Designing a system.... I need expert help!!

[greengrandam84]

Ok imma get straight and to the point. I'm my friend and I are trying to design a system for my grand am using JL Audio subs and Amps. (amps dont have to be JL but I'd like them to be) Anyway, Heres what I've come up with so far.

2-3 10w6's
-or-
2 - 12w6's
-or-
1 - 12w7
-or-
1 - 13w7

The only thing im curious about is with the W7's they are 3 ohm voice coils. how do you get 3 ohm out of an amp?? If we went with one of the W7's we would use 1 amp putting out around 500-1000 watts rms I guess. either the JL 500/1 class D monoblock amp. or the 1000/1 amp.
but if we went with one of the W6 choices we are kind of puzzled on which amp we would need to use to sufficiently power the subs.
Also, just being curious which of those 4 choices do yall think would be loudest/move the most air.
I would like to have one of those systems that move peoples clothing / they feel the air movement when the subs hit hard. ?!?!?! LOL
Anyway, i guess I am asking for yall's help now, to help us decide. ThankS!!!
I appreciate it !!

[MantaGreen97]

First off, I'd say go with one of the W7s.

Second of all 3 Ohm coils you say eh? Well if they are dual 3 Ohm coils, wiring in series will get you to 6 Ohms and wiring in parallel will get you to 1.5 Ohms. The thing is with JL Audio amps the "RIPS" system they use puts the same power into any impedance (within the safe operating range of the amp that is) so you shouldn't have a problem there, if you use a JL amp.

Even if you don't use a JL amp, any monoblock that is stable to 1 Ohm would be good; however, it may put out about 25% less power than the 1 Ohm rating at 1.5 Ohms, depending on the amp.

[matts]

1 sub in a proper box will be louder than 2 subs in small boxes. since it sounds like your dead set on JL, i'd go with one 13W7 and the 1000/1 from JL.

[mtb1981]

It depends on what you want out of your system. If you want all out bass, I'd go with the W7, if you want tight, accurate bass without slop, go with the 12w6. If you want punch but not too much boom, go with the 2 10s. In general the larger the sub is the louder and less accurate it is, while the smaller ones are more accurate and less loud. Also, the bigger it is the lower it will usually play compared to the same sub in a smaller size.

[matts]

but a 13 isn't going to be any more sloppy than a 12...or at least it wont be noticeable. comparing a 15 to a 12 or an 18 to a 12 is a difference, but an inch isn't going to make a difference. :)

[Bjornboy81]

Originally posted by matts
but an inch isn't going to make a difference. :)
That's not what she said :roflmfao:


sorry, back on topic...As far as the 3 ohm voice coils, an amp will put out anything you want it to...until it blows up or shuts down. So "getting 3 ohms out of an amp" isn't a corrent statement. An amp just puts out voltage, and depending on the impedance (ohm rating) of the load, it will put out so much power. If you lower the impedance, than you will get more power out of any amp. It doesn't technically matter what the actual impedance is (2 ohms, 3 ohms, 4 ohms, 100 ohms), the amp will put out the correseponding power until it reaches it's limits of heating, internal impedance, and other internal problems.

why JL uses 3 ohms is beyond me, but it as long as the amp is rated for it (or lower) then you're good. :)

[Hodge]

It doesn't matter what ohms you get as long as you get a JL amp. So the best bet for you is the 13" W7 and the JL 1000/1. You will knock the socks off the competition. Even with the 13 or 12... the clarity and clearness is beatiful. I've heard a 13" W7 with the 1000/1 in a F150... and I couldn't hear for a little bit -- and i was outside the car.