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Old Jul 20, 2005 | 02:22 PM
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Back to the JL Drawing Board....

Ok so for those who don't know I have an 05 TSX with a JL 500/1 series amp powering a 12w3v2. I got the 500 amp for the bass knob (cuz the 250/1 series couldnt get the bk). This is in a ported box. Well for those who know their shit, that amp is way too much power for that sub and I need to do something before I (or already have) burned the voice coils....

According to JL the BEST fit for the 500/1 series is a (one) 13w6v2 or (one) 10w7

Other ideas I thought of were adding another 12w3v2 or (one) 12w6v2 or even (one) 15w3. These options would slightly be overpowered (except 2 12w3v2s would be slightly underpowered)

but anything is better than what I have right now. I am over powering that sub way too much (and my gains are turned down but Im not sure how much that helps)

OH. I am looking to keep factory highs and mids, they are pretty good. I dont want to touch my headunit. I dont want any muddy or anything obviously and dont want to drown out the treble. I want quality not quantity, but it needs to hit.

Does anybody have this setup or know anybody, especially with the 13w6v2 or the 10w7?


AND, my friends are so insistent on ported but I have others that say no no no and go with sealed... ported just hits harder? It takes more power to use sealed but its cleaner right?

Also, SORRY (lots of ??) I may actually build (with a friend) a custom box. Is fiberglass good or should I just stick more to the JL boxes.

Eleu. help

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!

Last edited by stphy32; Jul 20, 2005 at 02:26 PM.
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Old Jul 20, 2005 | 02:28 PM
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personally i'd go for another 12w3v2 that way u wouldn't have to try to find a buyer for the one your already have, and it'll run it really well, i ran a 500 on 2 12" w3's and it ran really well, it's all about how u play it, kinda like nitrous, you don't have to go with a big shot, and risk blowing it, so tone it down a little, don't turn up the gain too much,
also if you want really clean, get a w6v2 in a ported box and it'll run that thing perfectly, and a w6v2 in a properly built slot ported box will be as loud as 2 12's (w3's) in a seal box.....
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Old Jul 20, 2005 | 02:35 PM
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or a 12w7. I got a 13w6 for sale to. Its in the blackmarket.
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Old Jul 20, 2005 | 02:51 PM
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i have a the 12w6v2 with the 500/1 amp in a slot ported box. the shit slams hard in my tl. i put dynamat extreme in my trunk with still some rattle. only down part with going ported is the box is gynormus. takes up the entire back part of my trunk. if you like boomy bass go ported but if you want it clean and tight i would go sealed. wating for funds to get a nice fiberglass set up to free up some space and make it sound cleaner. but you can't go wrong with the 12w6v2 or the 13w6. they pair nicely with the 500/1
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Old Jul 20, 2005 | 02:52 PM
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The place where I got it will upgrade the difference. I paid $220 I think for the 12w3v2 and I think the 12w6v2 is $500, so I will have to pay $300ish

How much is your 13w6 for?

I am a little apprehensive about used products. Why are u selling it?
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Old Jul 20, 2005 | 02:55 PM
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Originally Posted by NICKTL
i have a the 12w6v2 with the 500/1 amp in a slot ported box. the shit slams hard in my tl. i put dynamat extreme in my trunk with still some rattle. only down part with going ported is the box is gynormus. takes up the entire back part of my trunk. if you like boomy bass go ported but if you want it clean and tight i would go sealed. wating for funds to get a nice fiberglass set up to free up some space and make it sound cleaner. but you can't go wrong with the 12w6v2 or the 13w6. they pair nicely with the 500/1
Thanks Nick. How much did you pay for your stuff if you dont mind me asking?
I am curious to here ported and sealed and see what the difference is. So your box is not JL cuz I think all of theirs are sealed right?
Yeah I want to cusom make the fiberglass box, thats a good setup right?

Oh do you think the dynamat helped a lot? I can get about 20sqft for $85 which is good, but I want to know if its worth it. I need to do my front doors too.
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Old Jul 20, 2005 | 10:02 PM
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Originally Posted by stphy32
The place where I got it will upgrade the difference. I paid $220 I think for the 12w3v2 and I think the 12w6v2 is $500, so I will have to pay $300ish

How much is your 13w6 for?

I am a little apprehensive about used products. Why are u selling it?
425 with a box. I am selling it because I dont need it anymore. I have a 12w7, and in my RSX I have a w3. I was gonna use the 13 in my home audio. I used it for 2 month. Its a 650 setup. Check out the pics in the blackmarket.
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 06:51 AM
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bought my JL equipment used. got the amp on ebay for about $350 and the W6 with the box off craigslist for $300. i made out pretty good seeing that the sub alone cost $500 at tweeter and the amp goes for $550. i have to get a optima yellow top for a battery cause when it hits my dash dims a bit and i don't want to strain my alternator. i did notice a difference with the dynamat extreme. i just have to add more to less the outside getto rattle. i got a box that will cover my entire trunk and maybe the doors off ebay for $120 shipped. just put dynamat extreme in the search. i thought it was going to be hard to do but it is really easy. just make sure you cut it into little pieces. it makes it easier to apply. get the extreme also cause it sticks better especially on the top trunk lid. some of the JL boxes are ported. if you go to the website and look at the diagram they are ported on top. i am talking about the long boxes with the red carpeting made for the W6 and W7. depending on what kind of music you like and how bassy you like it will determine to get ported or sealed. check out caraudio.com although they told me to go sealed for better sound. fiberglass is the way to go. going to go to my audio shop tonight to see how much a fiberglass set up will hurt the wallet. well hope this helps. i am not a pro but just someone who did a lot of research on the net. but you know that you can't always believe what you read on the net.
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 08:44 AM
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Originally Posted by NICKTL
bought my JL equipment used. got the amp on ebay for about $350 and the W6 with the box off craigslist for $300. i made out pretty good seeing that the sub alone cost $500 at tweeter and the amp goes for $550. i have to get a optima yellow top for a battery cause when it hits my dash dims a bit and i don't want to strain my alternator. i did notice a difference with the dynamat extreme. i just have to add more to less the outside getto rattle. i got a box that will cover my entire trunk and maybe the doors off ebay for $120 shipped. just put dynamat extreme in the search. i thought it was going to be hard to do but it is really easy. just make sure you cut it into little pieces. it makes it easier to apply. get the extreme also cause it sticks better especially on the top trunk lid. some of the JL boxes are ported. if you go to the website and look at the diagram they are ported on top. i am talking about the long boxes with the red carpeting made for the W6 and W7. depending on what kind of music you like and how bassy you like it will determine to get ported or sealed. check out caraudio.com although they told me to go sealed for better sound. fiberglass is the way to go. going to go to my audio shop tonight to see how much a fiberglass set up will hurt the wallet. well hope this helps. i am not a pro but just someone who did a lot of research on the net. but you know that you can't always believe what you read on the net.

what are u running that strains the alternator? the 12w7? with what amp?
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 08:48 AM
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I heard fiberglass looks good, but doesnt sound the best?
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 08:56 AM
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anybody have a 500/1 running a 12w7? I know it underpowers that sub, wonder if its bad?
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 09:07 AM
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i am running the w6 off the 500/1. it only happens when i have my lights on at night and i crank it up do the lights on my dash dim. getting a cap wouldn't help cause i heard that they won't do much off the jl 500/1 cause the amps power is stiffly regulated. i wouldn't run a 12w7 off a 500/1. you wouldn't get the proper sound out of it. it would be a waste of money if you went that route. 1000/1 is what you should use. fiberglass made properly will sound good and tight cause it will be sealed.
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 09:13 AM
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you can run a 10w7 off the 500/1 and it will sound louder than the w3.
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 09:22 AM
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yeah for sure, but I listen to a lot of rap, dont know if I will like the 10.

what about 10w7 vs 12w6?
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 09:23 AM
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Last night I went to Tweeter and they had the following setup:

2 12w6

1 12w7

It was absolutely amazing to hear the difference in the subs. One 12w7 blows away 2 12w6s. The low frequency bass is so different and so much clearer. I was in with the W7. But if I got that I would have to buy the 1000w amp....
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 09:25 AM
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Originally Posted by NICKTL
i wouldn't run a 12w7 off a 500/1. you wouldn't get the proper sound out of it. it would be a waste of money if you went that route. 1000/1 is what you should use. fiberglass made properly will sound good and tight cause it will be sealed.

thats what I thought but the guy at Tweeter was so insistent (wonder why, lol, about a $400 difference in the subs)

I dont think I would either, and thats probably going to be too much bass for me.
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 09:26 AM
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Originally Posted by stphy32

I dont think I would either, and thats probably going to be too much bass for me.
Did I really just say that?

Thats an oxy-moron and I cant believe I just said that, but you get my point
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 09:27 AM
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So Nick, you have one 12w6 powered by the 500/1 right? and you really like it?
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 09:54 AM
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i love my set up. my friend was amazed at how loud it gets. he thought i had 2 12's in the back. i would highly recommed getting the 12w6 since you already have the 500/1. i have to turn down my gains sometimes cause it over powers my front and rear speakers. seems like the tweeter guy just wanted to make some commisson selling you the 12w7 knowing that you had the 500/1. trust me it would be a waste going that route. if you like a lot of bass port the bitch but know that you will lose a lot of room in your trunk and the thing is going to weight the back down. so be careful if you are lowered. my box weighs about 50-60 lbs.
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 09:57 AM
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never heard he 10w7 in action but from what i read it is a bit louder and cleaner than a 12w6. either way you can't go wrong with these subs.
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 10:24 AM
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Originally Posted by NICKTL
never heard he 10w7 in action but from what i read it is a bit louder and cleaner than a 12w6. either way you can't go wrong with these subs.
both JL speakers are good, can't go wrong with either. The w6's are tried and true ,though I hear that teh 7's are better, as people have also said on here. It sounds like either will work, but if you have the choice, I'd go with the 7.
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 10:28 AM
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In my opinion, the W7 is too much for me. It seems to boomy for my liking, id stick w/the W6v2 maybe even 2 of em.
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 10:40 AM
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dark inspire are you ported or sealed?
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 10:55 AM
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well when i had the W7 in my car, it was sealed. I've got a ported W6v2 right now, and doesnt sound bad w/a lil tuning, but i prefer the sound of a sealed box, which is what i will revert back to
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 12:08 PM
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Originally Posted by dark inspire
well when i had the W7 in my car, it was sealed. I've got a ported W6v2 right now, and doesnt sound bad w/a lil tuning, but i prefer the sound of a sealed box, which is what i will revert back to
Can you compare the sealed vs ported box in your opinion to me? Since you had both can you try and verbally explain how the difference sounds.

When I was at Tweeter they had two w6 in sealed boxes and then one w7 in ported and I see what you mean, the bass from the w7 is so much lower cuz of the low frequency but I think its amazing, I really would like to see how they both sound in my car.
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 12:10 PM
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Originally Posted by NICKTL
i love my set up. my friend was amazed at how loud it gets. he thought i had 2 12's in the back. i would highly recommed getting the 12w6 since you already have the 500/1. i have to turn down my gains sometimes cause it over powers my front and rear speakers. seems like the tweeter guy just wanted to make some commisson selling you the 12w7 knowing that you had the 500/1. trust me it would be a waste going that route. if you like a lot of bass port the bitch but know that you will lose a lot of room in your trunk and the thing is going to weight the back down. so be careful if you are lowered. my box weighs about 50-60 lbs.
Those are two things Im afraid of. One- I have stock head unit, I dont want to touch the factory head unit at all. As of now I have to keep it turned down slightly even with a w3. I wonder how much diff the w6 or w7 would be

2- I wonder how much my current box weighs... I know the w7 are so much heavier than w3 and w6 and I plan on getting springs to lower the car. LOL
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 12:11 PM
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I wonder how much of a difference it would make if I do get the 10w7 vs the 12w7.

Has anyone heard a 10w7 before????

I know 12s will hit harder and lower but 10s wont be as vibratey and choppy. hmmmm.....

sorry this is so tough
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 12:24 PM
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From: ShitsBurgh
Originally Posted by dark inspire
well when i had the W7 in my car, it was sealed. I've got a ported W6v2 right now, and doesnt sound bad w/a lil tuning, but i prefer the sound of a sealed box, which is what i will revert back to
sealed enclosure > bandpass(ported)
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Old Jul 21, 2005 | 12:46 PM
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Originally Posted by 97BlackAckCL
sealed enclosure > bandpass(ported)
you have heard both?
can you elaborate please! :please:
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Old Jul 22, 2005 | 01:57 PM
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I might add another 12w3v2 and put them both in a sealed box.

vs. one 12w6 vented.

Thoughts?
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Old Jul 22, 2005 | 02:10 PM
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i dunno what kind of car u drive.. but I have 03 CL-S... just recently installed single 12 w3v2 in a sealed box and that's more than plenty of bass for me.... I guess it all depends on what kind of music you like to listen to but for me i'm sooooo glad I didn't go with dual 12" like my original plan.
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Old Jul 22, 2005 | 02:12 PM
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I am gonna give my input even though it isnt even JL. I say you should go with one Memphis M3 Sub. It is actually only 300RMS and 600Peak but I know people that are pushing 650 into one for over a year and nothing wrong. I am currently pushing 500 on mine for the last year now and have had no problems and it shounds amazing. I got the sub for under 300 new and the coil thing is that if you blow it you can take it apart and just replace the bad sub the magnet and cone come apart so it saves you money in the event you do blow it.
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Old Jul 22, 2005 | 02:25 PM
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the 12w6 slotted is going to be louder than the 2 12w3's sealed.
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Old Jul 22, 2005 | 02:31 PM
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Right now I just needed to do something or else I would burn the voice coils pushing 500 to a 300 sub, no good
check out their site:

http://www.jlaudio.com/subwoofers/RP_Chart.html

I am on the line of danger zone/void warranty

My guy has another w3v2 in stock so I am going there tomorrow to throw it in, if I am really not satisfied I will have to have him order me up the 12w6 or the 10w7 and get rid of the two 12w3v2's

I dont need anything to hit too hard, I am more concerned with quality bass. Not shit.

but man o man, those w7's are boooootiful
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Old Jul 22, 2005 | 02:34 PM
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Thanks to everyone for their input, I really appreciate it!
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Old Jul 23, 2005 | 08:28 AM
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I have a 500/1 with a JL sealed box sporting a 12w6v2. Clean, tight and loud.
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Old Jul 24, 2005 | 01:11 AM
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Originally Posted by ASuddenSilence
I have a 500/1 with a JL sealed box sporting a 12w6v2. Clean, tight and loud.

i've got the 10"
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Old Jul 24, 2005 | 08:05 PM
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I ended up (for now) going with another 12w3. The box is huge but its really nice, I will take a pic. Only downside is it is kinda heavy. I will take pics and post. I am sure I will want to upgrade later. I get bored easily (sorry guys)
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Old Jul 24, 2005 | 08:35 PM
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Originally Posted by stphy32
I ended up (for now) going with another 12w3. The box is huge but its really nice, I will take a pic. Only downside is it is kinda heavy. I will take pics and post. I am sure I will want to upgrade later. I get bored easily (sorry guys)

it's all good, ive got friends who are running the same setup and it sounds nice. 2 W3's hit hard but i think the W6's hit a lil "deeper" if u know what i mean
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Old Jul 24, 2005 | 09:34 PM
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Nice...congrats on the new setup.
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