Subwoofer Technology Advancement

[ROLEXrifleman]

I keep seeing how far subs have come since the 90's and what they can do now. Question from me is does plain physics still rule or is it possible for today's latest subs to outperform multiple drivers from the past.

For example 1 JL 12W7 compared to ( NOT VERSUS lol) 3 old circle 15" SoloBarics..... Does simple physics of 45" of surface area trump the technology of the 12" W7? Or in fact can it outperform 3 drivers from teh "past"?

TIA

[AMI CUSTOMS]

Cone area has always and WILL always be KING /end thread.

[SoCaLBaMF]

Does simple physics of 45" of surface area trump the technology of the 12" W7?

You must have failed simple physics huh, or geometry

[ROLEXrifleman]

No, just curious if audio fairy dust worked magic in the land of unicorns. Doesnt a 30 Hertz burp produce glitter out of your ports?

[skittlesRgood]

lol thats not how you calculate cone area BUT one thing you have to factor into your question is xmax. speakers can displace more air because they can move farther.

one more flaw in your question, the JL W7 hasn't changed since the 90s. it's still the same old sub and no one is winning competitions with it like they did in the old days. so that clearly says to me that subs have gotten better.

[ROLEXrifleman]

lol,

I know its a roughly phrased question. I'm trying to get a feel for how much "better" it would be if I just replaced all my subs with ones made this decade.

My old stroker, W6's, Solo's, Cerwin Vega AI series subs all still play well. But there's still al part of me that is saying get a pair of brand X subs or 4 of brand Y subs.

At the end of the day it's all about how they sound to me and what my end game is.

So i guess in a way i answered my own question about replacing what I own, but I still would like to knwo what I'm "missing" by not stepping into the 21st century in regards to subwoofers.

[john253a]

idd say tech. advances has exceeded the cone area yesteryear's

2 sa8 = 1 10" in cone area and they cream any old single 12" or 15" on the same power pre '02'

idd put them up against any 90's 2x? set up on same total rms and see who wins?

but can you compare them to today's stuff on same power, that idd say no.

your question should have been more on (x) power today would it be = or louder then same power on yesteryear's products

[ROLEXrifleman]

lol thats not how you calculate cone area

1x12 = 113 and 3x15 = 530

[HHR Ed]

I keep seeing how far subs have come since the 90's and what they can do now. Question from me is does plain physics still rule or is it possible for today's latest subs to outperform multiple drivers from the past.

For example 1 JL 12W7 compared to ( NOT VERSUS lol) 3 old circle 15" SoloBarics..... Does simple physics of 45" of surface area trump the technology of the 12" W7? Or in fact can it outperform 3 drivers from teh "past"?

TIA

Well what do you mean by "Outperform"?

The JL W7 is a SQ woofer, but those solo barics were great sounding woofers to. So outperforming in SQ will depend on your enclosure and what you think sounds good.

As far as SPL, the cone area of 3) 15s is about 530 sq inches.

A 12" woofer is about 107 sq inches.

Then take into account excursion to figure total displacement.

Then take enclosure into account

Then take into consideration that the JL is not an SPL woofer

And the 3 15s have more potential to get loud.

Now bring in a truly loud woofer with very high excursion and high power handling, and you may have a 12 that will beat out those 15s.