Two 10's or one 12?

[Photo]

I'm looking to upgrade my audio system. I currently have the stock monsoon system with an Alpine deck upgrade. I think I'm ready to go the subwoofer route.

I listen to a lot of different music so its a bit confusing on what will sound best. Anything for country to rap/r&b to alternative punk. All types. I'm trying to keep it clean and simple.

Ive narrowed it down to JL components. I'll most likely be running a 500/1 amp and either one 12w6v2 or two 10w3v3. If I go the 12w6v2 route I figured I can always add another later on but really only want to do this once. As of now I am on a budget of $800-$1000. Thats what I'm saving for anyway.

I want to build a fiberglass bog and have it matched in color to the car for a nice clean appearance.

What do you guys think. I need your HELP!
Also if there are any other recommendations I am open to suggestions.

[FallinApartBoy]

10s sound better with rock music cause its a faster bass. rap sounds better with 12s or 15s. just my input.

[HaloUmpaLumpa]

I have 2 10" in my car right now, and they sound great. You can get them to be crystal clear or just drown out everything else with deep base. They're really versitle. I also have my old box, fits 2 10s, that i'm getting ready to sell, it is the one in the pictures of my bug. Not the greatest looking but you can get some great sound out of it.

[NBTurboFreak]

I'd go with the single 12 for now, not that I am bias or anything. I went with 2- 12" RF T1s with a RF bd1000. It all depends on how you tune it to your listening needs.

[errollito]

it all depends what you want. i have 2 mmats pro audio pro cast 12's and a mmats 1400 watt class d amp. sounds great. can be loud when needed. but i usually keep the subs turned up about a quarter of the way.

[IceDog]

I would suggest quality over quantity. A single 10" will allow you to hear more of the bass. I have not gotten around to installing amp/sub in the NBeetle since I need all the trunk space when travelling but my last vehicle had MB Quarts speakers, a PPI amp and only a 10" bass tube. I had great sound.

Just my 2 cents.

[Toad]

it all depends on what your looking for, the w3 is more of a sound quality woofer, but the w6 is for making loud bass. If you're gonna do mostly rock/country, i'd go with the w3's. a single 12" w3 would probably sound as good (and be more versatile) than 2 10's because it will be able to handle the lower and longer bass frequencies of rap/r&b (and some country songs) better than the 10's, but at the same time, be able to do the faster bass of punk.

but that's just my opinion. I'm running a 12" alpine type S sub in a small sealed box, and only giving it 280w rms. and it sounds awesome in everything i play. i'm thinking of putting it in a ported box, but then i'd lose some sq, but gain alotta db.

[Evanrude]

Well just my 2 bits here.... I just put a single Rockford Fosgate P2 10" into the back, in one of those Magnaform MTX boxes that mimics the shape of the trunk.

Running that on a Pioneer GM3300T amp and you know what? There's a LOT of thump *or boom* in the back , depending on how I tweak it via the Pioneer DEH-690UB.

It's very clean sounding, no distortion, but plenty of bass

[HaloUmpaLumpa]

Really either one will suit you but think about your trunk space and how much you want to keep. Figure out how you want to mount them in your trunk. The box, amp and signal are just as important as your sub and can really change how it sounds. You can make a larger sub sound quick and crisp with the right box, and the same goes for smaller subs with deep low bass. Most 10" subs need atleast .75 cu. ft. and most 12's need over 1 cu. ft. of volume. If you plan out the rest of the stuff then no matter what size you get you can get some great sound out of it.

[Eriksbug]

I have a single jl audio 12w7 in my beetle and I LOVE it! You couldn't pay me to use a different sub I love it so much. I used to have 2 10w7's in there but it was too much weight for my taste and the single 12 seems just as loud as the 2 10's. I'm sure the 10's could play louder but in our cars it gets stupid loud quick and the 12 seems like it can play as loud as I ever turned the 2-10's. My girlfriend has the 12w6v2 like your looking at in her suv with a soundstream van goh 5 channel amp similar to the jl amp your looking at and it sounds great. Sounds really similar to the w7, perfect with every kinda music. I think you'd like the single 12 more than the 2-10's

[Photo]

Thanks for all of the input everybody. I'm still up in the air about all of this.

This week I went down to talk to the audio guys ant the local stereo shop and he recommended a 13w6 over the other two options. He showed me a chart about air movement vs the other two and a 13w6 will move 89% more air than a 12w6. Mathematically it seems the best route. I also asked him about the recovery rate with 10's vs 12's, and he said if powered right they will keep up just as good. I think most people under power bigger subs so that may be the issue.

Has anybody ever heard of Zapco amps. The guy recommended them over the JL since they are a better amp. Zapco does only amps so it makes sense that a company specializing in only amps would be better than anybody else. The Zapcos are also an A/B class instead of a D class like the JL. I really don't know exactly what that means but the end result is a cleaner signal.

Hopefully I make the right choice. I have some time to decide since I am still saving up for the equipment. Trunk space is really not an issue. If I want to haul anything large I use my wifes Passat for that. I think I want an install more toward the "show quality" than the "I can still use my trunk type."

[iScott]

2x10, for sure. Lot more punch.
I run one 10, actually. Get a good one and that's all you need.

[guitardude5]

Originally Posted by Evanrude

Well just my 2 bits here.... I just put a single Rockford Fosgate P2 10" into the back, in one of those Magnaform MTX boxes that mimics the shape of the trunk.

Running that on a Pioneer GM3300T amp and you know what? There's a LOT of thump *or boom* in the back , depending on how I tweak it via the Pioneer DEH-690UB.

It's very clean sounding, no distortion, but plenty of bass

How did the original MTX speaker sound in relation to your Rockford Fosgate P2?

[xhunter187]

Originally Posted by Evanrude

Well just my 2 bits here.... I just put a single Rockford Fosgate P2 10" into the back, in one of those Magnaform MTX boxes that mimics the shape of the trunk.

Running that on a Pioneer GM3300T amp and you know what? There's a LOT of thump *or boom* in the back , depending on how I tweak it via the Pioneer DEH-690UB.

It's very clean sounding, no distortion, but plenty of bass

I agree. I also have the "Thunderform" sealed custom box. I have a Niche Audio 10" and a Performance Teknique 772 and it works across all music genres. I also have 2 Rockford Fosgate Power 2-Ways in the back for some mid bass and the stock door speakers wired to a 4 channel Pioneer GM-4300F. Last but not least, I have bass blockers for my tweeters set at 1800hz.

[Evanrude]

Originally Posted by guitardude5

How did the original MTX speaker sound in relation to your Rockford Fosgate P2?

That's a really tough call.

I've heard two others that were the MTX sub with the MTX built in amp.... and it was *clean*... but I think that the P2 has more power for the size, it definitely hits lower, as well as harder.

Of course this is my opinion.

I've run speakers from 15" Orion XTR subs, 12" Pyle Pro series (USED to be competition class, now they are great entry level subs), Pioneer 12" Free-air subs, Rockford Fosgate 10", as well as a few generic subs I can't for the life of me remember what they were. And an Infinity or 2, plus a couple various MTX's in years.... and Phoenix Gold.

They have *all* worked nicely to different degrees. But this P2 is VERY nice. Very clean, no distortion.

[Eriksbug]

Originally Posted by Photo

Thanks for all of the input everybody. I'm still up in the air about all of this.

This week I went down to talk to the audio guys ant the local stereo shop and he recommended a 13w6 over the other two options. He showed me a chart about air movement vs the other two and a 13w6 will move 89% more air than a 12w6. Mathematically it seems the best route. I also asked him about the recovery rate with 10's vs 12's, and he said if powered right they will keep up just as good. I think most people under power bigger subs so that may be the issue.

Has anybody ever heard of Zapco amps. The guy recommended them over the JL since they are a better amp. Zapco does only amps so it makes sense that a company specializing in only amps would be better than anybody else. The Zapcos are also an A/B class instead of a D class like the JL. I really don't know exactly what that means but the end result is a cleaner signal.

Hopefully I make the right choice. I have some time to decide since I am still saving up for the equipment. Trunk space is really not an issue. If I want to haul anything large I use my wifes Passat for that. I think I want an install more toward the "show quality" than the "I can still use my trunk type."

I used to have the 13w6v2 in my beetle. I didn't like it. I thought the 12w6v2 sounded better on pretty much every type of music except super heavy bass rap. If your thinking about spending the cash for the 13w6, you should really look into a 10w7. It will have damn near the same output in our cars and it will sound way cleaner no matter what you play through it. I've been down the road your goin and spent a lot of money on the way. A 12w7 would be perfect for you and a 10w7 will be as close to that as you can get on a budget. Oh and don't let your shop talk you into paying full price, you can get jl speaks on ebay brand new for waaaayy cheaper than what your local shop will sell them for.
As far as zapco, I've had zapco amps in the beetle also. The competition series are frickin awesome amps. They're other ones are about on par with the jl amps. The problem with them is that they cost so much, and they are kinda finicky. I had a c2k 9.0 for my subs when I had 2 10w7's and when I kranked it I could make the amp shut down for a second on hard hits and that's with a second battery and a 40 farrad cap!! It did sound very clean though. Your shop was right that a class a/b amp will sound better than a d class amp. If your shop sells jl audio, have them show you the w7's. I think you will like them

[alexirkhin]

i put a 15' in my trunk, its perfect for me... haha, if i had the option of 2 10's or a 12 though, i would do 2 10's, my buddy has 3 jl 10's in his beemer, with mbquarts, (both runnin seperate amps,) and it is probably the best sounding, cleanest in all music catagories system i ever heard!

[NBTurboFreak]

I went from a 90 S10 2dr Blazer with 4 RF 15s in a ported box to my NB with 2 RF 12s in a ported box. My Blazer was a little louder but my NB is much cleaner sounding.

[vdubbugman53]

the box will make the main difference in sound....if you dont listen to rap all the time then dont get a ported box....i vote 2 10's in a sealed box

[vdubbugman53]

oh and with the fibergalss box and all unless you can do it your self i think you are a bit past your price range