Top 5 subs?

[pinknuggit]

and for the guy who said that 18s and sq don't go together... velodyne used to make an 18" powered sub that would definatly change your opinion...i can't remember the model # for the life of me...

yeah, velodyne probably makes the most accurate bass systems ever. It reflects on their price.

The same subwoofer can be installed in an enclosure that yields a Qtc of .707 (derived from T/S parameters and modeling). Depending on the transfer function of the vehicle's interior (which is where "cabin gain" comes from, or a large "spike" in bass output usually around 20db between 15-25hz) the sub can be made to play very flat/linearly, sounding excellent for music because there is not given peak in the response...all notes are made to be played at the same level. However, this will not get as loud as a tuned setup.

I couldn't have said it better myself.
Tuning the enclosure for in-vehicle response is a key to having a flat response. Although this yields an even frequency response for RTA metering, it doesn't always mean that the sub will sound perfect. Timbre is dependant on the type of sub, cone material, motor charachteristics, and the charachteristics of the enclosure based on the t/s of the sub.
Also, when tuning a sub enclosure for in-cabin response, you've got to figure out the best placement which yields a flat response at the driver's headrest. There will be deadspots in the cab no matter what sub you use or where you place it, so tune the system so the response is best from the driver's seat. You also need to place the sub so that it will be in phase with the rest of the system. Having an enclosure with flat in-cabin response will become disapointing when you realize that the placement of the enclosure causes the sub to be out of phase with the rest of the system. You've also got to tune/position the midbass (relevant to the in-cabin response of the midbass drivers themselves) drivers and enclosures as to yield a sub bass/mid bass transistion that has no cancellation and for them to remain in phase. If the midbass and sub overlap on frequency response close to the crossover point, or you're using a crossover with a butterworth response, that can throw off response Big time. But I'm not gonna get too much more into that because there is alot more of it that has to do with tuning each individual component of the system in unison with the others.

As far as favorite subs, I can't name just 5. I can't even just list 10. I have alot of favorites in no order.. they include:

Audiomobile EVO, MASS, and EVO-R
Blueprint drivers
eD O series (listening to the eD GTI at world finals was utopic)
Alumapro alchemy
Kove Armageddon
Black cone GZ nuke
Illusion ND
Phase linear aliante (someone earlier said this too)
CV stroker
Orion HCCA and H2
IDMAX
ARC (I've heard some DAMN good installs with arc subs)
Ample Audio
PPI pro flats
A/D/S (i've heard alot of good ads installs)
Crystal CMPx2
DD 9515 (who can forget this legend )
DLS
OZ matrix (YEAH!)
Earthquake magmas
MMATS juggernauts
Adira Brahma and Shiva, and Malestrom
and lastly, MB quart

 

[MRLASERRSTURBO]

RE XXX and Adire Brahma, tc sounds LMT"s Hp3
everything else is crap

 

[jprattGSX]

Audiobahn is crap. It's a step up from Pyramid and Crunch. Rockford has a few good lines, their most expensive lines are about equal to the cheap JL's.

I have 2 audiobahn 15" flame Q's the 4000 watt ones and they slam. I must say they have the best response that I've heard from 15" subs...Prolly cause the magnet is so big. But I have no complaints, they sound great with all music types

 

[SoilentGreen98]

Yeah, I have the 2002 line 12" Audiobahn flame Q. I've had it for 2 years with no complaints. I love it. You get one of the lower lines, like the ones that they have at Circuit City, and they're crap though.

Anyways I'd recommend any of the following Audiobahn, Eclipse, Memphis, Boston, JL, MMats, Earthquake, Alphasonik, Visonik, MA Audion, Power Akoustik, Fusion, Alumapro, Crystal, MB Quarts, and there's a few others.

Keep in mind that with pretty much any of these I'm talking about their high end ones cause some of these companies do make cheaper, less effective models.