Pioneer TSW 34C / TSSW251 Help

[omalak]

Hey guys,

Need some help here. I have been fortunate enough to recieve 3 subwoofers for free!

2 are brand new, and 1 was open box (more on this later)

I'm not a big audio guy so i'm looking for opinions on these subs.

I have 2 TSW34C both are brand new, they are 12 inch subs, rated at 500wat max and it says nominal 150watt.


The other sub, which seems like a more expensive sub is the TSSW251, rated at 800 watts max, and nominal of 200 watts. This is a 10 inch sub Shallow mount

all subs are 4 ohm.

So here are the questions

1. Should run the 2 x 12 subs or the 1 x shallow 10
2., What would be the pro/cons of running 2x12 or 1x10
3. Is there a way i can test to ensure the open box sub actually works to factory specs? it looks physically fine, but i cant be sure of the internals.

4. I currenty have Alpine MRPF600 and alpine spr 6.5 Components, and XPR Coax in my car connected to a Kenwood DNX9140, from the above subs what would be a better match for my existing system.

5. Any ideas on what type of amp i should run for any of the options mentioned above?

Thanks :)

[sas]

TSW34C (Fs-27Hz , vas-3cuf, qts-0.646)is perfect sub, but for free air installation.
TS SW251 is not so perfect it has the qts a bit higher then 1, it means that sub will be
most effective in narrow range at it’s resonant frequency (47Hz).
In closed box 20-28liters SW251 will be better,maybe even near to ideal,.
TSW34C in closed box would be much louder but at 70 hertz.
Someone even had built it :
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/413567/1998-honda-accord/page-3 (http://www.cardomain.com/ride/413567/1998-honda-accord/page-3)
But I repeat, from SQ viewpoint SW251 should be sounding better.
200watt RMS isn’t to much for 110watt alpines but 40 and 30 hertz will be risen approximately on 6db . Your sound will be definitely improved.

I have to edit my post. I recalculated the gains you could have at 30 and 40hertz. It's 3-4 db. Not very much. For components you already have and almost any “effective” subwoofer a 500-700 watt amplifier will be sufficient. Since time you can just install another driver.And there is no way to get something better with TSW34C in closed box.

[sas]

I don’t see any your activity on this forum.
There are less expensive variants. Vented and horn subwoofer will be hard to build properly and they have their own minuses, but 12`` sealed subwoofer with 300 -400 watt amplifier would give you a balanced sound. These w34c ,index C means closed, but actually they are pure 100 watt free-air subs, in closed box they will demand no less then 60 liters per speaker to give a something similar to sub-bass. You should agree, it’s ridiculous two cubic feet for 150 watts. In addition, you should to suppress this sub by 40Hz low pass filter.
You can build a closed box (1cuf) for sw251 and set the gain for components lower, to have approximately 80 watt per door. You need in 200 watt amplifier, but better to buy a 350-500 watts amp, because I think you will upgrade the sub very soon . To have a ,fashionable in auto world, tight and strong bass , especially with 10``sub , you need in 450-600 watts. Possible 700 watts is overkill because a part of component’s power is dissipated by crossovers.

[omalak]

Simple question then, should i just sell the subs and invest in an amp and some good subs lol.

Im not even sure what these subs are worth

[sas]

It’s your wallet and your ears, I can’t recommend something here.
I think the nearest similar speakers to SW34c are W304 and W301R 45-50$.
The W251 somewhere in this price area too.
You have installed components and amplifier ,I wonder that you don’t have a subwoofer.
There is pretty big number of different drivers.
Look at Thiele-Small characteristics . Fs and Vas – should be as low as possible, qts - in area 0.45 -0.8.
Often we pay for brand than for real characteristics.
First, cheap , what I can see on sonicelectronics.com: Pioneer TS-308D4 and MTX TR5512, both will work fine in 1.5 cuf box at 400watt. Just maybe MTX is more appropriate for electronic music like trance or beat.
Alpine R series, have a big xmax parameter you will be insured from bottoming with them.
Alpine SWR1023 or SWR1043 in 0.8-1.0 cuf. box powered by 600 watt will be not so loud at “night club” frequencies 40-50 hertz but also could give you a deep bass.
SWR 1223 or 1243 , 600 watt in 1.2 cuf. box will be sounding very well.