crank the amp wayyyyy down.

good luck with your w1's, they look like they are gonna be pretty nice.

[cam5860]

Cody I looked over the reviews of tang bang stuff. It's looks to be pretty solid stuff. I did not see any negative reviews. I just couldn't see myself riding around with there gear in my truck tho. Although that 8 inch sub in that pic looks pretty mean. Looks like it could move some serious air.

[MacLeod]

I have a buddy I compete with that has used those 8's in his doors for midbasses and Im hear to tell ya, they slammed!

[exalted512]

Cody I looked over the reviews of tang bang stuff. It's looks to be pretty solid stuff. I did not see any negative reviews. I just couldn't see myself riding around with there gear in my truck tho. Although that 8 inch sub in that pic looks pretty mean. Looks like it could move some serious air.

I wouldnt lie to you:)
-Cody

[cam5860]

Well I listened to this sub over the weekend and it has pro's and con's. First off for a speaker rated at 150 watts. This speaker has awesome boom and output. Also it has great sound quality and can be pushed hard without noticable distortion. Now for the cons it's only good from about 60 hertz and down or in other words it's geared toward rap music and bass in general. I played some rock albums and it is terrible, could not even tell the sub was playing. So I set my low pass crossover all the way up to 100 hertz and it still suck ass. If your into rap music this is your sub has nice low extenstion. if your into a variety of different music you better look elsewhere.

[1996blackmax]

Many SQ systems actually only have the sub playing up until this point. This is where your front stage should start to pick up the material. I have my system crossed over at 63Hz with a steep slope. My system sounds very nice with a wide range of music. A sub is desinged to play bass, not reach into the the higher ranges where the mids should be doing their work. My Alpine Type-X sub did not have much output beyond that frequency, and it was a very nice sub. It is known as an SQ oriented driver. Give the sub some time to break in, it should start to sound a little better after a little bit.

[cam5860]

Yeah I see what your saying man! It's just that polk DB I was running done a much better job on the upper bass lines. But at the same time the jl has better lower extension than the polk. I have my sub crossed over at 70 hertz at a 24 DB slope.

[cam5860]

Well i'm going to keep trying different subs until I find one I really like. I have a new mtx x thunder sub coming tomorrow. I'm going to see how it sounds compared to the jl and polk.

[1996blackmax]

Just remember to let the subs break in, otherwise you will not really get accurate results as to what the subs really sound like once the suspension has reached it's happy place.

[najahaja]

why not spend extra on one nice sub, instead of buying lots of mediocre ones?

[cam5860]

The reason I can't buy a high end sub is because of mounting depth. Most high end subs need 6 to 7 inches of mounting depth, and I only have 5 inches of depth to work with. That's why I have to buy these entry level subs.

[najahaja]

Have a look at the Critical Mass subs..

They make an amazing sub that actually has an inverted motor (its where the dust cap is) and it pushes out huge amounts of bass. Costly, and you would need to upgrade your amp, but I am sure you would be more than happy with it.

Also, off the top of my head, I know Pioneer and JBL also make decent low profile subs, but nothing compared to the critical mass one.

heres a link below, dang they nice :
http://www.criticalmassaudio.com/catalog/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=2

[Jstas]

Ugh, it's not Tang Bang, it's Tang Band. It's right there on the website, how can you get it wrong?

As for Tang Band being knockoffs, not likely. They are a large manufacturer like SEAS, Morel, Focal, Vifa and other driver manufacturers that companies use to mass manufacture their drivers. If I remember correctly, before JL became as big as they are, Tang Band actually manufactured JL drivers. All the big names except for the likes of the REALLY big names like Pioneer and Kenwood, have used outsource manufacturers. One of the benefits the outsourcing gets the manufacturers is that they get to utilize technologies and driver designs and sell their own version. Granted not every company licenses the designs to the manufacturer that does the building for them but many do get it worked in to the contract. I'll bet the Tang Band W8 is an old JL design. Certainly looks like one.

As for the 10W1V2, I think it would relate better to the Polk DB104 rather than a MOMO MM2104. Will it be a better sub? I dunno. The DB104 is stout for it's price range and performs well. I've never heard the W1 though so I couldn't say for sure.


Now JBL GT series, I know alot about them! You aren't going to find more bang for you buck in the subwoofer realm. That series of subs is a flat-out performer. I still have a couple of the old treated paper pulp coned GT subs and they still manage to impress today. Especially with being about 8-9 years old. They don't dig super deep like some of the other more expensive subs but they will boom with the best of them and cost about as much as the worst of them. I'd use them any time and if the budget is real tight, I'd recommend them over Polk's products. Power them with a Profile amp and throw in an inexpensive Blaupunkt head unit and you'd be surprised what kind of performance you can get for very little investment comparatively.

[cam5860]

Yeah I remember the old JBL GT series woofers. I had two 8's one time and they sounded damn good. That was back in the day when circuit city was selling them. Yeah you right they had the rugged cone with a orange triangle on the dust cap.

[najahaja]

thank goodness ppl take time to read my posts, your welcome

[Jstas]

thank goodness ppl take time to read my posts, your welcome

Sorry, didn't know you were a shill for Critical Mass. Do you work on commission or something? I mean, only a salesman looking to make a buck would read an entire thread about entry level subs costing anywhere from $40 to about $200 and then go and recommend a sub costing over $525. I think you need to get a grip on reality.

[najahaja]

actually, I live in south africa and have never seen one of those subs.

But then again, someone going around buying mutiple $200 subs until he finds "The right one" is not that clever in my opinion either.

Thats why iu suggested buying one sub that would answer all your dreams instead of messing about with entry subs until you have wasted double what a decent sub would cost.

Have a nice day

[cam5860]

I don't have much in these subs cuz. I payed 45 bucks for the polk DB sub. It never hurts to listen to all the brands of speakers you can. If you can afford it.

[Thom]

actually, I live in south africa and have never seen one of those subs.


Haha. So why recommend a sub you've never seen/ let alone heard?

That looks just like the old Illusion Audio subs, I used to see them in the IACSA lanes in the late 90's. I also knew a guy who bought their old demo Honda Accord with those 8"s in the kicks and those 15"s in the trunk. Sounded pretty good, but not a lot of output. And not cheap. I wanted those subs so bad until I heard them. Still a cool design, I've still got an 8" here somewhere...

[najahaja]

@Thom.

HAHAHA, would you buy a Ferrari? Why, you have never driven one.

They are called reviews. I read magazines, like Car Audio and Electronics and take the advice of PROFESSIONAL audio experts, on what is good or not.

The Critical Mass subs do amazingly well.

But hey, I was just offering advice, take it or leave it.
But if you keep buying cheap subs, you gonna get cheap sound.

[cam5860]

Everybody has there preference in the way speakers sound. Just because car audio magazine says jl audio subs sound good don't mean everybody likes them.

Critical mass makes a nice sub for the money no doubt but do I like them NO. Speakers are nothing more than personal preference in my opinion. Everybody has the brand they swear by.

[black magic]

I have a buddy I compete with that has used those 8's in his doors for midbasses and Im hear to tell ya, they slammed!

Wow. How do you fit subs in your door!

[1996blackmax]

Now JBL GT series, I know alot about them! You aren't going to find more bang for you buck in the subwoofer realm. That series of subs is a flat-out performer. I still have a couple of the old treated paper pulp coned GT subs and they still manage to impress today. Especially with being about 8-9 years old. They don't dig super deep like some of the other more expensive subs but they will boom with the best of them and cost about as much as the worst of them. I'd use them any time and if the budget is real tight, I'd recommend them over Polk's products. Power them with a Profile amp and throw in an inexpensive Blaupunkt head unit and you'd be surprised what kind of performance you can get for very little investment comparatively.


I had a couple of those, they were 12's. I actually had those puppies running freeair. I really liked those JBL GT subs.

[dudeinaroom]

Wow. How do you fit subs in your door!

10"s will fit in the doors of an 86 f150, no bass, some mid bass

[exalted512]

I have 8s in my doors.
-Cody

[black magic]

Do you make an enclosure for them? sounds like it could be a lot of work.

[exalted512]

You try really hard to make it an IB enclosure. I'm not done yet, nor will I probably ever get done. But when I never get done, I'll post pics ;)
-Cody

[cam5860]

Well after running the JL Audio W1V2 for awhile. It's sounds great just not that loud. The polk DB sounds good and smooth also. It just starts breaking up at higher volume or in other words cone starts popping. The Mtx X Thunder sub is just flat out suck. It sounds like dirt and distorts like hell when you crank it up. So after all this mess I went and picked me up a JBL GT series sub and let me tell you it impressed me big time.

This sub is awesome for the money period. It has way more output and bass than the other three together to start out with. I can push this thing to full volume with no distortion. The bass is smooth as hell. Very good sound quality compared to the other three. Im definately a fan of JBL now from here on out.

[eloplayspolo]

ive always liked JBL, i coach high school swim and water polo and we have 2 studio speakers we have connected to a yamaha amp and they are about 10 years old and have been left out in the rain and still sound amazing.

As far as the car stuff, i always thought their stuff sounded crisp and clean.
I was at a local car audio shop and they had some really shallow lightning audio subs that the dealer said are very good, may want to check those out.

edit: o yeah, i know kicker makes some super shallow subs that i have heard very good things about from people who know their stuff

[cam5860]

The thing about this sub is you know how most subs you run them until you get up to the point of distortion then you know about how hard you can push them without blowing them. This sub it will only do so much and then it's like it just levels out. It's kinda like a factory radio it will only let the speakers play so loud then it levels out. This is how this sub acts.

[cam5860]

Has anyone noticed that crutchfield is carrying the full line of JL Audio now?

[exalted512]

They have been for a while.
-Cody

[Installer4life]

ive always liked JBL, i coach high school swim and water polo and we have 2 studio speakers we have connected to a yamaha amp and they are about 10 years old and have been left out in the rain and still sound amazing.

As far as the car stuff, i always thought their stuff sounded crisp and clean.
I was at a local car audio shop and they had some really shallow lightning audio subs that the dealer said are very good, may want to check those out.

edit: o yeah, i know kicker makes some super shallow subs that i have heard very good things about from people who know their stuff

Kickers shallow sub is not real shallow (4 and 3/16 inches). I heard a ten in a sealed enclosure in a Avalanche and was not impressed. I am looking foward to hearing the shallow mount subs from JL Audio.

[cam5860]

The Wv1's are shallow enough if you ask me. The 10 only requires 4.4 inches of mounting depth. I really don't like those shallow subs. The air in the box controls the suspension on them instead of a spider. The sound quality can't be that great.

[1996blackmax]

When a company designs a speaker for a sealed enclosure, the enclosure is meant to control the suspension. Reason why these enclosure are sometimes called acoustic suspension enclosures.

[cam5860]

yes I understand what your saying. Thats why you have a enclosure volume to keep a sub from moving beyond it's suspension limits. But what I'm saying these things don't even have spiders in them to help control the suspension.

[1996blackmax]

No spiders? How do they keep the voice coil aligned? Will have to read up on them....

[cam5860]

Check out that pioneer premier shallow sub.

[cam5860]

Pioneer's innovative TS-SW2541D 10" subwoofer packs a punch that belies its slender cross-section. Its Air Suspension Control System eliminates the need for a conventional spider structure — a cushion of locked-in air acts like a spring, providing smooth, precise movement of the woofer. This special design keeps the mounting depth of the sub at a slim 3", producing bold bass in places regular subwoofers can't go.

The one-piece die-cast aluminum basket sports a radical fin design, to provide extra cooling and rock-solid resonance control. Rugged internal parts, a powerful strontium magnet, and a cone-reinforcing aluminum dust cap round out the package.

[bizza]

Pioneer's innovative TS-SW2541D 10" subwoofer packs a punch that belies its slender cross-section. Its Air Suspension Control System eliminates the need for a conventional spider structure — a cushion of locked-in air acts like a spring, providing smooth, precise movement of the woofer. This special design keeps the mounting depth of the sub at a slim 3", producing bold bass in places regular subwoofers can't go.

The one-piece die-cast aluminum basket sports a radical fin design, to provide extra cooling and rock-solid resonance control. Rugged internal parts, a powerful strontium magnet, and a cone-reinforcing aluminum dust cap round out the package.

Are you after SQ or SPL?

If you are after SQ, try the Dynaudio mw182.... 3 inch mounting depth and deep, accurate, linear and precise bass reproduction... its a beatufil sub....

[cam5860]

I'm looking for good SQ with good output. But not SPL levels. Therse alot of speakers out here that sound great. But when you crank them up they can't handle the power. They start breaking up. I'm looking for good sound quality at higher volumes of listening. The polk DB set i'm running now. They sound really good at moderate volume but they can't handle higher listening levels worth a damn. I have crossed these bitches over all the way up to 150 hertz and they still break down when you crank them up. The tweeters just can't handle it. But the midrange does a decent job. The momo's sound ten times better at concert levels.