10" sub top 12" sub... worth the difference?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,021
Likes: 133
From: Conejo Valley CA
10" sub top 12" sub... worth the difference?
I hope this isn't too dumb of a question but here it goes...
In my C5, I currently have a 10" JL Audio W6v2 subwoofer in a hang box. I'm thinking about moving to a 12" sub. I will have to put a ring in the hang box and the speaker will stick out of the box as opposed to being flush which it is now with the 10" sub. Of course the sub itself is also bigger. So there are some compromises in the cargo area that will have to be made.
The question I pose is will going to 12" real make a big difference? Will the bass pop out more...I am hoping to feel more pounding air when the bass is turned up.
Your thoughts?
In my C5, I currently have a 10" JL Audio W6v2 subwoofer in a hang box. I'm thinking about moving to a 12" sub. I will have to put a ring in the hang box and the speaker will stick out of the box as opposed to being flush which it is now with the 10" sub. Of course the sub itself is also bigger. So there are some compromises in the cargo area that will have to be made.
The question I pose is will going to 12" real make a big difference? Will the bass pop out more...I am hoping to feel more pounding air when the bass is turned up.
Your thoughts?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Yes, given the same power the 12 will be louder.
I won't use a 10 if I can fit a 12.
That said, if I already had 10 and didn't have a 12... I'd probably just use the 10 because I'm a cheap ***.
IB4 the ignoramuses that will say 12s "sound slow"
I won't use a 10 if I can fit a 12.
That said, if I already had 10 and didn't have a 12... I'd probably just use the 10 because I'm a cheap ***.
IB4 the ignoramuses that will say 12s "sound slow"
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
10s have a faster response time than 12s. If you listen to rock with a double bass pedal, it will hit fast and crisp. 12s have a deeper bass tone, better for rap and hip hop. if u listen to rock with 12s youll probably hear some distortion.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,136
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From: Long Island New York
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Nope.
Well, if you are playing your sub above 1000hz or so, then you'll definitely need something smaller than a 12.
Reading for anyone that's interested in learning something:
http://www.soundstage.com/maxdb/maxdb061999.htm
Cliff notes:
Smaller woofers don’t make faster bass, but they do reproduce higher frequencies than larger woofers can reproduce...
...In fact, bass speed is virtually 100% a function of how ideally the midrange and woofer are integrated
...In fact, bass speed is virtually 100% a function of how ideally the midrange and woofer are integrated
Bonus reading: http://www.stereointegrity.com/Files/WooferSpeed.pdf
So, in summary, there's really no excuse to still believe in old subwoofer size myths that were spawned from the use of low quality equipment or improper install.
Last edited by Kale; Sep 24, 2011 at 05:05 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 515
Likes: 1
From: Boca ARton FL
That's why I like a 15" and 8's mixed and x overed correctly.
One of the best sounding systems I ever heard had 18 or 20 (it was many moons ago) 6" woofers in the back of a c3 vette actually, it went very low and would flap your ears with mid bass.
One of the best sounding systems I ever heard had 18 or 20 (it was many moons ago) 6" woofers in the back of a c3 vette actually, it went very low and would flap your ears with mid bass.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Frisco TX
I just took 2 tens out of my wife's tahoe and put a single twelve. If you buy a better sound quality type of sub, it sounds awesome. It plays deeper and hits harder, but if you buy a cheap or boomy type of sub, it will just sound like thunder in the car. I like my wife's tahoe so much, I decided to put a twelve in my vette. I've got the box and everything built, and it should be installed in the next few weeks if time permits. I can give you a better review of what it sounds like in a vette once I hook it up because I took 2 tens in my last vette.
