Has anyone had any experience with the FI IB3 series?

 

I believe one person on here has used one and he gave it a positive review. Some others I've seen on other boards seemed to think SQ wasn't that great but that can be based on many factors.

What I know for sure from the specs is the 15" has a 30mm xmax so a single 15 will move a lot of air. Qts is over .6 so it might be good to stick with a single sub. The higher the Qts, the closer you get to the "boomy" and "slow" bass. It's fine where it's at but a pair might put you in the 1.0 range in a trunk. Efficiency isn't that great especially for a large sub but it's not terrible either.

Like I've said before, I haven't found a sub that does not sound as good or better in IB as it did in a sealed box. I would have no problem trying one of these out especially for the displacement vs price. A single 15 would move as much or more air as 3 "normal" 12s.

 

I had one in my car right next to a AE SPB 15, and also each in isolation. By it's self, in the same baffle (well, hole about 2mm bigger), you could not tell the difference in the two in the car playing between 20 and 100 hertz. Unless you are listening to the sub in a modeling program, you will probably be happy with it. However, each had their own qualities at high volume, but you would never care about sound quality at these levels.

I still have it in my building. Let me know if you need any measurements or pictures and I can get it done.

It is powerful - I would definately double up on the baffle for it. I mostly think that excursion numbers (and other numbers for that matter) are "guestimates" from most manufacturers, but this thing really does get over 1 inch of excursion.

It took about 2 weeks to arrive. I guess that they built it to order. I got updates from FI every few days about when it would arrive.

See if you can get an 18 in there. Seriously. If I remember right, there should be room, even if you have to tilt it a little.

 

Thanks for the info very helpful as i thought about 2 15's or 1 18. I havent really got around to playing in the trunk yet so would a single 18 fit? JDA have you thought about selling yours?

 

Xmax is actually measured, usually 70% Bl. Klippel testing has confirmed the AE IB15's 19mm rated xmax is correct and a 25mm xmech.

The AE SBP15 offers several unique advantages over most other subs:

High efficiency. Compared to the Fi, the AE sub requires less than half the power for the same output.

Low inductance: Less distortion and it will play the upper sub frequencies and well into the midrange very nicely. The inductance on these is a low as many midrange speakers.

Very low moving mass... lower than most 10s. You have the cone area of a 15" with the weight of a 10". This helps with efficiency and the transient response according to some.

Low Qts... I personally prefer this type of sound. You don't want the Qtc to go much above .7 in the car. If the sub starts with a .6 or .7, running multiple subs or loading the trunk up with stuff will raise the Q to the point it will sound boomy and slow.

It all translates into a very musical sub that plays every type of music perfectly and will dig super deep while requiring little power. This thing was designed just for car IB. It sounds just as at home on rock as it does on rap.

I'm sure the Fi IB3 sounds fine but it's going to require more than 2x the power for the same loudness and nearly 4x the power to hit xmax. I can't see any reason to choose the Fi over the AE unless it's pure output you're looking for. The Fi does offer a very nice displacement vs price value.

The Fi IB3 18" looks much nicer though. Efficiency is quite a bit higher than the 15" version. A pair of 18s with 30mm xmax would be crazy. You would want to find a way to vent your trunk to the outside world with a pair of those things. Removing the flaps in the trunk vents is easy and works pretty well.

I just figured up displacement and a pair of those 18s would have almost the same displacement as 3 of their 15s or 5 of their 12s.

 

ohseven - I don't usually sell stuff that I might use again. I don't like the bath that I have to take if I want to buy stuff again. I will loan out stuff for people to try from time to time. I like this enough to maybe use it in the future either in a car or in a home theatre. I did sell the AE to a PHD Acoustical Engineer at work that gave it to a friend... and I regret it a bit.

Both the AE and FI made output within 2% of each other under the same power, in my car. I can dig through my book and post some numbers when I get home. It it wasn't such a PITA to take baffles in and out, I would ship you the FI if you wanted to jack around with it. I will, if you want, but I would like it back when you are done.

 

Thanks guys I think i'm gonna go with one 18. Hope they ship overseas!

 

jda123 can you post some pics of your FI...THANKS

 

If you're stuck on the Fi, here's a lightly used pair if ib3 18" for $350obo. Not bad at all but who knows if he will ship overseas.

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...i-ib3-18s.html

 

Geez. I bet those things get loud and LOOOW

 

Yep, but like others I've seen who have run them, the seller is complaining of bad response past 50hz. So they're fine if you have a powerful 8" midbass but wouldn't work well with a 6.5". That's the reason I stick with the AEs, you can not only play midbass if you want, but you can go deep into the midrange not that you would ever want to. 30mm xmax and I think 48mm xmech on a pair of 18s would be mind blowing though. You could high pass it at 15hz and still have mind blowing bottom end.

I thought I should mention they're starting to make the IB15, 12, and 10 again at $199. Considering what this sub does, the ultra low inductance and distortion, good excursion, great efficiency, lots of cone area for a 15",and low FS and Qts, and flat FR without EQ, it could easily cost 3-4x more and be worth the price. They truly are a bargain.

 

Your baffle is going to have to be angled quite a bit to fit an 18 in the TL. Have you mocked up the baffle? 15's are tight as it is.

 

No i haven't mocked anything yet as the weather is just now breaking (go figure). IHC i'm not set on FI I just want a single sub that plays LOOOW and sounds good doing it. Can be 12", 15", or 18" but it's gonna be a single sub. 500/1 for power lemme know what you think.