Thinking of upgrading my system - Blu-ray Forum

BLindsay · 09-26-2009, 02:34 AM

So first here is what i have now

Alpine CDA-9835 (27wrmsx4) great sounding deck just show its age
JL TR 6.5" Components front
JL TR 6.5" Coaxials rear
Alpine 12" Type R ported (new style type r)
600wrms Alpine Amp

Looking to start with upgrading subs and headunit and interior speakers down the road. Looking to improve both SQ and SPL of the subs. The 2 setups i was considering were.

2x Alpine Type X 10" in a sealed box with a 2000wrms alpine amp
2x JL 10W7 in a sealed box with a JL 1000wrms amp

The JL's are rated for 500wrms each so that amp is perfect, the Alpines are rated for 1000wrms each so the 2000wrms amp is good for them but here is the issue i see. the JL setup is def more money BUT the 2000wrms that the alpine amp draws is gonna be a huge drain on my electrical system. Will have to upgrade the alternator battery and do 0 guage wire (pain in the @ss to run and work with) where as my factory 140a alternator and 4 guage wire will be enough for the 1000w jl amp. (would still upgrade battery, the battery my car takes is huuuge)

As for the headunit i was thinking something along the lines of the Alpine IVA-W505/P1 as i want something with NAV. I have a nice double din opening so the big touchscreen would be nice.

I will have to upgrade to an amp for the interior speakers later as it seems im gonna drop in wrms from the 27 that my current deck has to about 18 with the new one (amp will be cleaner anyways) and i may upgrade the interior speakers but im not sure on that yet.

Thoughts? also do you guys know of any good dedicated car audio forums?

Driver_King · 09-27-2009, 03:07 AM

How about this? Elemental Designs also sells wiring, cables, fabrication rings, enclosures, component speakers, ect. Check out their car audio site here. I would also suggest their forum for installation assistance or enclosure ideas. Elemental Design's Live Chat is always a good idea if you want to talk to them directly. That or giving them a call is always a good idea.

BLindsay · 09-28-2009, 03:53 PM

heh i asked this question on 3 different forums i post at and no suprise i got 3completely different answers. Every post though did try to steer me away from JL though, something wrong with them? I guess i should mention im not to concerned with "Bang for the buck" i just want it to be good, and i dont mind if the JL W7 is only a little better. If you guys know of a sub that is clear accross the board better in everyway then the W7 then id be all for it.

Its hard to because id say its even harder to demo car audio them home audio.

Ive had W7's in the past and what impressed me about them was how clean AND how loud they were. Seems hard to find both these days. Seems like alot of the big name companies have gone for loud and bling and to hell with SQ

edit: also curious for some thoughts on the 2 specific setups i posted, and the potential installation issues with the alpine setup

Driver_King · 09-28-2009, 08:21 PM

I don't think you have any idea of what the 13Av.2 can do. Check this out. It is a Elemental Design's flagship subwoofer driver. A single 13Av.2 would tear apart the JL's and other drivers you were looking at, SQ and SPL wise.

BLindsay · 09-28-2009, 10:22 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jmQjKHVo0s

and thats just the 12, the 13 has even more xmax then the 12.

i dunno, im just used to you get what you pay for, just seems hard to believe a $350 woofer can sound better (key) and be louder then the 13w7 @ $1200.

to bad i have no way to demo their driver, not being able to hear something before i buy it makes it hard

Driver_King · 09-29-2009, 07:32 PM

I was not referring to their 13" model, but, it may certainly be a close (imperceptive differences) comparison for both drivers. The eD is not an SPL driver; it just happens to get loud.

Jbald87 · 10-15-2009, 11:10 PM

Just keep in mind JL's slash amps are only able to handle 1.49 ohms min and will run the rms of the 1000 watts but JL's amps are power monsters in their own, just remember the w7's are DVC's.

BTW Im a JL fan also. I have beat the tar out of my 2 12w3v3's for little more then 2 years now and they are still hitting awsome, the only sad part is they killed a cell in my battery.

So you will have to beef up the charging system. They do have some really stong alts that put out 160 amps at idle.

Let us know what you do with your mob. HT.

09-26-2009, 02:34 AM	#1
BLindsay Power Member Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Aug 2008 Location:MA Home Theater Gallery:59 4K collection:9 Blu-ray collection:25 Trading Score:12	Thinking of upgrading my system So first here is what i have now Alpine CDA-9835 (27wrmsx4) great sounding deck just show its age JL TR 6.5" Components front JL TR 6.5" Coaxials rear Alpine 12" Type R ported (new style type r) 600wrms Alpine Amp Looking to start with upgrading subs and headunit and interior speakers down the road. Looking to improve both SQ and SPL of the subs. The 2 setups i was considering were. 2x Alpine Type X 10" in a sealed box with a 2000wrms alpine amp 2x JL 10W7 in a sealed box with a JL 1000wrms amp The JL's are rated for 500wrms each so that amp is perfect, the Alpines are rated for 1000wrms each so the 2000wrms amp is good for them but here is the issue i see. the JL setup is def more money BUT the 2000wrms that the alpine amp draws is gonna be a huge drain on my electrical system. Will have to upgrade the alternator battery and do 0 guage wire (pain in the @ss to run and work with) where as my factory 140a alternator and 4 guage wire will be enough for the 1000w jl amp. (would still upgrade battery, the battery my car takes is huuuge) As for the headunit i was thinking something along the lines of the Alpine IVA-W505/P1 as i want something with NAV. I have a nice double din opening so the big touchscreen would be nice. I will have to upgrade to an amp for the interior speakers later as it seems im gonna drop in wrms from the 27 that my current deck has to about 18 with the new one (amp will be cleaner anyways) and i may upgrade the interior speakers but im not sure on that yet. Thoughts? also do you guys know of any good dedicated car audio forums?

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09-27-2009, 03:07 AM	#2
Driver_King Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Tampa Bay, Florida Home Theater Gallery:96 Blu-ray collection:28 Trading Score:10	How about this? Elemental Designs also sells wiring, cables, fabrication rings, enclosures, component speakers, ect. Check out their car audio site here. I would also suggest their forum for installation assistance or enclosure ideas. Elemental Design's Live Chat is always a good idea if you want to talk to them directly. That or giving them a call is always a good idea.

09-28-2009, 03:53 PM	#3
BLindsay Power Member Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Aug 2008 Location:MA Home Theater Gallery:59 4K collection:9 Blu-ray collection:25 Trading Score:12	heh i asked this question on 3 different forums i post at and no suprise i got 3completely different answers. Every post though did try to steer me away from JL though, something wrong with them? I guess i should mention im not to concerned with "Bang for the buck" i just want it to be good, and i dont mind if the JL W7 is only a little better. If you guys know of a sub that is clear accross the board better in everyway then the W7 then id be all for it. Its hard to because id say its even harder to demo car audio them home audio. Ive had W7's in the past and what impressed me about them was how clean AND how loud they were. Seems hard to find both these days. Seems like alot of the big name companies have gone for loud and bling and to hell with SQ edit: also curious for some thoughts on the 2 specific setups i posted, and the potential installation issues with the alpine setup

09-28-2009, 08:21 PM	#4
Driver_King Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Tampa Bay, Florida Home Theater Gallery:96 Blu-ray collection:28 Trading Score:10	I don't think you have any idea of what the 13Av.2 can do. Check this out. It is a Elemental Design's flagship subwoofer driver. A single 13Av.2 would tear apart the JL's and other drivers you were looking at, SQ and SPL wise.

09-28-2009, 10:22 PM	#5
BLindsay Power Member Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Aug 2008 Location:MA Home Theater Gallery:59 4K collection:9 Blu-ray collection:25 Trading Score:12	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jmQjKHVo0s and thats just the 12, the 13 has even more xmax then the 12. i dunno, im just used to you get what you pay for, just seems hard to believe a $350 woofer can sound better (key) and be louder then the 13w7 @ $1200. to bad i have no way to demo their driver, not being able to hear something before i buy it makes it hard

09-29-2009, 07:32 PM	#6
Driver_King Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Tampa Bay, Florida Home Theater Gallery:96 Blu-ray collection:28 Trading Score:10	I was not referring to their 13" model, but, it may certainly be a close (imperceptive differences) comparison for both drivers. The eD is not an SPL driver; it just happens to get loud.

10-15-2009, 11:10 PM	#7
Jbald87 Active Member Member since:Jan 2009 Location:South Western, Michigan Blu-ray collection:47	Just keep in mind JL's slash amps are only able to handle 1.49 ohms min and will run the rms of the 1000 watts but JL's amps are power monsters in their own, just remember the w7's are DVC's. BTW Im a JL fan also. I have beat the tar out of my 2 12w3v3's for little more then 2 years now and they are still hitting awsome, the only sad part is they killed a cell in my battery. So you will have to beef up the charging system. They do have some really stong alts that put out 160 amps at idle. Let us know what you do with your mob. HT.

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