1 JL audio 12 w7 or 3 10" shallow mount pioneers?

[Hazieview]

Hey guys I have room for either 1 12" JL Audio w7 or 3 10" shallow mount subs? Which should I go with for behind the seat of my '81 single cab Chevy? Which one will have the most boom? Thanks.
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[AceX]

The W7 will, but behind the seat, there's no way it would ever fit.

[Hazieview]

I have bucket seats. The box will.be behind the seats. speaker in the middle.
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[Hazieview]

1 12" JL Audio w7 - 1000 watts nominal. $850

3 12" - Pioneer shallow mounts - 1200 watts nominal. $660

Those are the specs. Does that sound right?
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[colin_havens]

I guess my first question would be what are your goals? Are you just looking for the loudest system possible, or loud and clear with sound quality?

[81ShrtBox]

the pioneers are nice...

[Hazieview]

Clean and clear sound is what I want! Enough base to impress me over my straight pipes. Not trying to have the loudest stereo in town. Just something that sounds better than average.
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[tubbedII]

Out of the 2, I'd go with the W7. The only thing I'd be worried about is the box design and making sure it's not an eye sore.

[colin_havens]

Originally Posted by tubbedII

Out of the 2, I'd go with the W7. The only thing I'd be worried about is the box design and making sure it's not an eye sore.

I totally agree. While shallow mount subs have their place, they will never perform as well as a standard built sub. The W7 is one loud SOB, but it is a sound quality sub, not an SPL monster. There are speakers out there built with nothing in mind but all out SPL, but generally musically they are not that great. If you can build the box to not look like an afterthought, that W7 would be amazing in the little cab of your truck. Loud, clear, and more than enough bass to hear it over your pipes

[Hazieview]

So if I can't make the w7 work would the 3 shallow mounts be ok or no?Posted via Mobile Device

[PokeyC10]

3 shallow mounts will sound better then average.. so yes they will work. If you are looking for better then average you have alot of options that will fit in a small space.

[tubbedII]

How do you rate your ability to build a speaker box? Since you are running buckets, I would stay away from the shallows. I have never ran them personally, but my feelings about them are they were made for people with little to no room for subs. With buckets, you could utilize the space behind the seats for volume, but mount the speaker(s) between the seats. If done right, it looks great and should sound much better than shallows.

[Hazieview]

Originally Posted by tubbedII

How do you rate your ability to build a speaker box? Since you are running buckets, I would stay away from the shallows. I have never ran them personally, but my feelings about them are they were made for people with little to no room for subs. With buckets, you could utilize the space behind the seats for volume, but mount the speaker(s) between the seats. If done right, it looks great and should sound much better than shallows.

that is exactly what I was think for th w7! I just have not found a box design that look worth a Crap...

Any pictures, drawings, suggestions? I want something clean. Something that looks like it was almost put there out of the factory. I'm not big on 'displaying' my speakers for every thief to see.

Thanks guys. Let me know if u have any ideas.
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[Cole Trickle]

I have played with both speakers.....

What amps are you going to run and how much power are you throwing at the subs/sub?

The W7 is hungry and will want 1000 watts. We hooked one up to a honest 600 wattsw and it sounded like crap.

I would also like to know what your going to run for your front stage and how much power. A W7 with 1000 watts is going to need a whole lot of mid and high to sound good and honestly I don't know if you can acomplish that in a regular cab.

2 of the pioneer shallow mount 12's matched up with a nice set of components in the doors would sound better than a W7 and nothing special in the doors...imho

[4ofakind]

Here is an idea:



Just move the amps under your seats and use the space behind your seats for box volume, or stack the amps behind the passenger seat and use space behind driver seat for box volume. You can flush mount the woofer and cover in grille cloth to hide it from curious onlookers.

Don't worry about how difficult this looks on the outside, a box is a box. Building it won't be too hard (remember geometry class or were you daydreaming about the senior class prom queen?). Its covering your finished product that will try your patience.

Mal

[4ofakind]

Another example. A bit more invovled being fiberglass but its an idea. You can still flush mount and cover the subs for security.

Mal

[Hazieview]

Originally Posted by Cole Trickle

I have played with both speakers.....

What amps are you going to run and how much power are you throwing at the subs/sub?

The W7 is hungry and will want 1000 watts. We hooked one up to a honest 600 wattsw and it sounded like crap.

I would also like to know what your going to run for your front stage and how much power. A W7 with 1000 watts is going to need a whole lot of mid and high to sound good and honestly I don't know if you can acomplish that in a regular cab.

2 of the pioneer shallow mount 12's matched up with a nice set of components in the doors would sound better than a W7 and nothing special in the doors...imho

As of now I will be running at least a 1100 watt eclipse amp for my subs. I have 2 high outpot pioneer premier 6x9s , 2 pioneer premier 5" components, and a pioneer premier amp for my highs and mids which I think is around 400 or 500 watts I think.

My original thinking was that my components and 6x9s would sound perfect with 2 shallow mount pioneer subs...

I really do not want a speaker box in the middle of my seats. I would kind of like it to look stock but sound awesome. It just kind of ads to the surprise when it looks ordinary at first glance.

Kind of like when I pop my hood and there isn't an old dusted up 305. Instead its a freshly painted, 450 HP sb400 with shiny aluminum brackets. Haha
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[tubbedII]

"I would kind of like it to look stock but sound awesome."

I think that comment right there lets you know which subs to pick. I think you should be able to pull off all 3 shallows with your highs/mids and have a good balance. Now, get to building and take some pics!

I'd like to see the 400 too if you got a pic of it...

[motornut]

having run subs in mono and stereo
found the amp in mono louder with bridging
but preferred hearing the seperate left and right hits

[Hazieview]

I appreciate all the feedback guys!!! I found this thread very informative.

I do have one other alternative.

What about raising the stock center console of my '81 about 6 inches and 'hiding' the w7 inside of it.

If it is possible I could build the box behind the seats and have the speaker come out between the seats. Like the pictures 4ofakind posted.

If I could build it right I could just hollow out the console and set it right on top of the speaker.

That way it won't look cheesey and it would still look stock.

Think it would work? If not I'll just go with the shallow mounts like I orifinally planned. I just like having stuff that is unique...

Thanks again guys!
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[4ofakind]

Originally Posted by Hazieview

I appreciate all the feedback guys!!! I found this thread very informative.

I do have one other alternative.

What about raising the stock center console of my '81 about 6 inches and 'hiding' the w7 inside of it.

If it is possible I could build the box behind the seats and have the speaker come out between the seats. Like the pictures 4ofakind posted.

If I could build it right I could just hollow out the console and set it right on top of the speaker.

That way it won't look cheesey and it would still look stock.

Think it would work? If not I'll just go with the shallow mounts like I orifinally planned. I just like having stuff that is unique...

Thanks again guys!
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That will work. Its what Im doing with my 95 and a pair of 8's. Like I said building the box is no problem, making it pretty is the challenge. Im taking my time on the pretty part but basicly it will resemble a stock 95 center console when Im done.

Mal

[tubbedII]

What's an 81 console look like? Is it like the '70 console, but a little different shape? My only concern would be fitting the enclosure inside of it. 4ofakind's are 8" speakers, and the enclosure barely fits between the seats. It makes me think the console just isn't wide enough to fit a 12" W7.

BTW, 4ofakind, looks good!

[4ofakind]

Originally Posted by tubbedII

What's an 81 console look like? Is it like the '70 console, but a little different shape? My only concern would be fitting the enclosure inside of it. 4ofakind's are 8" speakers, and the enclosure barely fits between the seats. It makes me think the console just isn't wide enough to fit a 12" W7.

BTW, 4ofakind, looks good!

A single 12 can be done. I built mine short to mimic the dimensions of my console as close as possible, so I had to go higher w/ the TWO 8s. Had to squeeze between the armrests. A single ported 8 might have fit better, but I had already bought two, so I'm using them both.

A trick for you Hazieview would be to turn your woofer backwards and let it bounce off the rear wall like this:





Mal

[Hazieview]

Originally Posted by tubbedII

I'd like to see the 400 too if you got a pic of it...

Here it is.... My sb400




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[Hazieview]

Originally Posted by 4ofakind

That will work. Its what Im doing with my 95 and a pair of 8's. Like I said building the box is no problem, making it pretty is the challenge. Im taking my time on the pretty part but basicly it will resemble a stock 95 center console when Im done.

Mal

That's exactly what I want to do!!!

I think this is the part I need.
http://www.classicpartsusa.com/produ...73_Truck_Parts

I could do like 4ofakind said and turn the woofer backwards or slam it towards the floor. Personally I kind of like the backwards idea...
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