1 13TW5 vs 2 10TW3

So I've got some extra money that I can spend. Right now I have a 10w3 in a ported box sitting on my backseat, hooked up to an alpine pdx 600 amp. It's getting to be annoying always just sitting out and in the way. I've really been looking into these thin line subs, and have always been impressed by JL Audio. Just wanted to get your input on which would be the better route. The 2 10TW3's would be much easier to install since there are are several different boxes that are already pre made to fit two 10's. But the 1 13TW5 would be cool, BUT a custom box would have to be built. Any input would be much appreciated!

 

The 10TW3 wasn't available when I installed my system so I just have a 13TW5, but it more than meets my needs. I guess it comes down to what you're looking for, and from what you posted it sounds like the 2 10TW3's would be the way to go. Easier install, more surface area than a single 13TW5, and your amp is big enough to power both.

 

I would recommend going with the two 10" JL TW3 subs and a custom enclosure. This will give you more cone area combined with higher linear excursion, and it should be more efficient with the power you have to work with from that PDX 600, as opposed to going with the single TW5.

 

I have not heard the 13TW5, so I can't really do a good comparison. However, I did hear a single 10TW3 mounted in the passenger's side footwell and it sounded pretty damn good. Tight clean bass and dug surprisingly deep for a shallow mount. From dubstep, to upright bass, to bongo drums - it all sounded good.

 

It's hard to even place the TW3's in the category of a "shallow mount" woofer. JL's quality of engineering behind these woofers is pretty amazing. If you compare a few important parameters that are often compromised in most "shallow mount" woofers to the 10TW3's standard depth counterpart (the 10W3v3), the shallow woofer actually has more cone area and higher linear excursion! That's pretty impressive.

 

I've been looking to upgrade my IDQ10 to either a SWR-T12 or 12TW3. Both require the same volume as the IDQ10, so I wouldn't need to build a new box (at least I hope). Challenge will be mounting either sub and not having the basket hit the bottom of the enclosure. The front face of the enclosure is angled enough that I'm afraid the basket will hit the bottom. The baskets on these shallow mounts stick out pretty far along the perimeter of the sub. The IDQ10 just can't keep up with my music tastes.

 

Well, the Alpine woofer is the least bulky out of the two. I'm more partial to JL, having worked with several drivers from both brands. But I have to admit that the Type R series from Alpine are good woofers. I've personally owned a Type R 10" and was impressed by the output it was capable of, and I have heard good things about the shallow mount Type R.

But why in the world is the shallow Type R 12" listed as $650 on Alpine's website??

The TW3 12" is only $350... And I'm willing to bet those woofers are damn close in terms of output capability while the JL is probably better for sound quality.

 

I had the same problem picking between these two, From reviews that I've read the 10tw3's are a little bigger so you might have to do some minor modifications if you order a pre-made dual 10" box. As for me I went with dual 10tw3's with a dual custom box that Mr. Marv is making for me right now thats gonna run off a hd 1200/1. looks like I've made the right choice

 

Update us when you get the box in, I was looking to get a very similar setup

 

X2 Id love to see the setup and maybe a video!

 

id go with a 8W7

 

The HD1200 is a LOT of power for the two TW 10"...

An 8w7 would be a poor choice. You're much better off with the two TW 10" subs. More efficient, more cone area, less complicated enclosure.

 

Bumping this back from the dead...been researching for two weeks now nearly every waking moment and can't decide which way to go....
1. 13TW5
2. Dual 10TW3
3. Triple ID10....

I'm going batsh@t crazy trying to decide...

Not much out there in terms of serious comparisons - makes me miss the old car audio days of magazines and reviews...

I'm coming from a JL 12W6v2 which I am torn to pieces about loosing...best sounding car subwoofer I've ever had the pleasure of owning

 

Dual 10W3. Done.

I just went from 2 Kicker Comp 8's to 1 JL 10W1 with a JL 700/5 pushing it....fabulous sound and more than loud enough.

I got this box but customized for one 10.

http://www.supercrewsound.com/05tacomadbldual.html

Here it is once delivered. Amazing fit....I ported it myself once I received it.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/audio-video/316432-swapping-setups.html

 

Just read your thread - how did you determine your final port length and diameter? I can't begin to wrap my head around the amount of misinformation that the other poster in your thread was throwing out about port tuning...there are things called Thiele/Small parameters that dictate how your subwoofer will respond to different enclosure types and absolutely determine what frequency your enclosure will be tuned to given a port with a given amount of air displacement. The subwoofer doesn't care about diameter or length (to a certain point) as long as the volume of air is correct - meaning, you can have a slot port, square port, round port etc. and they will all react the same....so long as they have the same volume....and a 4" should typically give better results than a 2" port due to less air velocity, hence, less chance for port "noise"...chuffing and air noise other than sound created by the subwoofer itself.

 

Used this site....I think I chose 42hz for the tuning frequency. I'd have to plug the numbers in again to be sure.

http://www.carstereo.com/help/Articles.cfm?id=31

I did all the calculations to get damn near exact internal volume for my box (woofer disp; brace surround subtraction, etc.) and went with a 2" port cut at 4" long...give or take an 1/8". It sounds amazing.

As for port noise, the back seats are folded up so there could be some but I don't hear it.

 

Awesome. In the end, so long as you're happy with it - that's all that matters!

Still looking for an update to the original thread to see the outcome of the dual 10TW3's....

 

Alright - I think I've got a plan here....
I have my whole system installed and my 12w6 sitting on the back seat. I found a shop about an hour from me that stocks the 10 and 12 TW3 loaded enclosures from JL and I'm think I'm going up to take a listen tomorrow morning. NOTHING better than a good A-B listening comparison! I'll take pics and report back my findings when I get the chance this weekend hopefully!

 

Holy crap. The 12TW3 is on another level. It deserves it's own thread. Will create one with pics when I get them uploaded. Quality, tight, accurate and plenty of SPL....

 

I got 2 10tw3 subs coming this week & will be in contact with Mr. Marv to figure a box design out. I picked them because I know the W3 line is a pretty nice sub for the money, but really wanted to try something different that everyone else didn't have.

I got all the components except the box and dynamat (or equivalent). I will be running the following components

Pioneer 8400 head unit
Image Dynamics Chamelon 6.5 front components
Image Dynamics CTX 6.5 rear speakers
2 JL 10TW3 subs
JL HD900/5

I figured it's a pretty basic system with higher end components should hopefully get me where I want to be with it. I was coming off being use to 2 12's in a camero (old Orion XTR subs) and my last trucks system was disappointing (4 cheap rockford 10's in a single cab chevy very underpowered off a JL 300/2). I'm hoping this time around the better choice of parts gets me in the right direction.

While I know the subs claim they can handle 400 watts RMS each (and I'm only going to give a pair 500) if you look at the charts JL provides they list 250 as a happy medium.

Plus I'd like to keep my child anchors intact. Another reason I wanted something that wasn't as big as the 13TW5. Cost was about the same for the 2 smaller 10's vs the one larger 13.

Keep the info coming. I'd like to see what kinda ideas/box designs people might lean towards using these subs.