So what would a top of a line car subwoofer sound like at a event if you snuck it under the table or something of that sort, such as JL Audio 12" w7, which is rated at 1000w RMS and is very efficient and true to its ratings.
I am just asking and wondering because i use a car subwoofer in my "studio" and it sounds pretty damn nice.
so has anyone done this? or do I have to try it on my own to find out
I have a lot of experience building automotive enclosures, so naturally my first PA setup included a pair of homemade cabinets using a pair of MMATS P3.0 drivers. They were way better than most entry level cabinets, but were a bit power hungry.
I've seen a pair of FI BTL's used for PA sub duty... Can't say I wasn't impressed.
The enclosure is tremendously important, so don't try to stick a w7 in a "probox" into your DJ rig and expect much.
Very good, if that event takes place in a car. Otherwise, no. If there was no difference between home, auto and pro-sound speakers there would be no such thing as home, auto and pro-sound speakers. There would only be speakers.Originally Posted by Alpine_Ent
I have no idea how efficient a JL Audio 12" speaker is. The cabinet would make a BIG difference in the actual efficiency of the speaker. As far as being very efficient, the JL might be efficient as automotive subs go, but not likely to be efficient as pro audio goes. It might be better than Pyle or Pyramid, but that doesn't take much.
The power handling rating of the driver is a useless bit of information, even if it were remotely true. Do you have an amp that can deliver 1000w RMS?
A car sub in a studio can be done. I wouldn't recommend it, but it can be done. Is the venue you plan on using this sub the same size as your studio? Will you be playing the music as loud? Do you normally have a group of water bags in your studio soaking up sound? Are all the conditions in your studio the same as conditions in the venue you plan on using these automotive subs?
A car sub used for deejaying CAN be done. A loudspeaker is a loudspeaker.
Many here will tell you it's not possible for a huge number of reasons. They are wrong.
Many here will tell you it's a bad idea. They are probably right.
It looks like you really want to find out for yourself... I'd suggest you try it with some sort of backup, in case it doesn't give you what you expect.
I have not used car speakers for professional audio applications. When it came time to use professional loudspeakers, I had a smart mentor, and he strongly recommended I not make the same mistake that he and many others have made. He recommended that when professional loudspeakers are called for, use professional loudspeakers.
3 ohm, 86db/w or lower? over $700 for a 12" 50lbs...
I am sure it will excite the body panels of a car with 1000watts but fairly useless for live sound, a pro-sound sub would be at least 3X as loud per watt.
yeh that sub is one heavy beast. So it wouldn't even be practical, but they are other options out there.
but thank you guys for all the replies, that makes a lot of sense that the enclosure is what matters the most. So I guess I will not try it, unless I get my ev zxa1 sub and once it ever blows, i could maybe try a car sub in there instead?
I am looking for a low price solution to add a bottom end to my basic package (basic package does not include subs) so I do not feel like hauling yorkville ls801s every gig when they are not paying for it.
The EV ZXA1 is probably my best bet to go right now, or a yorkville 15" nx720p that my buddy is selling. They're both 700w but I am sure yorkville is 720w RMS and EV is probably not close to that. DECISIONS
Check out these videos by Brian Redd. He has a discount code for a ZXA1 good at NLFX (excellent dealers from what I understand) in his comments on one of the videos visible when you view on youtube. I think this is a far better option than a car subwoofer.
I run a single 1997 Rockford Fosgate DVC RFP 15" in a pro audio enclosure. I was huge into car audio for a number of years, this was one of my 'retired' speakers when I got out of it. I have a pair of them that came off the assembly line at the factory about an hour away from me, so they have some sentimental value to me and I couldn't get rid of them.
So when I wanted a subwoofer for DJing, I got all the specs of my subwoofer and found a box that uses drives with similar specs, I talked with the designer of them and he agreed it would work. With the appropriate driver in the cab, my RF sub was within 2-3db of output at most frequencies. Its not best solution, but like I said I have all the specs I need so just simply matching them up with something that works.
On a side note this subwoofer hit 144.4db using a Rockfrod Fosgate 250w mono amplifier when I was doing DB drags with it.
That would be in a car or van etc...I garantee you at 1metre in a hall or gym it wouldn't hit 144db. If it would then nightclubs would be using them wouldn't they, sorry but a bit of common sense tells you that car audio cannot match pa for spl output in venues where pa is used.
i was doing a wedding where at another hall there was this guy that had a dual 15 setup, and it got loud, but was very muddy.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks