Hey so I'm trying to do an upgrade to my car. I'm new to the site but I've already read and learned a lot of stuff. However, I haven't seen anything really about this. What are the best brands for subwoofers, and what are some good 10" subs that can be had for under 100$.
I'm looking to power the sub with a KickerZX300.1 300w RMS mono amp, and I also bought an enclosure that is about .85 cu ft, for a 10" sub.
I listen a good amount of hip-hop so I want something that can thump, but also a sub that can be clean when I listen to rock.
Now that I'm done I feel like thats a lot of specifications. Does such an ideal sub exist?
Replies (3)
swez on 02/11/2009 20:08:51
A quality sub that's just a bit over $100.00 will make for a nice match with your Kicker amp. Infinity Kappa 104.7w or Alpine's SWR-1042D are both good picks.
http://www.buy.com/prod/harman-infinity-kappa-series-kappa104-7w-subwoofer-woofer-350w-rms/q/loc/111/203087504.html
http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=14952
Swez
JerseyBoy on 02/12/2009 13:30:05
Thanks, it looks like the main difference between the subs is peak power and ideal enclosure size. I mean the kappa is only 350 RMS where as the SWR is 500RMS for about 10 bucks more. But the SWR is more suited for a smaller box.
Is there a way I could make my box's volume smaller or am I better off going for the kappa. And is there going to be any major difference in sound between the two subs. Will getting the higher wattage sub sound better because it's not being strained or is it going to sound underpowered with only a 300watt amp?
swez on 02/12/2009 16:19:31
Yes, that is a good summary and both subs are well suited to your amp and box as I looked at 8-10 models before coming to these as best fits.
Hehe, if I was a seller, (I'm not) but have put a lot of Alpine, Infinity and JBL sub packages together for literally more than 100 CK visitors over the years. Not one has come back and said... this package is lame. In fact, just the opposite... they all raved about the products. You will too.
As for optimal sealed enclosure for the SWR-1042D, the range is 0.5 - 0.8 cf. If your interior airspace is 0.85, you can add mass, (2x4's boards) to shrink the internal airspace to 0.65 cf. I believe the sub displacement for this sub is 0.05 cf. So your optimal target is 0.65 cf w/o the sub installed.
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/Manuals/500/500SWR1242.PDF
Shop around for the Alpine. I have seen them under $100.00 in the past and if a seller has a lot of inventory to move, he'll discount a lot to move them. In this economy, ask for a price cut and see what they say!
FYI: Kicker and several other top rated amps will produce more power than rated. When bought new, the owner gets a "Birth Sheet" with the amps test data. The minimum data is the specification target, but we generally get more.
Swez
PS Although the Alpine SWR can handle 500 + watts RMS, as long as you set the amp gain properly and used the bass boost feature sparingly, (+6 dB max) It will not damage the sub. You can tune it by ear and listen for muddiness or sloppy bass as your clue that the amp is clipping, (High distortion values) that are not good for a sub. Keep it clean at high volume levels and all will be fine.
I'm looking to power the sub with a KickerZX300.1 300w RMS mono amp, and I also bought an enclosure that is about .85 cu ft, for a 10" sub.
I listen a good amount of hip-hop so I want something that can thump, but also a sub that can be clean when I listen to rock.
Now that I'm done I feel like thats a lot of specifications. Does such an ideal sub exist?
Replies (3)
swez on 02/11/2009 20:08:51
A quality sub that's just a bit over $100.00 will make for a nice match with your Kicker amp. Infinity Kappa 104.7w or Alpine's SWR-1042D are both good picks.
http://www.buy.com/prod/harman-infinity-kappa-series-kappa104-7w-subwoofer-woofer-350w-rms/q/loc/111/203087504.html
http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=14952
Swez
JerseyBoy on 02/12/2009 13:30:05
Thanks, it looks like the main difference between the subs is peak power and ideal enclosure size. I mean the kappa is only 350 RMS where as the SWR is 500RMS for about 10 bucks more. But the SWR is more suited for a smaller box.
Is there a way I could make my box's volume smaller or am I better off going for the kappa. And is there going to be any major difference in sound between the two subs. Will getting the higher wattage sub sound better because it's not being strained or is it going to sound underpowered with only a 300watt amp?
swez on 02/12/2009 16:19:31
Yes, that is a good summary and both subs are well suited to your amp and box as I looked at 8-10 models before coming to these as best fits.
Hehe, if I was a seller, (I'm not) but have put a lot of Alpine, Infinity and JBL sub packages together for literally more than 100 CK visitors over the years. Not one has come back and said... this package is lame. In fact, just the opposite... they all raved about the products. You will too.
As for optimal sealed enclosure for the SWR-1042D, the range is 0.5 - 0.8 cf. If your interior airspace is 0.85, you can add mass, (2x4's boards) to shrink the internal airspace to 0.65 cf. I believe the sub displacement for this sub is 0.05 cf. So your optimal target is 0.65 cf w/o the sub installed.
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/Manuals/500/500SWR1242.PDF
Shop around for the Alpine. I have seen them under $100.00 in the past and if a seller has a lot of inventory to move, he'll discount a lot to move them. In this economy, ask for a price cut and see what they say!
FYI: Kicker and several other top rated amps will produce more power than rated. When bought new, the owner gets a "Birth Sheet" with the amps test data. The minimum data is the specification target, but we generally get more.
Swez
PS Although the Alpine SWR can handle 500 + watts RMS, as long as you set the amp gain properly and used the bass boost feature sparingly, (+6 dB max) It will not damage the sub. You can tune it by ear and listen for muddiness or sloppy bass as your clue that the amp is clipping, (High distortion values) that are not good for a sub. Keep it clean at high volume levels and all will be fine.
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