[JZLavallee]

The setup:

Okay, I have a Pioneer GM-5500T 2-channel amp. It runs 2 channels/4 ohms @ 125W RMS per channel, OR 1 channel @ 400W RMS (bridged). I currently have a Kicker comp 10" sub running to it with the amp bridged and obviously the gain way down. The Kicker sub handles 150W RMS.

The problem:

The question I am getting at is, would it be better (and ill explain what I mean by "better" in a moment) to get another Kicker comp 10 and run them both on each channel @ 125W RMS each, or get a single 12" square sub which runs at 400W RMS? What I mean by "better" is deep and powerful. I want to feel my music. I mainly listen to metal/hard rock/occasional dubstep (lot of breakdowns, chugging guitars, double bass drum/bass drops). I'm shooting for the full sound/power & quality over loudness. This also brings up another question, what type of enclosure would be best for this? From what Ive looked at it would seem like a ported box would be the best choice for the sound I'm looking for. I plan on getting whatever I can decide to get really soon (as in before Christmas) so please reply to this ASAP, Thanks fellas.

 

[chithead]

Ported. And for me, that's a tough decision between twin 10", or single 12". Are we talking the L3 12", or the L5, L7?

 

[JZLavallee]

It would most likely either be twin Kicker comp 10s or a single Kicker L3 12". I'm not able to work with the most extravagant budget..

 

[chithead]

Definitely ported, and I would run a second sub to be honest. It would save money, and keep the amp at 4 ohms on both channels, which would extend the life of your amplifier also. But it would require a larger enclosure than the single 12" L3 subwoofer.

 

[JZLavallee]

Does anyone else have a second opinion? They're always welcome..:surprised:

 

[fish]

In case I missed it, what vehicle is this going into?

 

[rton20s]

Not a big fan of Kicker myself. Though, I have run their product in the past. How much room do you actually have for a sub? Ever consider moving up to a single 15? A single JBL GTO 1514 should match up pretty well with your amp running bridged. Run that in a vented enclosure tuned low and I think you'd be pretty happy with the output.

 

[SaturnSL1]

Get another Kicker. I'm running two Kicker 12s on an Orion CS150.2 giving each sub 90 watts and it's plenty to get my Saturn shaking pretty well on rap music and sounds great with rock. I'm using a sealed enclosure.

 

[JZLavallee]

I have an 06' Ford Ranger w/supercab. If I ran 2 Kicker 10's ill need 2.5 ft^3 box (ported). I've seen some double 10 enclosures that are actually thinner than the single box I have now, which is a P.O.S. that someone gave my friend and they gave me.. its a custom box, it's not leaking air or anything other than the vent, its just really bulky and probably doesn't come close to the sound of a good new one. I just hope I don't lose bass power by running 2 10's 25W RMS lower than what I have been running the one by itself on.. maybe I'm just too inexperienced to understand, idk.. I realize that there will be twice the surface area but I just cant imagine how 2 10s @ 125 ea will sound better and more powerful than 1 square 12 @ 400, but I've also never ran 2 subs at once either. Whatever the majority of you guys decide will be the best, I'll just have to trust the masses, I'm sure a lot of you have more experience under your belts on the subject than I do.. Oh, and about the Kicker.. I see it as a big popularity contest really, as in people who swear by Ford or Chevy, Toyota or Honda, etc. All I know is, a LOT of people like the Kicker comp 10 that I have and are pleasantly surprised by how much punch and sound that comes from it.. everywhere I've seen it I've seen nothing but 5 star review ratings (based on 30+ reviews) so, idk how Kicker gets such a bad rap, but at least for the instance of this sub alone, its very good.. I've never had anything bad to say about it.

 

[RNBRAD]

My money is on the L3 and the 400 watts versus 240 watts and two 10's.

 

[JZLavallee]

See that's what I'm saying.. It's such a 50/50 battle.. I've got half saying go with the big single, half with running 2 10s. Even the guys at the audio place down the road couldn't decide.. Either way I HAVE TO DECIDE by tomorrow. That's when I'm going and I'm going to a city roughly 75 miles away so it's not like I can just go back and fourth. It's the best place around though for finding decent audio shops.

 

[JZLavallee]

I just looked up the specs on my amp on a more detailed site than before.. I could run 2 10's @ 190W RMS but they both have to be 2 Ohm and thats still cutting into the budget a lot.. plus I dnt think there are many 2 ohm 10" subs running as low as 200W RMS.. :undecided:

- I take that back.. I did find a few but most of them were brands I've never even heard of.. btw I'm trying to get by with this upgrade for under $400 if I can help it.

 

[rton20s]

I recommended jumping up to a 15 for a couple of reasons. With two 10s you'll have more surface area over the 12, but you won't be putting a ton of power to them. With the 12, you'll be giving more power to a smaller surface area. Not sure about excursion between the two models, or how much power you'd need for either (depending on enclosure design). With a 15 you get the advantage of more surface area and more power. The best of the pair of 10s or the single 12.

Since you seem happy with, and would like to stick with Kicker, why not consider the 15" L3 in dual 2 Ohm? Size wise, the total enclosure volume for two 10s probably wouldn't be too different than what you would need for the single 15.

 

[JZLavallee]

It's a great idea but 15" subs are getting on up in pricing.. the L3 is like $250 which is doable but its 250W RMS per coil and bridged I would be under-powering it by 100W as my amp pushes 400 maxed bridged.. It has been driven in my head by several people that too little power to a sub is far worse than too much power. Also, one of my friends that's into system installs and such seems to think that my amp (Pioneer GM-5500t) wouldn't be able to push 2 ohm well even though it says it can on the Pioneer site.. I'm so freaking confused now if I ever was..

-If I can find an affordable 15" round sub that runs 400W RMS SVC @ 4 ohm and 2.5 cubic foot ported box, that also will fit behind my seats in my ranger, I think that would be the best compromise so far. That's a heck of a lot to ask though.. especially finding that at a shop without having to order it..

 

[rton20s]

Being Pioneer and CEA-2006 compliant, I would think it is a pretty safe bet that you'll make rated power. And yes, your power handling on the 15" L3 would be 500 watts vs the 400 watt output of your amp. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, so long as you allow the shop to tune your amp properly and set your gains for you. THEN DON'T TOUCH IT. You start cranking the gain to get more output and you'll drive the thing into clipping and burn up the subwoofer.

Also, where are you sourcing the subwoofer from? Sonic Electronix is an authorize Kicker Internet Dealer and has the 15" L3 for $150. That might be enough ammunition to get your local dealer to give you a better price.

Kicker 11S15L32 (11SL15L3-2) 15" Dual 2 ohm Solo-Baric L3 Subwoofer

 

[JZLavallee]

I was looking on SonicElectronix haha, I think I misread the price.. but, that monster requires a 3 cubic foot box volume that I'm pretty sure I can't fit behind my seats w/out some lube and a battering ram lol

 

[JZLavallee]

Okay, here's an update. I went to the audio shop today armed to the teeth with the knowledge and options you guys suggested. I talked to the guy that owned the place and he was impressed that I had actually had done my homework and wasn't just some dumb kid walking in wanting to drop a 1200 watt system in my truck.

He suggested:
Instead of running an L3, which he said he never keeps in his shop because they have a bad tendency of ripping the skirting around the cone at the corners due to the fact that the corners travel farther than the rest of the skirting, he strongly suggested that I run 2 10" subs. He's going to set me up with 2 Kicker CVR 10" DVC subs. I'm going to run each to each channel on my amp which will push 190W RMS to each sub. Then, he suggested and actually gave legit reasons why I should run a sealed box, instead of a ported box. After that, he showed me the box to run it in, which is a dual 10 sealed enclosure made of 1" thick MDF. I'm going to pick all of this up tomorrow. He is selling the subs and the box to me for lower than what they sell for on the internet. I've already looked up the prices on SonicElectronix and it's true. He's selling the subs to me for $113 each, $130 on the internet. He's selling the box to me for $75, $80+ on the internet (and that's for 3/4" MDF). All together, tax and all, he's selling the full deal to me for $322. Plus, If I call him before I come to pick it up tomorrow, he'll go ahead and wire/install the subs in the box for me for free. Does this deal sound good to anyone else? I cant find any objections.

Also, he said that these subs are good to go, "future-proof," for later down the road because i could upgrade up to an 800W RMS amp, since each sub can handle 400W RMS max. I'm going to get a 4ga wiring kit for it as well so when it does come time to upgrade my amp, all I will have to do is swap out the amp and rewire the subs appropriately.

 

[ggixxer599]

so how do you like your Comp CVR's?