#1702307 - 09/04/09 09:11 PM
Two 13.5 " JL W3v3 subs - Enclosure Type Suggestions
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Nucking Futs
Car Audio Pro
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Registered: 02/18/06
Posts: 552
Loc: Gilbert, AZ
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Ok, I'll try to keep this short and simple....
I have 2 (8 ohms) 13.5" JL W3v3 subs powered off a JL 1000/1v2 amp. The subs are in a ported box (each woofer has an internal airspace of 2.5 cubic feet, and each port is tuned to 25Hz, as stated to do by JL Audio for ported enclosures). The box was built by a JL Dealer and I even measured it myself to make sure it was correct. Box is in back of a Toyota Highlander and against the rear seat firing towards the rear hatch.
These subs really pound and get deep and clean with hip hop and rap music. However I listen to a mix of everything. Rock, Metal, some country, and some hip hop. I like sound quality over SPL. (I know... I'm old)
I've tinkered around with all the EQ settings on my Clarion MAX675VD deck and 1000/1v2 amp and can't get it to sound right. Main issue is getting it to blend in well with my Focal K2 6.5" Comps in my doors. Basically I'm having trouble with getting the subs not to sound sloppy between 60-80Hz.
I believe my issue is because of the ported box. I'm seriously thinking about building a sealed box and trying them out in that. Has anyone heard these woofers in a sealed box? Do they sound better for Rock and Metal in a sealed enclosure vs ported? I noticed JL is now doing a sealed stealth box for their 13w3v3 subs in the 2010 Camaros.
Basically just wanted to get advice from you all, and see if it's worth it for me to try to build a sealed box for them, or just say screw it and keep the box I have for a while until it's time to upgrade to something else. Thanks for any suggestions.
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#1702313 - 09/04/09 09:27 PM
Re: Two 13.5 " JL W3v3 subs - Enclosure Type Suggestions
[Re: Nucking Futs]
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BillK1002
SD Ralph Wiggum
Registered: 03/29/09
Posts: 78
Loc: Baltimore
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You have really nice equipment!!!!
Building a different box will give you a different sound, but you won't know what it will sound like untill you spend a lot of time and money. Have you ever considered adding an external processor?
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#1702319 - 09/04/09 10:08 PM
Re: Two 13.5 " JL W3v3 subs - Enclosure Type Suggestions
[Re: BillK1002]
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Nucking Futs
Car Audio Pro
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Registered: 02/18/06
Posts: 552
Loc: Gilbert, AZ
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You have really nice equipment!!!!
Building a different box will give you a different sound, but you won't know what it will sound like untill you spend a lot of time and money. Have you ever considered adding an external processor?
Thanks on the nice equipment comment. I was lucky and got a job at a local car audio shop, so I got a smoking deal on the equipment.
I've thought about doing an external processor, but I would prefer to just keep it simple and use what I have. I have a JL HD600.4 running my Focal K2 speakers in all 4 doors. I think with the 2 JL amps, they should have enough built in on their onboard processors to make me happy. I've heard a lot of different setups using the same JL amps and focal speakers that I have in different cars, and they all sound great. My shop hasn't really dealt with a lot of the 13" w3v3 subs, as there's not a huge market for them (everyone wants the W6s or W7s if they are doing 13.5" woofers). Basically I was the test subject for them to really test out the 13w3v3 subs. Hahaha. I went from a single 15" TC Sounds TC3000 sub in a ported box to the 2 13w3v3s so it's been a little adjustment for me to get used to. First I thought the sound of the W3v3s being a little muddy on the upper bass range on rock and metal, was due to the subs needing to be broken in. Now it's been about 2 months, and they aren't getting any better. I mean you'll hear me coming for a few blocks on Rap and Hip hop, and it's very clean and tight. It's just muddy on Rock and Metal stuff. I honestly think it's just due to the box choice, and that I should have gone with a sealed box for them with the various types of music that I listen to. I've always had sealed boxes in the past with the exception of the TC sounds sub that I had before the current setup, and even that was a little sloppy on rock and metal in the upper bass frequencies.
I've been trying to get more towards SQ than SPL lately, as I'm older (28) and now have a family of my own, so I can't really crank it up and rock out like I used to, (when they are in the car with me.) 
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#1703293 - 09/08/09 09:29 PM
Re: Two 13.5 " JL W3v3 subs - Enclosure Type Suggestions
[Re: Nucking Futs]
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Member # 6056, Jigga
Bitch I'm Amazing
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Registered: 05/19/00
Posts: 17013
Loc: Columbus, OH
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i use the 13w3s in the recommended JL box tuned to 25Hz. i guess i know what you're talking about...but i have found that all my music in my "SPL showoff" playlist peak in the low 40s, and mid 30s. i have a full size SUV--'03 yukon. i use the GMAX to power them.
if you notice it being muddy and you don't like it, adjust the xover down. I use a VRX785bt. I have the sub xover set to 80Hz. but maybe you want to lower yours either at the deck or at the amp. if you are using focal speakers, they should be strong enough to work the 60/70/80/100 hz range.
i don't care how old you are (i'm 32). you never get too old for SPL. they aren't in the car with you ALL the time.
I currently run the 13w3v3-4.
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#1707915 - 09/19/09 07:59 AM
Re: Two 13.5 " JL W3v3 subs - Enclosure Type Suggestions
[Re: Member # 6056, Jigga]
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slapaholik
SD Newbie
Registered: 09/19/09
Posts: 1
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i am also currently running with the jl audio 13w3v3-4 with 1200w gmax and the jl audio bass knob, i had this setup for about 2 months and now there is no bass, im not a system expert, and i dont know how i can blow these subs, i didnt turn the bass up on the headunit...the person who installed it set up the frequencies so i cant tell you how its set up in that department, but how did or did i blow these subs? or is my amp out? im lost
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#1709140 - 09/22/09 07:46 PM
Re: Two 13.5 " JL W3v3 subs - Enclosure Type Suggestions
[Re: slapaholik]
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Member # 6056, Jigga
Bitch I'm Amazing
Member
Registered: 05/19/00
Posts: 17013
Loc: Columbus, OH
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go back to your installer 
none of my customers have blown w3.
had one blow a pair of w1s....he later confessed to maxing out the gains on the amp after he left my shop. lucky for him i warrantied the subs--b/c that's a BIG NO NO!
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#1710750 - 09/26/09 02:15 PM
Re: Two 13.5 " JL W3v3 subs - Enclosure Type Suggestions
[Re: Member # 6056, Jigga]
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Nucking Futs
Car Audio Pro
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Registered: 02/18/06
Posts: 552
Loc: Gilbert, AZ
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Yeah, I've been meaning to post back here. I had a friend who's (a installer at the same shop) take a look at it. He was able to tweak it to sound pretty freaking awsome. I think I'm going to keep the ported box now and am pretty happy with it. The first guy that tuned it just had everything set up more for rap style music as that's all he listens to. The other installer is into the same type of music I am into, and was able to make it more rock friendly with the crossovers, slopes, and eqs on the 1000/1 amp. So I'm pretty pleased with the 13.5" W3v3s now.
To Slapaholik, I would do what Jigga says, take it back to the shop and have them look at it. If you don't know what you are doing and try to mess with it yourself, you may end up damaging something and voiding any warantee you may still have.
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