Kicker L5?

[SpecialFX]

I got bored and went into a Circuit City this weekend and discovered that they have a setup in the isntall bay that lets you try out subs in your own vehicle rather than guessing what they sound like based on hearing them sit on a rattle-y shelf.

First of all, I was suprised to see that CC sells Kicker. Well I tried out a single L5 12" in a ported box and it sounded awsome. Better than the MTX and the 2 12" Comp VRs. I don't know a lot about the different subs, but what do you guys think of the L5? Anything else you think I should listen to in the price range for sake of comparison?

Yes, I searched and only found a couple of opinions, both seemed to like it.

[hamiltonaudio]

The solo is a nice driver lineup, but have 2 drawbacks IMHO...they are more power hungry than an average driver, and require a larger box to perform at peak. I'm not sure what the price range is on those in your area, but consider Resonant Engineering.... the SX will out-wang the solo without much trouble, and do it on as little as 1kw of power.... I'm pretty sure the SX and the Solo L5 are in the same price bracket....an SX12 will likely retail in the US in the $380-400 range.

bmoney

[SpecialFX]

I have never heard of the SX12. DO you have any links on it, and do you know who might carry it?

[MantaGreen97]

L5 and L7 are both great bang-for-the-buck subs. L7s a little more pricey but the L5 is definitely competent in it's price/power class ;)

The new CompVX is supposed to be better than the L5, fitting in between the L5 and L7 lines; it's round too for those weirdos that don't like square subs for unknown reasons, LOL.

If you want to get a single sub, that's easy to find/widely available, put a single ported L5 15" in the GTI and pair it with an 600W-1000W amp and you'll more than likely be quite happy :)

You could get an RE SX, yes, but an SX12 is a little bit more pricey than an L5. An L5 12" is like $150-$200 US; an SX12 is probably more in the $250-$350 range I beleive.

Also keep in mind you can't walk into any normal electronics store and find RE...

Here's the dealer locator if you're interested:
http://www.reaudio.com/dealer.html

[car audio dave]

id recommend Image dynamics IDQ12. $119 on carmedia1.com and itll run circles around anything else in the range for sound quality.

i dontlike the L5 and L7 for a few reasons, but mainly its because i really loved the old round solos back in the day. they were the sub to beat back then. they were replaced with the L7 which was a lower end sub.

Round solo was $350 (back in '95)
L7 solo IS $250-300

[SpecialFX]

Well RE is out, as the nearest dealer is about 4 hours away.

http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/145841/bundleId/3142/rpem/ccd/bundleDetail.do

There is the sub/amp package I am looking at, just for reference. That's pretty much about the top limit of what I am willing to spend right now. And after listening to it, I do not need and more sound than that. Based on Roland's comment, would that amp be too small to properly power the L5? their audio guy told me that the amp was made specifically to power an L5

[hamiltonaudio]

Originally posted by SpecialFX
Well RE is out, as the nearest dealer is about 4 hours away.

http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/145841/bundleId/3142/rpem/ccd/bundleDetail.do

There is the sub/amp package I am looking at, just for reference. That's pretty much about the top limit of what I am willing to spend right now. And after listening to it, I do not need and more sound than that. Based on Roland's comment, would that amp be too small to properly power the L5? their audio guy told me that the amp was made specifically to power an L5

its too bad you're so far away from a dealer...RE is still quite a boutique brand, having just started a dealer network in the last year or two...previous to that they'd been direct-sales only....

and to be fair, I've installed plenty of L5's and SX's, and can easily say for the $75-$100 premium for the SX, there is simply no compromise there :D The SX is a substantially superior driver for not that much more money....

Good luck in your quest!

bmoney

[nineteen88ga]

Originally posted by SpecialFX
Well RE is out, as the nearest dealer is about 4 hours away.

http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/145841/bundleId/3142/rpem/ccd/bundleDetail.do

There is the sub/amp package I am looking at, just for reference. That's pretty much about the top limit of what I am willing to spend right now. And after listening to it, I do not need and more sound than that. Based on Roland's comment, would that amp be too small to properly power the L5? their audio guy told me that the amp was made specifically to power an L5

That set up is definately among the best bass packages that CC has to offer in store. The Sub is rated at 600 watts RMS (at 2 ohms) and that amp will be putting out at least 750 watts RMS @ 2 ohms. The reason I say at least is because kicker amps are under rated according to the birth cards that show their actual power output. Amp made specifically for the sub...not really but it is a very nice match. The Enclosure is made specifically for the sub though, which is another important factor.

For everyday use, the L5/750.1 package will be great.

[MantaGreen97]

Originally posted by car audio dave
i dontlike the L5 and L7 for a few reasons, but mainly its because i really loved the old round solos back in the day. they were the sub to beat back then. they were replaced with the L7 which was a lower end sub.

Round solo was $350 (back in '95)
L7 solo IS $250-300
Oh c'mon now. I think you might be remembering the round Solos a little too fondly. Yes they were great subwoofers at the time, but compared to more modern drivers they aren't really that special. Going with price doesn't get you anywhere either. If you go back far enough you'll find subs that used to cost perhaps $1 per watt they handled. Thinking of that now would be ridiculous!

The L5 handles similar power levels as the old round Solos, and they have a little more sensitivity. The round Solos were a good small-box driver, but keep in mind those weren't ever designed for anything but small, sealed boxes. The L5 and L7 are much more versatile and were intended with vented or sealed application in mind.

The L7, even the earliest version, could handle more power than the round Solo; and according to Kicker themselves was outdoing the round Solo one size bigger (i.e. an L7 10" was doing better than a round Solo 12").

There were some problems with the early L7s as I recall but we're like 3 or 4 different versions later now and Kicker ironed out any problems with the square design a while back.

With the introduction of the L5 along with the L7, the L5 pretty much has the performance of the round Solos, in a different package.

The CompVX is even better (at least on paper--I've never heard one) than the round Solos were; and again it's designed with more than just one application in mind.

The round Solos are great subs, I agree; but even looking at the motor on them shows they are a little dated... I mean sure there's room to argue there, but I don't think I've pointed out anything that isn't factual.

Originally posted by nineteen88ga
That set up is definately among the best bass packages that CC has to offer in store. The Sub is rated at 600 watts RMS (at 2 ohms) and that amp will be putting out at least 750 watts RMS @ 2 ohms. The reason I say at least is because kicker amps are under rated according to the birth cards that show their actual power output.
I agree with the above but the only thing that puzzles me is it says the L5 in that package is a dual 2-ohm configuration??? Why wouldn't they have a dual 4-ohm L5 included?

Because really, you want the amp to be running at 2 Ohms. With a dual 2 ohm coil woofer you only have 1 and 4 ohm options; with a dual 4 ohm you could run the amp at 2 ohms... You should really be getting a dual 4 L5 with that package.

Package also seems a little pricey to me but I guess they are an authorised dealer. If you went eBay/unauthorised you'd probably save yourself some money. I'm guessing install is not included in that price either, eh? Remember that you'll have to buy an install kit at the very least if you're installing yourself; or the kit + labour if you need someone else to install it.

[hamiltonaudio]

just out of curiosity manta - is all the negativity and rebuttle I've heard from you in the last day based on anything at all? For example - you make some pretty strong assertions about comparing the newer L5/L7 to the Solos of old. Is this based on many insallations and over a decade of experience (which is what you'd NEED to have installed the old round Solobaric), or is this just how you feel based on what you might have read in PAS mag or something?

I doubt you're in the industry at all, since ur not even sure if the price CC is offering includes labor. So what exactly are you basing your comments and assertions on? As a matter of contrast, when I comment on something I'm looking back at almost 15 years of professional sales and installation experience with the product in question.... and you?

bmoney

[MantaGreen97]

Originally posted by hamiltonaudio
just out of curiosity manta - is all the negativity and rebuttle I've heard from you in the last day based on anything at all? For example - you make some pretty strong assertions about comparing the newer L5/L7 to the Solos of old. Is this based on many insallations and over a decade of experience (which is what you'd NEED to have installed the old round Solobaric), or is this just how you feel based on what you might have read in PAS mag or something?
There's no negativity here, I'm just stating facts about the Solobarics of new and old.

And yes I have been installing mobile electronics on my own since I was perhaps 16-17. No I'm not "in the industry" :roll2: but that has nothing to do with anything...

As for the old Solo, I had one in my own car so how's that for "what I'd need to have to have installed the old solobaric" :roll2: (It wasn't actually my Solobaric but a friend's that I borrowed while his amp was blown.) Still I'm quite familiar with the old Solo. Not being "in the industry" doesn't mean anything.

Originally posted by hamiltonaudio
I doubt you're in the industry at all, since ur not even sure if the price CC is offering includes labor. So what exactly are you basing your comments and assertions on?
You know what? Whatever. I don't really care what you doubt and don't doubt at this point. I made a mistake about something and you decided to jump all over it blasting away with profanities and the like. I just said I'm not "in the industry" anyway, as if that even means anything.

Why don't you go over on SoundDomain, CarAudio, CAF, CarSound, etc. and start ragging on all the people there that "aren't in the industry" yet know tons about car audio? Everyone from people like me that just enjoy it and do things out of interest/in their spare time to people that compete but have never technically been "in the industry" as you so eloquantly put it.

Obviously your little "in the industry" poke was meant to discredit or belittle me, but I'm sorry to inform you I don't really care.

I've got the MECP study manual here in my room, and I though I'm not certified I could probably take the bronze test at any time and pass without a problem. Sure I don't know much about actually doing fiberglassing and more advanced installations like that, but I've never cared to get into them really. Just because I didn't make a career out of mobile electronics doesn't mean I know nothing about it. :roll2: Sure I might not have anywhere near your experience but if experience leads to your attitude I'm definitely better off without it. (It's a good thing it doesn't--I've met lots of people in the industry that are fine.) Sure I might not have sold things for 15 years :roll2: At least I'm not a jacka$$ about it.

So yeah sure I made a mistake with the Compustart stuff which I pretty much apologised for. Still I don't start swearing it up to correct people that made an honest mistake in some lame-ass way to try to make myself look good :roll2:

Originally posted by hamiltonaudio
As a matter of contrast, when I comment on something I'm looking back at almost 15 years of professional sales and installation experience with the product in question.... and you?

Dude question whatever you want. At first I thought you were alright, and I was interested in your installs and stuff (as they were interesting to me) but after the last few posts I realise that's not the case...

It's people like you that discourage other people from getting into car audio altogether. You and your elitist "I know more than you attitude because I've done this and that for x years" and other such stupidness.

Personally I don't give a damn, so think what you want. I don't purposely come on here and talk about things I have no clue about. The Compustar bit I already apologised for and I only thought that because of how they used to do business. I never bothered to look into them again because there was no reason to. You could have simply stated something like "You're mistaken, Compustar has changed, etc." but instead you chose to shout your mouth off swearing about this and that; and I still apologised. Now you decide to track me down in another thread and start doing it again?

Whatever man, get a life.

[hamiltonaudio]

clarity is such a good thing isn't it? the entire point of my thread here was to allocate some reality to your posts. I surmised that since you threw off some misinformation that mislead someone on another topic, that this may just be another example....then when someone (not me, surprise surprise) disagrees, you spend another page telling them why not. to me, I don't care...if you have personal experience with the product, THATS WHAT WE'RE AFTER! Thats the stuff that helps people.

In or out of the industry, experience is experience. I'm sorry you feel that I've come onto you too hard, which is not the case....I've not tracked you down anywhere bro - I just read the 12volt related posts.

At the end of the day, its unfortunate that you take such a negative stance...your misgivings on the Compustar product were met with hostility because you were speaking about a brand I support whole heartedly....you misrepresented information and led a possible customer astray. THAT pisses dealers off.

I see the same happening here....first this is better, then thats more expensive, then the other thing seems to high and doesn't even include installation. Based on WHAT? My point on being in the industry is if you're a salesman and have dealt with it for a long time, I'd give your assertions substantial credit. But if you heard a buddies old solo in an incorrect box with too little power once, it hardly gives you room to say aything...I think tone has more to do with how you represent yourself than anything else...

bmoney

[nineteen88ga]

Originally posted by MantaGreen97
I agree with the above but the only thing that puzzles me is it says the L5 in that package is a dual 2-ohm configuration??? Why wouldn't they have a dual 4-ohm L5 included?

Because really, you want the amp to be running at 2 Ohms. With a dual 2 ohm coil woofer you only have 1 and 4 ohm options; with a dual 4 ohm you could run the amp at 2 ohms... You should really be getting a dual 4 L5 with that package.

Thats a misprint on the cc site. That sub/box set up is actually 2ohm @ the speaker terminals.

And that package is actually one of 3 diffenrent bass packages from kicker. A dual 10 comp box and amp, dual 12 comp box with bigger amp and this single L5 with amp.

[matts]

i've got an L5 12", i've put it through hell and it's still going....wouldn't go so far as to say going strong lol, but it's still going. when i go to buy another sub i'll buy another one

[SpecialFX]

Well, I did it. I'll be getting it Saturday. I am pretty sure this will be slightly more than what I want, which is good. I jsut wonder how soon it willo make me want to upgrade the rest of teh system. The 10 factory speakers are great except having little to no bass.

[SilverBane]

So then will an L5 12" performs better then compvr 10's (pair)?

[car audio dave]

manta...i was putting it into perspective. fgor 95 it was an awesome sub. take that sub, develop it over the years with modern technology and youd have a much better sub than the L7.

for back in those days, vega made some great stuff. remember the stroker? i do. i remember sitting in the vega van with 6 15s. that was crazy.

back in those days, the best systems were orion or PG amps (PPI was up there too, and Macintosh was just incredible) while alpine head units were the best heads (remember the cda-7990?) and for speakers youd go MB quart. audiobahn didnt exist, RF was pretty good. JL was the subwoofer to have back then, either them or the fosgate DVC.

wow have things changed. back then, a magazine system would be a high end system where the wires were layed out straight and displayed with a plexi window. motorization and fiberglass was common in magazines. these days, its all about video. 12 TVs is good enough for magazines, the wire is probably junk and zip tied under the carpet somewhere.

[nineteen88ga]

Your going to be very happy with that L5/750.1 set up. The amp come wit ha bass knob, that when adding to an OEM headunit can come in very handy. Just make sure the install is done very clean and you won't have ANY complaints.

[SpecialFX]

The remote gain control was something that was a must for me since I will not be running it through a HU with sub control. I have to admit being nervous about install since this is my first new car and by far the nicest thing I have ever owned

[car audio dave]

i dont trust any installer with my car. i have seen what installers do.

if i have an installer do work on my car, i make surei know them. thats why i scope out audio shops whenever i move to a new area. im still not comfortable with alarms.

anyways, back to the topic...that setup should work fine. :P

[nineteen88ga]

Well Bryan, the equipment is a really good choice and like I said you'll be more then happy with it. I just really hope they (or you) do a very nice an clean install. As far as the Bass knob, mounting it in factory "blank" or something to keep it stealth and not jsut screwed to the under sash would look very nice. Definately post pics once its complete. :-)

[SpecialFX]

no pics yet as my gf is here for the weekend, but it's in and oh, the sweet, sweet bass!