JL Stealthbox vs. BSW Sub

[ncx]

Originally Posted by NextGen

I guess the JL Audio box is amazing. Here is what they have to say about it.

The fiberglass enclosure offers superior rigidity while allowing more interior volume, so the sub can turn out louder, deeper bass. JL Audio craftsmen then laminate, grind, join, and finish each Stealthbox® by hand.

So the fiberglass gives them a little more volume. I am so close to pulling the trigger on this one.

Did anyone out there install it without modifying their cover? I really don't want to make any permanent mods. That is what is holding me up on this one.

On mine, the sub would only touch the cover upon maximum excursion.

You shouldn't worry about 'modifying' the cover. It is a 2-minute exercise to clip off a few little plastic pieces on the back side of the cover, and no one would ever notice or care about this upon trade in or resale. It does not change the look or rigidity of the cover in any way.

[sleepless]

Thanks to Essam's detailed work I decided to pull the trigger and start this mod.........I just bought the Pioneer Sub, & Alpine Amp (Same as Essam) .... planning to build the box and install next wknd,..... this project will cost me well under $200....which includes all the MDF, wire, glue, etc. etc.,,,,,,...... Hey Essam I might be calling you for some tech support on wiring....

[Essam Khafagi]

Originally Posted by sleepless

Thanks to Essam's detailed work I decided to pull the trigger and start this mod.........I just bought the Pioneer Sub, & Alpine Amp (Same as Essam) .... planning to build the box and install next wknd,..... this project will cost me well under $200....which includes all the MDF, wire, glue, etc. etc.,,,,,,...... Hey Essam I might be calling you for some tech support on wiring....

I was wondering where have you been?!

You can drop me a PM anytime but consider the time difference if I am late in replying (I am 9 hours ahead of US time)

[sleepless]

Originally Posted by Essam Khafagi

I was wondering where have you been?!

You can drop me a PM anytime but consider the time difference if I am late in replying (I am 9 hours ahead of US time)

\

wife had me doing a project for the home....... should be finished this week, its killing me, I have the Sub & Amp in my office staring @ me ........ but I'm too busy ...... can't wait to cut some MDF's.....

[carlgo]

There is no doubt that the physics of a 10" JL woofer in the same-sized box as the 8" BSW design are attractive. Now, if the 8" is super-quality, then that may narrow the gap.

In any case, relatively small short-throw woofers in tiny sealed boxes are only going to go so low. Any differences will be fairly minor and you would probably have to hear them side-by-side to know the differences.

Also, some speaker designs may go lower, but not be as accurate. For non-hip-hop music, accuracy is going to be more important. You want both, of course, if possible.

All of these designs are hugely better than the OEM system of not having any bass at all.

Not that it is exactly the same comparison, but my Essam system is only a bit better than my previous 8" free-standing box. That woofer was a quality long-throw design and the box was pretty big, so it is actually impressive that a short-throw 10" in a tiny box can compete.

You can't compare the cost of these subs to those marketed for, say, Mustangs. There you get absolute thunder for less because of the high production volumes and a lot more space. I think the prices are ok for a complex, low-volume product.

I certainly recommend commercially built units for most people who do not have access to power tools and want to get the biggest and most engineered sub enclosure possible.

if I were BSW I would put in a 10 just to end the speculation, even if there was little or no actual sound advantage.

I ordered the six front speakers and we will see about that. More water in the beans for awhile.

[PMen]

Does anybody in this thread know if you can connect the factory dsp sub to a non dsp system with a 2 channel amp inbetween without complications?

[NextGen]

carlgo you make very good points. I agree that BSW should make a 10" to level the playing field.

I mainly listen to hip-hop and pop. I don't require the bass to crack the concrete. I am not an audiophile. I have to admit that I am somewhat satisfied with the factory speakers and sub. If they put out just a little more treble then I may have just put up with them. So with that in mind I'll bet I'll be more than happy with any of these woofer solutions.

I understand that removing the foam from the cover is easy, my point was I want to limit the number of permanent mods to the X. I went out to realoem and they show $140.62 for one of these trunk flaps. So these are not exactly cheap to replace.

[carlgo]

Originally Posted by NextGen

carlgo you make very good points. I agree that BSW should make a 10" to level the playing field.

I mainly listen to hip-hop and pop. I don't require the bass to crack the concrete. I am not an audiophile. I have to admit that I am somewhat satisfied with the factory speakers and sub. If they put out just a little more treble then I may have just put up with them. So with that in mind I'll bet I'll be more than happy with any of these woofer solutions.

I understand that removing the foam from the cover is easy, my point was I want to limit the number of permanent mods to the X. I went out to realoem and they show $140.62 for one of these trunk flaps. So these are not exactly cheap to replace.

A hip-hop fan who is happy with the factory bass? Any bass?

I am not going to alter the panels. There just is no need to do so. No difference, really, in the sound. BSW says the same thing.

[NextGen]

I didn't say "happy" just "somewhat satisfied". I have the DSP system with the factory woofer. If I turn the volume up in my X I can hear the subwoofer. Even though some of my music is hip hop I really just need the bass to round out the sound not overpower it.

carlgo you said that you are not going to alter the panel. Are you installing JL Audio? Maybe I am misunderstanding something here. I thought JL Audio required that the panel be modified or you would not be able to close it.

[ncx]

The panel closes perfectly fine without altering it. The JL, under full excursion, can touch the back of the cover and you will hear it. That is why they recommend getting rid of the unnecessary plastic ribs. If you never push the sub really hard you would never need to make the change to the panel. This little plastic removal task is WAY overblown here... it is a very quick easy change that no one, even the dealer, would ever know about or care about. It is tiny plastic pieces that you remove or shave down 1/4" on the back (unseen) side of the panel - if you choose to - and should not have anything to do with your decision between a JL, BSW, or home made sub.