given two 12" subwoofers at 350 rms each

or one 12" subwoofer at 700 watts rms


everything else being equal, which would sound better, and which would be louder?

 

Depends on box really, and just because something is louder doesnt mean it will sound better. Personally i love having my single 15 and people sayin "Damn thats 1 sub?"

 

Just get an 18!

 

well usually quality is over quantity what type of subs are they. but if the same type of subs usually more come area will be louder. but if you build the box well either would get loud. my current set up of 2 12'" dc sound labs is louder than my last one of 1 15" dd audio so 24" of cone is greater than 15"

 

That is very true... And greenwood, it's better with 1 12"...

OP, it's all about the install. In the car audio world, sound is ~20% gear, and 80% install... Let us know what gear you're looking at, and it'll be more of a help. As for 1 vs 2, I'd go with 1 good sub, that way you have more trunk room...

 

well currerntly I have 2 12's in the car in a ported box but I also have a ten in a custom sealed enclosure. I have been tryin speakers right and left and seems like 2 speakers will get louder than one, even if feeding the one speaker more power.

so I'm wondering if my conclusion is correct: more cone area = louder and sometimes better sound even with less power.

just for the record I have used a jlw3, alpine ttype r, diamond audio in the sealed enclosure for almost a year and they all sound good but just dont get as loud as a pair of tens or twelves.

 

Generally speaking, more cone area will be louder. For example, at the competition I was at this weekend, there was 1 guy running 8 12s, whereas another guy was running 2 10's, and the 2 10's were about 10db's louder... One of the main differences in these installs was internal space in the car. The 2 10's were in a crx, and the 6 12's are in an Astro van. Another factor is power. The crx was running about 11000w, and the astro was at ~3000w.

Now, for a drop in/rebuild situation in the same car, more cone area is generally louder. Again, it's more about quality than quantity, but you can get very loud with middle of the line speakers (if you have enough of them, or just know what you're doing).

It's really more about quality, and you should try steping out to the realm of the "unknowns"...

 

dude i love the "unknown" brands! matter of fact regretting selling my adire brahma mkII. thing was i couldnt fit it in the enclosure i bought from uncald4. it was just to big. So I sold it! now im regretting selling it!

but I have two setups right now, a single 10 or my dual 12's that take up trunk space. I guess if i go on a road trip i'll disco the 12's and hookup the 10.

but thanks for the info