IDMAX subs have quite a reputation, but they just don't make sense for my application. I only have 1000 watts rms for two subs.

 

1000 watts is plenty for two Maxes in IB. I'm running both of mine off of 800 watts

 

hmmm....... if I'm going the IB route, then I really want 15's. If they're cheap enough I'd consider. I haven't had good luck buying used subs at all.

 

I Hate Cars: have you ever had your setup metered or would you care to?

 

Its a SQ system not SPL, while we are on the subject can you explain to me the draw to the type of sound your after? 1000 watts is plenty IB

 

I just want something that gets stupid loud when I want it to. Think of it like having 400 hp, I'm not going to floor it every time I accelerate, only when I feel the need for speed.

 

I dont point and laugh at the guy with 400HP though. but if thats your thing then thats cool!

 

It's never been metered but I would like to. I'm usually pretty nice to them but I've accidentally hit them with 1,200w on a 16hz test tone and they didn't make any bad noises like traditional bottoming. They hit xmax with only 180w at 20hz so I know they hit their mechanical limit that time but they must have some sort of "soft landing" hardware or the spider reigned them in. I was always afraid of bottoming them since IB has so much efficiency on the really low end but now I would have no problem getting them metered without worrying about hurting them that much.

For what it's worth, with the added low end efficiency of IB, the subs usually hit their mechanical limits before their thermal rating. My JL 12W6s regularly got pushed with 1,000w when sealed. When I went IB I put them on a 500w amp and I could get a scary amount of excursion from a sub that only has a 16.5mm xmax. When one of those subs were Klippeled, it was shown that they have about 25mm xmech and it takes about 280w to push it to it's limits. This is a good thing because excursion and cone area dictate output in sealed and IB setups so the less power it takes to hit it's excursion limits, the better.

 

Let me know if you wanna get metered. If so, I'll do the same and we should use the same bass track and compare.....just an idea.

I've been shopping around for other 12's, and doing my preliminary research on 4th order boxes. I don't know how complicated it would be to design and build, but if I do end up going that route, it'll just be 2 12's. Here are some of the subs that I've had my eyes on:
Infinity Kappa 120.9w
(I used to have 2 12" Infinity Perfects, and they were hands down the loudest and cleanest subs I've ever owned. Above Type R's, MTX Thunder 8000's, Audiobahn AW1200q's, Rockford Fosgate Punch XLC's. And they were in a sealed box powered by a JL 500/1, which is half of the power of my current setup).
RE Audio SEX12D4 (I've heard nothing but positive things about RE Audio subs, although I've never heard any).
SKAR Audio VVX-12 D2 (2 year warranty, 26.5mm Xmax per sub).
Earthquake DBXI-12 (They claim 3.5" of Xmax which may be a stretch but they appear to move some serious air at only 500wats rms, and they come with a 5 year warranty).

Anyone have experience of knowledge of any of these?

I Hate Cars: How the hell did you manage to throw 1200watts@16 hz at those?! Seems like that would blow up any sub.

 

Anyone?