Kicker L7 vs. JLw7

[00kickercivic]

Wonderin what your guys opinions are on these two subs. I have had the solos and they were good but from the small amout of time i have listened to the jl's they sound cleaner. Im thinkin of goin with the w7 on my next install. What are all of your opinions?

[steve98ex]

if you have the power to run a w7 get it :)

[Bizzar]

Box design plays a big part of "clean" sound. I have heard the JL's and to me they sound somewhat muddy and too bassy. I went with a Kicker 12 L7 and with a good sized SEALED enclosure they are very tight and crisp. They also have no problem hitting the low ranges.

[zrowcool]

yea box plays a huge role in how crisp it sounds. personally i would go for the w7 if i had to choose between the two.

[00kickercivic]

i had two l7's in a box with a port on the side... and it did hit the lows well... but i think the bass definately could have been tighter.

[Levi]

I have a kicker L7 in my accord and the thing fucking pounds. I am pushing it with a jl 500/1 amp and it is a lot of bass. it is in a ported enclosure.

if you have the power to run the w7, I say go for it. I have heard quite a few of the w7s and they also fucking pound with the right amp and box set up.

[00kickercivic]

^^ i had 2 500/1's on my 2 L7's ... im thinkin of just havin the JL 1000/1 with a 13.5" w7

[ic3tray]

Kicker > JL


just my .02

[Levi]

^^ i had 2 500/1's on my 2 L7's ... im thinkin of just havin the JL 1000/1 with a 13.5" w7


that would fucking pound hard!

[steve98ex]

^^ i had 2 500/1's on my 2 L7's ... im thinkin of just havin the JL 1000/1 with a 13.5" w7

i knew a guy with a 12w7 didn't start sounding good until he had 2000+ watts going to it

[Levi]

I was actually thinking about possibly putting a 10w7 in my hatch someday with a 500/1 going to it. I rather spend my money elsewhere at this point though *cough fully built sleeved motor cough*

you can not go wrong with either in my opinion.

[steve98ex]

w6v2 maybe, thats not enough power for a w7

[Bizzar]

BTW if you get a Kicker L7 I have the perfect amp for it. (I have 2 one I'm using). Its a Autotek 750.1 (750 watts RMS x 1 at 2 ohm). I'd let it go for 230 shipped. Nearly brand hardly even used. http://www.carreview.com/Amplifiers/Autotek/PRD_31121_1806crx.aspx

[gutman]

Everybody i have talked to has recommended JL but nobody has ever said that Kicker was bad either, so it is really up to you but my vote has to go to JL. I've heard too many good things about them to not give them my vote.

[Fooshitinkinjssomethingorother]

L7 = SPL

W7 = SQ/SPL

Really depends on what kind of sound you're looking for.

[MLD211]

I have installed many W7 while working for tweeter. The problem with the sub, according to the JL rep, is that the sub was designed so perfect it brings out imperfections in your amp. So if your going to use the W7 also get a JL 1000/1 any less than this youll be dissapointed. Even then you need the perfect box to get the sub to sound good and its not going to be that great. If your looking for SPL this is the was to go but if you want you system to sound good and hit high SPL I would go with the L7. The last DB drag at my shop we on of the employees hit 153db with the one W7 and the 1000/1.

[00kickercivic]

^^^ that was the setup i was planning... i loved my old JL amps.

[flatfourfan]

Kicker L7's blow.................it's all hype...........

[SilentWrath*]

friend had 2 kicker l7 12s the old models (black cone) with 2 memphis 1100 watt amps and hit 157.9db outlaw in a 93 accord sedan, those things were loud as fuck

w7s are alright but not worth the money, IMO the alpine type x outshines it on all levels and if was gonna drop loot on a system itd be with the type x's

[flatfourfan]

yeah but that's outlaw.............it's like, the rules are.........there are no rules.........

kidding L7's aren't that bad, but there are way better subs for less coin than them.

W7 is nice..............but damn pricey.

[lilred]

like everyone says, it really depends on what you want, sql or spl or combo .......... id vote for w7 cuz even if you called all things even between the kicker and jl, my money is on the jl to last twice as long as the kicker ....... just something to think about ..... but its what you want, just make sure your amp is a decent quality amp, and you build or have someone build a box with extra support and maybe get thicker than 3/4 wood .......... and i hope youve got sound dampening =) ............ either way it hit hard

[Fooshitinkinjssomethingorother]

I have installed many W7 while working for tweeter. The problem with the sub, according to the JL rep, is that the sub was designed so perfect it brings out imperfections in your amp. So if your going to use the W7 also get a JL 1000/1 any less than this youll be dissapointed.

Or a zapco, or mcintosh, or denon 8)

[00kickercivic]

mmmm zapco and mcintosh

[meangreen]

for my 2 cents if you have the money for a w7 dont do it. the box will be too big and it will weigh the car down. get an eclipse titanium. .8cf box. trust me i had both L7 and W7, the both of them are very loud, but the eclipse is just so clean and low in a small box.

[icE_x]

what site can u lookup info on eclipse titaniums?

[00kickercivic]

http://www.eclipse-web.com.au/

[LI_Hatch]

id have to go with the L7s... the JLs need an amp that can just handle its power.. the L7s, if put in a sealed box built to specs, is probably one of the cleanest hitting subs ever

[jdmism]

w7 by far over the kicker OVERALL!!
there are many things to consider
but overall, you get what you pay for.
the w7 outshines the kicker in every department
EXCEPT price.
I've personally had both and finally decided after
over 20 yrs experience....and ALWAYS JLaudio.
From a single 10 to six 10w6's in a 94 civic ex and more!!
if you are weighing all aspects of a sound system.
and want a good power to weight ratio "performance"
figured in then here is my suggestion.
JL8w7 pushed by a 500/1
and make sure you have the appropriate x-over to
tune it.
Tuning and power is the key!!
JLaudio as a manufacturer has ALWAYS under-rated its stuff.
the suggested rms power for an 8w7 is in the 250w range.
I have personally pushed them and tried my hardest
to abuse them(on purpose!!).
I barely blew one of my 8w7's with a JL1000/1 on it!
I was so surprised that it handled as well as it did
for as long as it did......

My most recent setup was a 8w7 with a tuned and ported box.
Pushed by my JL500/1. It held its own against many a set up of
dual 10's and 12's. It even went up against a single 15' and peeps
were just simply amazed.
At low volume you get the perfect balanceof SQL and SPL.
At louder volumes it pushes just enough to turn heads.

A lot of times peeps go with the manufacturers suggestions and are so
disappointed with the results not realizing that the sub will hold so much more power.
Also remember a brand new JLw7 sub has to be "broken" in like a fresh motor swap!!
It'll sound like crap for the first few hours of play and actually sound like it's blown!!
After about a week of play it'll be ready for the POWAH!!
(I speak from experience......)

Not knockin' the kicker, just saying the JL shines it for OVERALL performance
value. hope this helps.........
JDMism

[00kickercivic]

^^^ yea thats what i am goin with... and you are right about then underrating... that 500/1 is actually upwards of like 700w ... i used to have two of em :)

Im thinkin a 13.5" and some sorta amp to push it... maybe just a 12" though

[jdmism]

BEWARE!!

if you go with the 13w7, it needs an @$$ load of power to push it!! a JL1000/1 isn't enough at all.

You might wanna go with the old school zapco comp series from the early 90's
or the art series from PPI like the A1200 would be nice too.

good luck,
JDMism
p.s. if time is on your side and you're not in a rush. I can get any JL stuff from a "friend" that is totally LEGIT. Just have to be patient on the order and shipping as in a month to two months. If you call me we can talk super cheap prices.......

[00kickercivic]

^^ yea i asked you about it before... but im goin slow on it... been doin some performance shit right now :) I'll definately hit you up when it is time cause im goin w7 fo sho!

[ABTsportsline]

i had two l7's in a box with a port on the side... and it did hit the lows well... but i think the bass definately could have been tighter.
if you want "tight" bass you go with a sealed enclosure. Ported will yield you more SPL, but not as "quality".

JL became famous because they perfected blending tight with ported enclosures... the stealthboxes, powerwedges, and microsubs are what made them famous... They yield the perfect combination of tight bass and sheer SPL.

If you will be competing in a dB drag, i wouldn't recommend JL... but for everyday use, i would chose them in a landslide.

[jhovtec]

I would agree, JL audio is the way to go. I have a 10W7 in a port slotted box and a 500/1, and the 10W7 wants more power. I'd say go with a 10W7 and get a 1000/1 to push it, but tune it properly.

[RJwaggs]

First, you have to look at the price of the W7, there are several other companies that make products that will hang witht he W7 for a fraction of the cost, in the other threads I have posted in I mentioned those names, if your interested in the particular products, tell me and Ill get specific.

Also, the guy that hit 153.9 with a single w7 and 1000/1, was that with the new termlab and where was the mic? I highly doubt he hit that on the new mic legally at the dash.

Eclipse Titaniums will run you an arm and a leg from Eclipse. Look on some of the car audio forums or ebay for good deals on them, or talk to me for mine, but from the other thread I know you dont fancy 15" drivers. Itis true though they wang GREAT in small enclosures, and although many people may say they are innefficient, I am runnign mine in-home with only 90w and it pounds decently.

[Fooshitinkinjssomethingorother]

Holy zombie thread batman!

[RJwaggs]

wow, sorry. I didnt notice the thread was old. I'm used to theother audio forums I'm on and the other sections of d-series.org and honda-tech, apperantly, they are a lot faster paced then this section ;)

[k1dfreeze]

too lazy to read what everyone else posted so this might be redundent...i say if you want very clean very nice bass then go with w7, but on the downside of that sub is the amount of power needed to run that thing, also its not very good as a daily sub...if youre in your car bumpin music all day everyday then i would go with the barics...

[RJwaggs]

the W7 is actually a DD sub, why would it not be? The only downside to it is the MSRP.......

[k1dfreeze]

my friend was running 2 13" w7's and they were cool when were just kicking it, but it was like too much to just goto school and work with

[RJwaggs]

did you tell him to turn down the gain and the bass boost which induces severe clipping and causes THD lvls to hit the fan?

[k1dfreeze]

yeah, he knows hella shiet about audio, he worked at 1 of the top audio stores in nor cal for like 2 years, i just think he was bigheaded and cokcy cus had 2 13"s