Jl 8w3

[AlexTheBum]

I have my mind set up on this i talked to a local shop and he is selling the sub for $100 brand new in box. Before i go pick it up is there anything that i need to know, replace wires, etc. (hi)

[pb4ugoout]

it probably isn't too necessary but when i replaced mine i pulled out the crappy 12g wire that is runnin the power to the amp and ran a new 4g just in case. more power is never a bad thing. not certain that it did anything but i'm pretty sure that it helps the amp out a little. that sub pulls more juice than the kenwood so a better power path can't hurt. anyways, it's easy to do and should only take about an hour and some dirty fingers. the power wire(yellow wire) connects directly to your battery via a fuse and then goes thru the firewall and down the side/floor of the car to the trunk. good luck. it's a great sub and the improvement is incredible

[mspdfreak]

It bolts right up in place of the stocker. BUT, your grille won't fit over it. Plus, some genius at the factory decided to use Loctite on the screws, so more than likely you'll have to drill them out. 1 1/2" wood screws will do the trick.
I simply unplugged the old sub, and plugged in the JL. I *think* you need to switch the amp to 4ohm. I've had mine for about 8 months, and I've had no amp overheating issues at all. Took ten minutes. And it's ten times better than the stocker. (I sold it for $30 bucks to a guy at work, so the JL really only set me back $50!)

[AlexTheBum]

Now im torn between the RF and JL i guess it all comes down to preference huh?

[mspdfreak]

Well, I'm probably biased, but I DO know you probably won't get a better thump from an 8" than the JL.

[pb4ugoout]

the rockford will give you more bass but the JL will give you cleaner better sounding bass. i would definately go with the JL

[mspdfreak]

Yeah, the RF is just too "boomy" for me. And, they don't seem to use the available power as effeciently. (according to the dealer i bought the jl from. He said he has installed both in 2 msp's and the JL was far superior, and they were comparable in price.)

[AlexTheBum]

got the RF stage 2 for 60 bucks, it was cheaper than the jl. The bass sounds damn good though.

[mspdfreak]

Really? My JL was only $80. But hey, they're both far better than stock!

[AlexTheBum]

I'm going to buy some better wires, a box and remount the amp today. it rattles too much and i can tell there is no airflow in that little thing. (poke)

[2K3 MSP]

So, is the JL 8w3 the best one to get from the JL line up? I want to get a new sub, and I'm thinking aboput sticking with the stock sub box/location.

[1sty]

So, is the JL 8w3 the best one to get from the JL line up? I want to get a new sub, and I'm thinking aboput sticking with the stock sub box/location.
I would say so if you are going to relocate the amp and use an 8W3v2D2 that will wire as a 4 ohm load to the amp in series.
The JL 8W0-4 is capable of handling the power but I would still reloacte the amp for thermal reasons. Otherwise, the 8W0-8 would be my choice if leaving the amp in place.

[2K3 MSP]

Will the stock amp run any of those or is a new amp necessary?

[1sty]

Will the stock amp run any of those or is a new amp necessary?My comment was ment to include the use of the factory amplifier. The factory amplifier puts out around 75 watts rms @ 8 ohms (the factory subs resitance aswell as the JL 8W0-8) and about 125 watts rms @ 4 ohm. The JL 8W0-4 or the 8W3v2D2 can both be connected to be 4 ohms. Even though the W0-4 is only rated at 75 watts rms, JL's rating are very conservative so it will have no problem handling the 125 watts from the factory amplifier.

[hayula]

while at itb(ifyou got 200 bux more) get JL TRs for your doors. I just did and what a difference they make.

[mspdfreak]

Will the stock amp run any of those or is a new amp necessary?I originally wanted the "D-2", but the audio guy said he had worked with these cars before, and the "0" would be better. He said the "D-2" would draw more power than the stock amp could efficiently produce, thus causing an overheating issue. I believe him, because the sub I came in for was about $60 more than the one he reccomended. So he actually convinced me to buy the cheaper JL. Good guy...Stereo One in Memphis.

[1sty]

while at itb(ifyou got 200 bux more) get JL TRs for your doors. I just did and what a difference they make.
In my opinion, the best speakers you can get for $200 anywhere.

[1sty]

I originally wanted the "D-2", but the audio guy said he had worked with these cars before, and the "0" would be better. He said the "D-2" would draw more power than the stock amp could efficiently produce, thus causing an overheating issue. I believe him, because the sub I came in for was about $60 more than the one he reccomended. So he actually convinced me to buy the cheaper JL. Good guy...Stereo One in Memphis.Well, he was lying.
ALthough he may have been dumbing it down to make things easier for you to understand.

The only way a sub can demand more power is from 2 things, its resistance and the gain setting of the amplifier. A JL 8W0-4 and a JL 8W3v2D2 (wired in series) will present the same resistance on the amp and hence demand the same power. It simple ohms law. The other thing he may have been thinking is that the W0 will obtain the volume a user is expecting with a lower gain setting and the with the W3 the user will try to turn up the amps gain past the point it should be and just cause distortion and eventualy subwoofer death.(dark)

Now, there is one other possibility and its an old salesmen trick. Its called sell what you got. The idea is that if he said the W3 was a good idea but didn't have on in the store, you would go to another store to get it. However, if he had a W0 and he could convince you that it was better, then you'd buy that from him.

[mspdfreak]

Oh, I've worked retail before. He had both, cause I looked at them both. I probably just explained what he said poorly. Basically, he said the "0" was just fine for the stock amp, and the "D-2" would be overkill.

[1sty]

Oh, I've worked retail before. He had both, cause I looked at them both. I probably just explained what he said poorly. Basically, he said the "0" was just fine for the stock amp, and the "D-2" would be overkill.
That goes back to assumption of gain setting or he was unfamiliar with the amplifer. The Kenwood amp can put out 125 watts rms at 4 ohms which is the W3's power rating. Even though JL underates there subs compared to most, the kenwood amp would allow one to reach X-Max. The W0 on the other hand is only rated for 75 watts rms. So you'll be overpowering the sub but thats not a bad thing as it allows you to keep the gain lower.

The reality is that it will work either way and most people won't hear the difference between them anyways.

[mspdfreak]

Well, anyhow...the one I got is very nice and is a big improvment over the Kenwood.

[1sty]

Well, anyhow...the one I got is very nice and is a big improvment over the Kenwood.
No doubt, either sub is great, especialy compared to the factory kenwood.
I'm not saying he did you a diservice, just that he wasn't totaly honest or possibly informed.

[mspdfreak]

It's all good.

[AlexTheBum]

One question 1sty : When the sub is hitting some lows it sounds great but when it tries to hit higher bass notes it sounds weird like as if there's no air flow or something. Should i get another box rather then our stock one? The reason im asking is because with the kenwood it didn't do that. what are my options?

[1sty]

Define higher bass notes?
As a sub woofer, the sub shouldn't be playting above 90hz at all. Although it can usualy be stretched to around 125 with an 8" sub.

Is the crossover on and if its adjustable, whats it set at?

The stock box isn't exactly great so a hand build sealed box cn be better but it might not make a difference based on what your looking for.

[AlexTheBum]

Define higher bass notes? Like on sublime music u know how the bass tones change up and down, on highs it sounds sort of distorted im guessing as compared to the lower tones it sounds nice and clean.As a sub woofer, the sub shouldn't be playting above 90hz at all. Although it can usualy be stretched to around 125 with an 8" sub.

Is the crossover on and if its adjustable, whats it set at?
I'm a n00b where is it located on the HU or amp?

The stock box isn't exactly great so a hand build sealed box cn be better but it might not make a difference based on what your looking for.

[1sty]

Dude, use the reply link :D

I'll look up the manual for the amps. Which do you have, 2 different ones came in the MSP?

In the mean time, what is the bass, LP crossover and the NF level of tyhe head unit set at?

[AlexTheBum]

http://www.justkenwood.co.uk/images/kac5201.jpg
this amp kac-5201

lp is set at 80hz and my nf is set at -11 :)

[mspdfreak]

Damn, -11? I'm surprised you hear any bass at all!

[AlexTheBum]

if i turn up the nf louder it makes a plop sound like if the box is too small or maybe i have the gain too low or high?

[1sty]

if i turn up the nf louder it makes a plop sound like if the box is too small or maybe i have the gain too low or high?He's right, thats why you have no bass, the NF level is way to low. Its likely that your amplifer gain and bass settings are too high.

OK, heres what you need to do.
TURN THE BASS LEVEL TO ZERO! :D
Turn the gain on the amplifier all the way down and then turn the NF level all the way up.

Put on some intense bass and gradualy turn up the gain on the amp until things start to distort. Back off it a little and your done.

The Bass level should never be raised. It will increase the bass artificialy to all speakers and really only adds distortion. The NF level is ment to be a dedicated subwoofer volume level and does not interact with the other speakers at all.

[mspdfreak]

Yep, you'll notice a VERY nice improvement after doing that.

[AlexTheBum]

He's right, thats why you have no bass, the NF level is way to low. Its likely that your amplifer gain and bass settings are too high.

OK, heres what you need to do.
TURN THE BASS LEVEL TO ZERO! :D
Turn the gain on the amplifier all the way down and then turn the NF level all the way up.

Put on some intense bass and gradualy turn up the gain on the amp until things start to distort. Back off it a little and your done.

The Bass level should never be raised. It will increase the bass artificialy to all speakers and really only adds distortion. The NF level is ment to be a dedicated subwoofer volume level and does not interact with the other speakers at all.


Thank you it fixed the problem dramatically, time to install my sirius back in the car :cool: