Rockford vs JL

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sleeper88

My mom thinks i'm cool
I'm in the market for a new sub. I've always had rockford. I have a yellow top,170 amp alternator, 100amp fuse curcuit, 4 gauge wiring, 1 farad cap, T15001bd rockford power series 1500 watt mono amp. I was looking at the JL w7 13.5 and the Rockford fosgate power series stage 2 15in. (T215D4). Any oppinions would be appreciated. Thanks
 
rockford makes a very good amp as you know...but in my highest opinion, JL is by far the better sub . as for component speakers i recomend infinity kappa series
 
i have kicker components that came with the car. Yea i've always hear JL subs are a lot better then Rockford. Thats why i might be swinging more tords the JL. But i havent heard anything much (bad or good) on the new rockfords.
 
i' got the JL 10 inch W3 subs. i had matts back in the day when i was into extreme bass and systems but now i just keep it civil. i just spent like 3 grand in my system but its still civil and i spent extra for all matching amps and the 10 disk CD changer and the new head unit with the hidden USB iPOD port in the glove box. i also got a new capacitor and new wireing. my system is alot coller now because everything looks great, sounds great, and i can play music on CD iPOD, radio. and more if i really look into serius radio or somethin
 
rockford makes a very good amp as you know...but in my highest opinion, JL is by far the better sub . as for component speakers i recomend infinity kappa series

Yup and yup. Kappas are great, but some people find their tweeters somewhat harsh. I run JL components in my doors- they're extremely clean, and run extremely clean / clear up to volumes that are deceptively high because of how distortion-free they are.
 
Yup and yup. Kappas are great, but some people find their tweeters somewhat harsh. I run JL components in my doors- they're extremely clean, and run extremely clean / clear up to volumes that are deceptively high because of how distortion-free they are.
while i did consider the JL component spaekers i have had kappa series components since like 1999. once i like something i rarely change to somethin different. i did hear the JL components and the kappas side by side in a shop and i did like them, but i went my old school way and got the kappas again. my old ones werent even blown. they were just a little faded because i had a fish bowl mustang and the sun hit the door speakers. now i got new glass all around, new tint, and all the other goodies from the ground up restoration of that mustang.
 
as far as amps go in my opinion you cant beat rockford, as far as subs well it just depends on what kind of bass you want, to me the jl has a much tighter crisper bass very solid tight hitting. but the rockford is very raw all bass or nothing type.
 
as far as amps go in my opinion you cant beat rockford, as far as subs well it just depends on what kind of bass you want, to me the jl has a much tighter crisper bass very solid tight hitting. but the rockford is very raw all bass or nothing type.

c'mon home skillet!

JL audio 13W7 nuff said. With the 13w7 you are able to get a faster response than a 15'' and of course still move plenty of air because of the roll design..

If I were you I would upgrade to 1/0 awg power wire. looks like you have plenty of power up front and Rockford and Jl are known to be power hungry at max power.
 
I also have the JL 10w3 times two in my car. I had the infinity reference components that I left in my civic when I sold it.
 
I wouldn't mind changing to 1/0 awg wirng but i have everything hid and clean looking and dont feel like going back over it. Plus the amp has 4 gauge terminals but there are ways around that.

Yea i'm looking more and more into the JL
 
IMO

JLW3 and JLW7 are awesome subs but you will not let them reach any real potential unless you give them solid high wattage (like 250 watts a piece). No cheap ass amp that claims some ridiculous watage but a real quality amp (which is not cheap).

If you are a music lover on a budget, I suggest a JLW1 and give it clean 100-150 watts a piece. I have built numerous boxes for myself and frineds with this set up and its nice and not too costly.

I strong suggest you stay away from high dollar subs unless you plan on using a high dollar and high wattage amp.
 
while i did consider the JL component spaekers i have had kappa series components since like 1999. once i like something i rarely change to somethin different. i did hear the JL components and the kappas side by side in a shop and i did like them, but i went my old school way and got the kappas again. my old ones werent even blown. they were just a little faded because i had a fish bowl mustang and the sun hit the door speakers. now i got new glass all around, new tint, and all the other goodies from the ground up restoration of that mustang.

That works. Kappas are still damn good speakers.

IMO

JLW3 and JLW7 are awesome subs but you will not let them reach any real potential unless you give them solid high wattage (like 250 watts a piece). No cheap ass amp that claims some ridiculous watage but a real quality amp (which is not cheap).

If you are a music lover on a budget, I suggest a JLW1 and give it clean 100-150 watts a piece. I have built numerous boxes for myself and frineds with this set up and its nice and not too costly.

I strong suggest you stay away from high dollar subs unless you plan on using a high dollar and high wattage amp.

Goooooooood advice. The W1 in a decent box (that you can build yourself) and a modest amount of power sounds REALLY good.
 
That works. Kappas are still damn good speakers.



Goooooooood advice. The W1 in a decent box (that you can build yourself) and a modest amount of power sounds REALLY good.
i wish i was told how to build good audio systems on a low budget when i got into audio systems. i got my first system before i had my drivers license or my own car. i had friends that off the bat introduced me to audio components from MAATS, HOLLYWOOD COMPETITION, MENPHIS, JL, INFINITY, POLK, CLARION, LANZAR, and that stuff. i had to put that in my moms sierra van but i got to drive it alot. (mom and dad didnt trip on the no license thing till i was 20 and got a ticket and my car impounded for driving with no license. that was my second car. i didnt even register my first car or transfer titles. had to get my license and pay 700 bucks to get my car back after the 30 day impound was up
 
10W1 in a ported 1.25cu/in box.....but I can't remember the port size..... All I know is it hit very very nice with a power acoustics @120 watts 4ohm bridged power. My friends were so impressed that I built 2 more for guys. I would sit a fellow audiophile in my hatch (which is an acoustical advantage in the first place) and have him guess what I had. They all guessed 2 10's or 2 12's lol. But the Power Acoustics blew....I liked me some loud music but now I'm just old lol.

I was such a stereo nerd....hanging out at the shop to pick the owners brain. He liked me so he let me look at the JL audio binder that had a shit load of specs. Page after page based on box size, speaker size, speaker grade (W1, W3, W4, etc). each one gave letter grades for high, mid, and low bass. Also gave you the exact port size (like 7-5/8" long and such). I became good friends with a guy that had 2 12" W1's in a 5 cubic foot ENLCOSED box. Effing huge!!! I had to tell him he was way way off lol. But that book led me to a port size for that huge ass box of his. The simple task of installing a port (luckily it wasn't carpeted yet) easily doubled the quality and quantity of bass. It was a 20 minute fix and he was amazed. Years later, he ended up working at a shop....growing with his car audio knowledge and now builds things that put me to shame lol. But I still let him know who laced his shoes first!
 
i wish i was told how to build good audio systems on a low budget when i got into audio systems. i got my first system before i had my drivers license or my own car.

My cousin got me into it before we were 16 too lol. He had an '83 4-door Accord that was gonna be his. We built a box with 2 12" kickers (which used to be the shit!) and had a Plexiglas back to see the back of the subs. We used speckle paint (like garage floors lol) for the inside of the box. We then build wood panels around the box so it looked like a window when you opened up the trunk. And panels around the 2 Alpine amps on the sides of the trunk. Use to think Alpine was the shit too lol. But I still love their head units...always will.

My first truck (an 86 short bed Silverado...lowered...of course) had a 4-ohm MTX road thunder that I bought brand new on the cheap from a guy that had it at his shop too long ($35 OTD!!). 80 bridged watts and called it good. But the box I built was too small (hard to build a decent box in those trucks unless you are 5'3" lol) It was a little over 1 cu/ft I still made it work and bumped Dr Dre the Chronic and Snoop's first CD to high school (yes I'm that old lol) Also I got a new mid level Alpine for an xmas gift from the parents and it was $600 in the mid 90's...now a $150 Pioneer is light years ahead lol
 
My cousin got me into it before we were 16 too lol. He had an '83 4-door Accord that was gonna be his. We built a box with 2 12" kickers (which used to be the shit!) and had a Plexiglas back to see the back of the subs. We used speckle paint (like garage floors lol) for the inside of the box. We then build wood panels around the box so it looked like a window when you opened up the trunk. And panels around the 2 Alpine amps on the sides of the trunk. Use to think Alpine was the shit too lol. But I still love their head units...always will.

My first truck (an 86 short bed Silverado...lowered...of course) had a 4-ohm MTX road thunder that I bought brand new on the cheap from a guy that had it at his shop too long ($35 OTD!!). 80 bridged watts and called it good. But the box I built was too small (hard to build a decent box in those trucks unless you are 5'3" lol) It was a little over 1 cu/ft I still made it work and bumped Dr Dre the Chronic and Snoop's first CD to high school (yes I'm that old lol) Also I got a new mid level Alpine for an xmas gift from the parents and it was $600 in the mid 90's...now a $150 Pioneer is light years ahead lol
we're probably about the same age LOL i remember when kicker was the shit and rockford fosgate subs were buy oneget one free from best but and mtx gave you a free amp if you bought a blue thunder sob and box set up LOL. some of my low budget friends stocked up on all those deals.
 
I got the 13.5 JL in the trunk of my lil 91 4 door. I had to kick the box to get it in but its in and i'm not sure if it will ever come out. JL is some much better then rockford.
 
If i had to pick between the two i would say JL, just because of the excellent sound quality. But for pure bang for the buck, get a 12" kicker solobaric L7. the L7s REALLY pound out the bass when full powered.
 
ive owned 2 10" JL w4's dvc and the kicked ass so when it was time to upgrade i went to 2 12" JL W3V2's. They were extremely clean. They bass was also very tight. One thing about those in particular was that they were unable to handle the really low stuff. Those were build more for mid-bass and they absolutely killed it. I loved them up to the point that they got stolen. I now have a single 12" Rockford P1. It a great sub. It doesnt have the sound quality of the jl but it def works to add some bass.

I have used kenwood and rockford amps...the rockford was by far the best. I had a 601s powering the 12"jls and it did a great job.
 
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