I was thinking about 1 JL 12W3 in a sealed box made to the sub's specs. I was thinking of using a Kicker ZR240 amp. I am wondering if this will pound and retain SQ. I think this would be a good setup, any input in this? I don't want to use up all the space in my car with 2 12's so I want to get 1 good 12. Is there any subs that would do the job better in about the same price range. I've heard that JL's are very good subs for SQ and also SPL.

 

That setup should give you nice clean, and hard bass. For one 12, that is a good choice. The W3's are a sweet speaker. I like them better than the W6's, but the new W7 is the S**T. I like Kicker subs also, but I think the JL is better for your all around quality. Plus they don't need a break in time like Kicker subs, you can pound JL as soon as you put them in. I wouldn't just to be safe, but your not required too. Kickers need to be broken in first.

 

i have one JL Audio W0 in my car hooked up to an MTX amp, it gets about 200w rms or so, and it POUNDS for one 12, and the sub your thinkin about gettin is way better, and so is your amp, so figure that it will be louder, my system is louder than some with 2 12s, i guess its a camaro thing with the hatchback, but JL is the best sub that u can buy, best sound quality and bass in one package, kicker may hit harder but they dont sound nearly as good

 

Exactly, that's what I was meaning when I said overall quiality. The JL's sound good, plus hit hard. I have 2 W0's with the Kicker IX405D amp. My W0's hit hard as hell. I love em, I wouldn't go to any other brand after getting these. I might upgrade to W3's, but I am satisfied with my setup, so I doubt I will change. But again, your choice in components will work well togethr, and should hit hard. The hatch makes it carry better.

 

I like JL. Their subs offer very reliable, hard hitting, deep, clean, punchy bass. They smoke most of the subs in their price range, but I just heard a pair of Memphis Studio subs today, very comparable to JL's, but I need to listen to them a little closer to hear what they are really made of...Sounds like a killer setup Metz. Go for it!

-Matt

 

JL makes a good sub, but not the best. In their price range they're hard to beat, but I can name plenty of subs that will put the JLs to shame. The W7 is supposed to be an awesome sub, but it's fricken expensive and I haven't heard it yet. As for some better subs... Kicker L7, Audiomobile Mass2012, Digital Designs, various eclipse subs, Boston Pros... goes on and on. I'm not bashing JL, just don't want someone thinking they are the absolute best you can buy.
For a 12w3, JL's website has specs for several boxes that will give great results. If I were you, I'd build the ported one that is 3 or 3 1/2 ft^3. I don't remember the exact volume, you can look it up. That is the box that most people find to give the best sound quality and most spl ou of. The amp is a good choice, and you'll pound with that setup.

 

With the JL's, the reason I say they are great (I think best in price range period) is these 3 reasons (1 They are not as expensive as other subs with same performance (2 They can hit hard with little power (unlike Rockford, Kicker, Eclipse, all the others that you would spend huge money for an amp to push them) and (3 They last awhile. The new Kicker L7's I have heard from a bunch of people who have them, that there cones seperate after awhile. They have had numerous warranty replacements because of this. You can make the JL's sound good with very little power compared to most other subs. But yes, there are subs out there that hit harder, or sound better, but these are the reasons why I think JL's a great.

 

I've had my 10W6s for years and like them just fine.

 

Would you believe that alot of Jl's and Kickers are made at the same place and use the same glues? Yep I use to work there at Credence Speaker in Kevil, Ky. We also made MTX and the quality between the 3 of them are like day and night! I was a tester when I worked there so I ran Sin Sweeps on very speaker that ran down the line. By running Sin Sweeps I checked for vibrations in speaker like Magnet Chips in the Voice Coil and etc. I can say that the Jl's are some very top notch subs as well as the Kickers and the subs are totally different subs. IMO the JL's are more designed for over sound quality. While the Kickers biggest strength is in the bass department.

 

Thanks for the replies. Do you think that the Kicker ZR240 amp would be a little to much power or is just right if i keep the gain down? I don't want to blow the sub but i think that the amp should be ok but i want to be sure. Also should i get a cap. for this setup or won't it be needed. Thanks for the input.

 

That sub can take alot more than amp can throw at it. The ZR240 is rated at 240watts RMS bridged and the JL 12W3 has a RMS of 250 per coil if I remember right. But you're well in the clear. It should sound pretty tight Good Luck! John

 

Hope it didn't sound like I was bashing JL. I really like their subs. I also agree that you can't beat them in their price range. I just wanted to point out that they aren't the be all to be all of subs.
As for the amp, it's always better to get an amp that will overpower what you have and set the gain properly. If you do that, you can give more power to teh sub before the amp clips. Also, if you have more power than you need, it also gives you rom to upgrade in the future.

 

RamAirZ when you said about a break in period on the Kickers what did you mean by that? Do you have to play the subs at a low level for awhile? How long do you have to play them until you can safely pound them? I know you said it was Kickers that needed to be broken in but i don't want to crank the JL sub right out of the box if there is some kind of break in period so thanks for the help.

 

When you buy new subs they usually aren't that loud. After you play them awhile they loosen up and move smoother and easier. You won't hurt anything by cracking when you first get them. It's not like they'll blow apart or anything but as they are used surround, spider, and etc. becomes more flexible. Kinda like bending something. The more you bend it the easier it gets and the less force it takes to move it. Make since?

 

Yes, it makes sence. I was wondering what a real good price would be for 12W3's. Some where under $200 bucks a piece? Also will this setup blow away my buddy's setup, it is made up of 2 12" Lightning Audio subs. With a 600 watt Legacy amp. I don't know what series the subs are but he got them at Circuit City or Best Buy for like $70 for both subs. I think my system will sound better but i wanted some opinions. Thanks

 

Yes, yours will sound way better. JL's can be turned up right out of the box and be ok, the Kicker's I heard need a week or 2 period to be played at a lower level, cuz the voice coils have blown, and the cones have seperated when played too soon too loud. My friend had 2 Kicker Comp VR's in his jeep, cranked em up the first day, bam, there went the sub, and he didn't even have alot of power going to them.

 

My friends selling me 2 JL audio 10s that were in his 94 z28. The box is custom for the well in the back. It will fit just right in my car correct? hes also selling me the 2 mtx thunder amps he had hooked up to it. Amps subs and custom box for 200 bucks.. good present from him lol might even get him down to 175.

 

While I don't doubt that it flew apart because I've had some to do that to me while I worked there(and what a site!). I really doubt that it was because they needed to be "broken in". If the Voice Coil was that tight then it was a faulty speaker to begin with. In the process of building the subs epoxy(that completely dries in about 10secs.) is placed around the voice coil were it connects to the spider. Then the speaker is placed upside down and run down the line for the next person. Sometimes the epoxy hasn't completely dried before it's flipped upside down and the epoxy runs between the cone and the voice coil which will sometimes glue the cone to the voice coil and a "chipper" is used to break it loose. Sometimes parts of that dried glue is still in there which can cause the cone to kinda "lock up" if it falls just right or just viberate. I would go to say that's what might have happened. Because we did full sweeps and excursion tests on the subs and the subs are seriously moving to the max to make sure that everything is holding. Altho you get new people or people that just don't give a **** like anywhere else and they do a halfass job. And everything that idot produced that day is sent out together on a skid and shipped and your friend might have bought some that "halfassJoe" might have done. Which would explain how he prob. had two of them to do that, do to the Resalers buying in bulk to keep the costs down. Trust me I did see my share of **** being sent back for one reason or another but it was due to the sub being inproperly built rather than it just need time to loosen up. They recommend that you "break in" about any mechanical part. But it's not suppose to do that. I hope this helps.

 

Yes, I figured it was partly due to the building of the sub, but Kicker does recommend that you break them in first. Probably one of those Friday workers, lol. They can't wait to get off. I'd prefer a wednsday worker, cuz there filled with energy after the weekend by the middle of the week, and they still have 2 days till the weekend so they won't be rushing, lol.

 

Bye the way I like you car

 

ok i understand that jl's are good subs for the price but i think other subs that may be better can be had for a even cheaper price. I have 2 12" Rockford he2's which only cost me $200 for both and thats pretty cheap. also i got a rockford 800.2 amp for $290 and it pushes them real good and this is the loudest system out of all the kids at my school and many kids are running jl's and mine blow them away. so i think this is all a matter of opinion and how hard you look around to get good prices. Always check ebay because no audio store is gonna beat those prices.

 

I have 2 JL 10w0. They pounch really well. Makes my windows shake in the garadge. I am very impressed with them and I love them.

 

The only thing I don't like about Rockford is they need so much power to sound good. You can push JL's with just about anything and they will still sound good. You put 2 12in W3's with a matching JL amp, probably the 500/2, and it will beat the Rockford. But all depends on series, amp, etc etc. But we are just saying JL's are good for the average buck, yes ebay is a place for good deals, but your not positive you will win what you want for that oh so cheap price. I get stuff all the time off there because of the deals, just all in all, JL's are a great sub.

 

I bought mine off of ebay for 200 with Powerwedge box. Fits right in the well of my car.


No those arnt my sheets, There the kids i bought the subs off of ebay.

 

Sure those aren't your sheets. j/k Are those 10w0's?

 

I've got a JL 12W6 and it sounds very good. Much better than the Punch XLC12 that I used to have.
Here is a pic of it in my custom box.

 

Yep they are.

 

*** that hood looks like trash. But these is becuase dumb people over power their subs and turn them up to loud. I can only imagine how rice burners over abuse their stuff. JL's do offer the best bang for the buck though.

Take good care of somethign and it will last.

PS: You know I'm juss raggin on ya bout the hood,

 

I just bought a Kenwood 300 watt amp, my friend said this amp won't power any JL, is this true?

 

Which Kenwood amp and which JL'S

 

It is a Kenwood KAC-719 300 watt amp, I was just wondering if I could power any JL, as nice of a one as I could.

 

The KAC-719 is rated at 150w x 1@4ohms or 230w x 1@2ohms. You could push 1 JlW0 ok but I wouldn't try for much more.

 

Are you talking about a 10" or a 12"?

 

Either one. both rated at 125watts RMS.

 

What would give off more bass, or what one would you recomend?

 

What would give off more bass, or what one would you recomend?

 

I would go with the 12".