Hey guys! got a bit of a scenario I'm hoping you can help me with. In about august every year we have a local competition that we compete in and every year we've won our class. Typically every year i buy a new sub and try to beat our old score and so on and so on. Last year I used an 18" BL with D1 coils. I ran it off my JBL BP amp and things weren't to bad. Recently though i've acquired a Sundown and am very happy to be using it to its full potential. Problem #1, the BP puts out max power @ 2 ohms and the sundown puts it out @ 1 ohms and my BL is either a .5 ohm or 2 ohm subwoofer. (its not universal)

This got me thinking though and this is where I am hoping to get some input!

I've been very interested in the nightshade for both a daily driver and a suitable SPL driver that fits my 1500D perfectly.

For the SPL competition alone (2 runs of 30 seconds a piece), what sub would be more suitable?

A 15" Nightshade being run off the Sundown 1500D @ 1 ohm

An 18" Loaded BL being run off the JBL BP 1200.1 being given around 1200 watts OR the sundown being run @ .5 ohms

The whole running the sundown @ .5 ohm is one idea I toyed with for the competition seeing as itd be maybe 5 minutes of playing time maximum off of two batteries and a good size alternator. I don't think there'd be that much reason for concern with it.

Installation: The vehicle used would be big enough to give both subs optimal space required and things like that. mainly its the difference of subs and which would get louder in your opinion based off the equipment i have.

There is a good chance your impedance rise will not endanger the amplifier at loads below 1ohm.

hmm....

so I guess that would narrow the ideas down to this then:

18" BL running @ .5 ohms off of the 1500D

vs.

15" Nightshade running @ 1 ohm off the 1500D

I realize the BL both wins in size, effeciency, power, etc, but i've seen some pretty amazing number from the nightshade so I am not quite sure yet.

Also...another idea I was toying with, maybe a better idea for the nightshade would be:

Dual 1 ohm 15" Nightshade. Run it @ .5 ohms for a competition and then I could run it @ 2 ohms for a daily driving system . I saw some people running them sealed even and 1000 watts would be plenty of power still for my needs.

So I guess in conclusion:

18" BL running @ .5 ohms off of the 1500D

vs.

15" Nightshade running @ 1 ohm off the 1500D

vs.

15" Nightshade running @ .5ohm off 1500D

For a burp, the Bl will be louder. It has more cone area and efficiency.

hmm...so maybe keep the BL and run it off .5 ohms and that should be about the best set-up I can do other then buying like a BTL or something along those lines?

you can also change the box up to get some more efficiency. What's it tuned at now?

well currently we're still debating about what car it will be used in as we have had a few switches in the past months.

the last cars resonance freq. was about 41 Hz and we had guessed more in the 47's and we were way off haha

so we haven't had any box designs yet or anything drawn up until we figure out what car we'll be using and the size we can fit in it.

My daily driver box is tuned o about 35Hz i believe for it though in a...5.5 cu ft box or so

off 1500wrms, the BL will be a better driver then the BTL, so don't bother. also, the 18" BL should more then own a 15" nightshade, all other things being equal. if you get an 18" Nightshade, then???

anyway, with what you have presented, the 18" bl @ .5 on the sundown will be your best bet, providing you can provide the needed enclosure for it.

wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

off 1500wrms, the BL will be a better driver then the BTL, so don't bother. also, the 18" BL should more then own a 15" nightshade, all other things being equal. if you get an 18" Nightshade, then???

anyway, with what you have presented, the 18" bl @ .5 on the sundown will be your best bet, providing you can provide the needed enclosure for it.

wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Thats almost to much power for the BL.

Make sure to be careful.

my bad, i thought the bl was rated for 1500. i was wrong.

don't listen to me then, lol.

wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee