Why JLs?
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (29)
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Rep Power: 321 


Why JLs?
I've search and cant seem to find an answer.
I see alot of people with JL subs and every stereo store I go to recommend JL subs.
Why is a JL sub so much better than its competitors?
I know numbers on paper dont mean much but why are people paying so much more for JLs when they could have gotten something for powerful for less?
Is because of the quality of the subs that enable it to produce bass just as good as others in a higher power/price range?
What would you recommend for someone who has only $500-600 to spend on subs, box, amp, and wiring? I listen to alot of rap/r&b/trance. I dont care much for SQ or SPL as long as the bass pounds.
Thanks in advance for providing me with some knowledge and/or the flaming I'll probably get because I didnt seach hard enough.[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]
I see alot of people with JL subs and every stereo store I go to recommend JL subs.
Why is a JL sub so much better than its competitors?
I know numbers on paper dont mean much but why are people paying so much more for JLs when they could have gotten something for powerful for less?
Is because of the quality of the subs that enable it to produce bass just as good as others in a higher power/price range?
What would you recommend for someone who has only $500-600 to spend on subs, box, amp, and wiring? I listen to alot of rap/r&b/trance. I dont care much for SQ or SPL as long as the bass pounds.
Thanks in advance for providing me with some knowledge and/or the flaming I'll probably get because I didnt seach hard enough.[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]
well, JL is a very capable woofer, anyone that says they are bad either hasnt heard them, or has beef with the company.
500-600 for a full bass setup means youll definitely have to do some shopping around! but it can be done!
if SQ is of no concern, teh easiest thing for me to say is RF. noone can deny they get loud, also noone can deny they sound terrible [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG] here si teh big secret about caraudio...
"you can put ANYTHING in a big ported box, it WILL get loud, period." getting it to sound good? that is hard (and can get expensive [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG])
if you can get yoru hands on a pair of rockford fosgate HX2 12's cheap, I would reccommend that. very loud woofers, dont require a HUGE box to get very loud. i believe ben here has a pair of teh 15's, mebbe he can help you out on where to get them cheap.
if you build your box on yoru own, your looking at about $60 total, bit more, bit less, depending on build quality and finish quality. a shop will charge you 100 plus tax for premade, and custom even more. you will want ported, for SPL.
amp kit from ikesound, $25 plus shipping, a cheap buy and great install kit, comes with everything you could need.
earthquake amps are great for the price online, you can shop around for a deal, JBL also makes decent workhorse amps, price depends on power. looking at about $100 for 300 watts, $240 for 1000-1200 watts, teh rest is distributed in between (600 watts for $155 for example)
if yoru subs can take the power you give them, they CAN get loud! I know people who took a pair of $89 subs and hit 155 dB......
90% install, 10% equipment
500-600 for a full bass setup means youll definitely have to do some shopping around! but it can be done!
if SQ is of no concern, teh easiest thing for me to say is RF. noone can deny they get loud, also noone can deny they sound terrible [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG] here si teh big secret about caraudio...
"you can put ANYTHING in a big ported box, it WILL get loud, period." getting it to sound good? that is hard (and can get expensive [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG])
if you can get yoru hands on a pair of rockford fosgate HX2 12's cheap, I would reccommend that. very loud woofers, dont require a HUGE box to get very loud. i believe ben here has a pair of teh 15's, mebbe he can help you out on where to get them cheap.
if you build your box on yoru own, your looking at about $60 total, bit more, bit less, depending on build quality and finish quality. a shop will charge you 100 plus tax for premade, and custom even more. you will want ported, for SPL.
amp kit from ikesound, $25 plus shipping, a cheap buy and great install kit, comes with everything you could need.
earthquake amps are great for the price online, you can shop around for a deal, JBL also makes decent workhorse amps, price depends on power. looking at about $100 for 300 watts, $240 for 1000-1200 watts, teh rest is distributed in between (600 watts for $155 for example)
if yoru subs can take the power you give them, they CAN get loud! I know people who took a pair of $89 subs and hit 155 dB......
90% install, 10% equipment
yeah yeah bunny crack on my subs... i have the POWER HX2's so they don't run that cheap but i do know where you can get the regular HX2's for 129 a piece at www.carmedia1.com. now if you can find the room put them each in a 2 cube ported box. then power them with whatever amp you can afford after buying them and building your box.
The Standard One
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,659
Likes: 1
From: City of Angels, California, US
Rep Power: 417 

ya JLs hit pretty hard and are pretty clear. they are just good subs overall.
but ya i'm kinda like you, dont care how it sounds as long as that sh*t bumps. i was looking into the power hx2's. i think a 12 was going for $250. they supposidly could push 1000wrms and if you seen the magnet, that sh*t is huge. was thinking about pushing one power hx2 for now and then adding another one if it wasn't loud enough... in my opinion that would be better then getting 2 punch hx2s cause if thats not enough are you gunna get 2 more? and i was thinkig of using a jbl 1200 watt(@ 2ohms) amp to push it but not too sure cause my friend said his jbl fried within a year.. they are 1 ohm stable but they put out the same wattage as 2 ohm.
ben how many hx2s do you have? what amp are you using with it? does it hit hard? loud enough to be felt 10 feet away?
but ya i'm kinda like you, dont care how it sounds as long as that sh*t bumps. i was looking into the power hx2's. i think a 12 was going for $250. they supposidly could push 1000wrms and if you seen the magnet, that sh*t is huge. was thinking about pushing one power hx2 for now and then adding another one if it wasn't loud enough... in my opinion that would be better then getting 2 punch hx2s cause if thats not enough are you gunna get 2 more? and i was thinkig of using a jbl 1200 watt(@ 2ohms) amp to push it but not too sure cause my friend said his jbl fried within a year.. they are 1 ohm stable but they put out the same wattage as 2 ohm.
ben how many hx2s do you have? what amp are you using with it? does it hit hard? loud enough to be felt 10 feet away?
Registered!!
iTrader: (3)
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 0
From: Jonestown, Pennsylvania, US
Rep Power: 0 
ive got 1 10" JL W3, pushed by JL's 250W mono-sub amp, sounds pretty good, but sometimes when a track is playin with a mix of long, low tones, and quick hits, like from a drum or the like, i think i can hear the cone flex[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif[/IMG], i like it for my 1st system though, no big complaints, thinkin bout adding a 12 of the same though so i can get the pluses of a 10, for my rock, and the same from a 12 for my rap,(any advice not to?) dunno yet though. my current set up ran me about $650, sub, amp, box, got it installed for about $120
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,202
Likes: 1
From: Car Audioville, Quebec, Canada
Rep Power: 0 
JL subs are so popular for 2 reasons.. 1 Marketing out the wazooo.. 2 They build a good sub. Dang good sound quality and fair bit of bump...plus at the time many years back..their subs were pretty much the best all around performers of their time...but now..there's alot of other subs with the same sound and bump with a smaller price tag..but JL has that long going name with them....
<< personally...... I have heard a couple of my friends JL's...... and they suck!!!!!!!!
their loud but no good overall sound quality
IMO >>
one of two things. they were either w0's or a s h i t install. thats the only explanation. cause w3 and up is fabulous
Second Place is the First Loser
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 4,469
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas, US
Rep Power: 344 


<<
<< personally...... I have heard a couple of my friends JL's...... and they suck!!!!!!!!
their loud but no good overall sound quality
IMO >>
one of two things. they were either w0's or a s h i t install. thats the only explanation. cause w3 and up is fabulous >>
My friend was area manager of the local car audio shop..... he had 3 W3 10's powered by a Rockford Punch Power 1000.... granted it was loud but no sound quality
just cause it looks good dont mean its gonna sound good. ive seen plenty of bandpass and other such boxes in caradio mags and such, how many of them sound good? not too many.....
are you trying to convince ME that it was the perfect airspace? or you? cause i dunno if i cna accept that just as is like that......
the fact remains, that JL is a proven sub. time and time again, you will see them in fantastic installs that sound even more fantastic. there is no doubt that the conclusion is, the install was not as good as it could have been. again, period.
if a sub sounds amazing in once car and like @ $ $ in another car, the second car didnt do a good job of installing.
maybe if there was never a good install of that particular woofer, you would have a basis for saying they sounded bad despite having a professional install. but if they have sounded good with a good install in teh past, then the only explanation is that you didnt install it to the best of your abilities.
thats logic.
are you trying to convince ME that it was the perfect airspace? or you? cause i dunno if i cna accept that just as is like that......
the fact remains, that JL is a proven sub. time and time again, you will see them in fantastic installs that sound even more fantastic. there is no doubt that the conclusion is, the install was not as good as it could have been. again, period.
if a sub sounds amazing in once car and like @ $ $ in another car, the second car didnt do a good job of installing.
maybe if there was never a good install of that particular woofer, you would have a basis for saying they sounded bad despite having a professional install. but if they have sounded good with a good install in teh past, then the only explanation is that you didnt install it to the best of your abilities.
thats logic.
Second Place is the First Loser
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 4,469
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas, US
Rep Power: 344 


You know..... it all boils down to what i originally said.... From what I have heard, I didn't like them. period
I don't need you trying to convince ME about your fuzzy logic either. period
'nuff said. period
[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG]
I don't need you trying to convince ME about your fuzzy logic either. period
'nuff said. period
[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG]
Registered!!
iTrader: (6)
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 0
From: Pico Rivera, California, US
Rep Power: 0 
My friend had 3 JL w's in his integra. Great sound. Hefe, I think you had your radio up too loud before ya heard the JL's. Too much high's and not enough bass. It's undersandable.[IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]
Second Place is the First Loser
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 4,469
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas, US
Rep Power: 344 


<< My friend had 3 JL w's in his integra. Great sound. Hefe, I think you had your radio up too loud before ya heard the JL's. Too much high's and not enough bass. It's undersandable.[IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG] >>
Ummmmmmm........ NO
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (29)
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Rep Power: 321 


<< JL subs are so popular for 2 reasons.. 1 Marketing out the wazooo.. 2 They build a good sub. Dang good sound quality and fair bit of bump...plus at the time many years back..their subs were pretty much the best all around performers of their time...but now..there's alot of other subs with the same sound and bump with a smaller price tag..but JL has that long going name with them.... >>
mohawkboom, I have about $600 to available for subs, amp, box, and wiring. Can you please recommend me some subs? Im interested in 2 12"s or maybe 1 sub of any size of similar performance.
I've heard the RFs HX2 12" before and they sound pretty loud. Anything of similar price but better porformance?
Sorry, I seem to sound so picky...but I have limited funds so I need to whose wisely with no regrets. Thanks!
hefe, you sound like you are personally offended by everything we say. we are not attacking you, its just that these woofers are tried and true.
there are many people, including several (if not also many) SQ competitors, and even home theater buffs who talk about teh quality of JL's upper woofers. (w3, w6, w7) im sorry that you personally dont like them, htey are certainly capable woofers.
but as they are tested, and sound fabulous, then if you did not like them, then either our musical tastes are different, or they were in a crapy install.
since SQ is defined subjectively as properly recreating the recording, and not objective in any way, it HAS to be the install! there is no fuzzy logic about this!
there actually isnt much room for objectivity when it comes to "true" SQ. many define it as how good something sounds, but that is 100% objective!
any audiophile will tell you that SQ is defined as properly recreating the sound recorded at the studio. and JL subs do a darn good job, in a proper install, of recreating that sound.
so im sorry that you hate on JL, but the fact remains, if it sounded like @ $ $, then it was a bad install.
(its not time of teh month for me anymore, so no more period. at least not for awhile)
there are many people, including several (if not also many) SQ competitors, and even home theater buffs who talk about teh quality of JL's upper woofers. (w3, w6, w7) im sorry that you personally dont like them, htey are certainly capable woofers.
but as they are tested, and sound fabulous, then if you did not like them, then either our musical tastes are different, or they were in a crapy install.
since SQ is defined subjectively as properly recreating the recording, and not objective in any way, it HAS to be the install! there is no fuzzy logic about this!
there actually isnt much room for objectivity when it comes to "true" SQ. many define it as how good something sounds, but that is 100% objective!
any audiophile will tell you that SQ is defined as properly recreating the sound recorded at the studio. and JL subs do a darn good job, in a proper install, of recreating that sound.
so im sorry that you hate on JL, but the fact remains, if it sounded like @ $ $, then it was a bad install.
(its not time of teh month for me anymore, so no more period. at least not for awhile)
Registered!!
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,512
Likes: 0
From: Portland,OR / Vancouver,WA, Washington, US
Rep Power: 0 
MY 2 JL 12w-6's..BUMP!!......espically w/ my amp,........
I've had(owned) all sorts of Orion, MTX, Fosgate, pioneer's......ect.ect...
JL's definatley got my money...no doubt about it.....
[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG]
I've had(owned) all sorts of Orion, MTX, Fosgate, pioneer's......ect.ect...
JL's definatley got my money...no doubt about it.....
[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG]
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
Civic15
I.C.E. (Audio) & Electrical Upgrades
11
Dec 4, 2013 09:24 AM
jamis33
Electrical, Wiring, and In Car Entertainment
3
Nov 21, 2007 09:50 PM



