Ive come down to 2 options, the bl 18" or the hdc3 18". This will be going into a 5^ ported box powered by a SAz 1500. Im looking to get very loud and hit hard when i listen to rap but still sound pretty good when i want to listen to anything else.... i mostly listen to rap though. I want the woofer to get real low but still be able to hit the highs very nicely which comes to my main concern with the hdc3 not getting low enough. Thanks for the help in advance!

If you want something that doesn't sound like crap, get the BL. Both subs are loud, but the BL will sound better and hold up better daily. This has been my personal experience with both subs.

If you want something that doesn't sound like crap, get the BL. Both subs are loud, but the BL will sound better and hold up better daily. This has been my personal experience with both subs.

Thanks. Yeah i was leaning towards the bl exactly because of that.

Ive come down to 2 options, the bl 18" or the hdc3 18". This will be going into a 5^ ported box powered by a SAz 1500. Im looking to get very loud and hit hard when i listen to rap but still sound pretty good when i want to listen to anything else.... i mostly listen to rap though. I want the woofer to get real low but still be able to hit the highs very nicely which comes to my main concern with the hdc3 not getting low enough. Thanks for the help in advance!

Subwoofers are mean't to play high frequencies.

The hdc3 tends to like higher tuned boxes in like the 37-40 hz range

The hdc3 tends to like higher tuned boxes in like the 37-40 hz range

But then it doesnt get low...

subwoofers are mean't to play high frequencies.

It's sad that i can't prove it yet because i am still waiting on my other amp plus i have to purchase a new video camera too but if the 18 doesn't get low, then AQ would have never even thought about producing it!

I own 2 of the HDC3 12s and as of right now both 12s are only wired to 1 AQ2200d @2ohms with a 1300w rating.

Can they get low? hehe, that's an understatement. My box is tuned to peak at 34hz and i have the subsonic set at 28hz for the time being until the other AQ2200d comes in and i can strap them together.

The specs on the site were taken as FRESH, not broken in. When they are broken in , they will drop approx 8hz on the Fs spec.

The funny thing is, i started playin em on this one amp at 1300w and they handle the lows perfectly.

They want you to tune high because they have been specifically designed to excel in the lows and the higher notes (40-60hz) quite nicely.

Tuning as high as 38hz can still get you decent lows down to 30hz. If you are a lowend fiend, then tuning to 35hz will allow it to drop down to the mid to high 20s with ease.

They have a very, very, very stiff spider and a 3" mechanical peak to peak excursion rating.

I am going to be running an AQ2200d on each of mine.

for a 1500w for 1 18, it will get loud for sure but you will not get it to it's max potential unless you keep the amp in a moderate clipping area which isn't recommended really.

For the amp you have, i vote whichever is cheaper but if price is no object, i think the BL will reach it's max potential which should get you louder.

Now, if u had 2k-3krms non clipped power, i vote HDC3 all day.

The sound of the sub is install dependent as well. I let a local member on this forum, phi, demo my setup with only 1300w in it right now and we both are amazed at the transient response of the setup.

Although, it has a lot to do with the sound deadening, the box design i built and position\tuning but it is not mudding sounding at all and drops low to an unexpected level. The funny thing is, i only have my 12s in 2cuft each after displacement, common chamber. I was afraid i may not have enough space but apparently i was wrong which is good.

I also own their previous HD3 line, i have 2 of those 15s and they got insanely loud. Off of a metered power output of 667w got me a 144.3db on an AC mic @31hz in a crown vic with a walled trunk. That was with 1 15!

Pretty damn good for resistive air flow and @31hz. Their subs are no joke, heavy duty ass subwoofers.

I weighed everything i ordered for my setup and each of their 12s weigh in at 46.5 lbs! Pretty heavy for a VERY underrated 1kwrms rated driver.

hehe, i knew you were chime in on this.

It's sad that i can't prove it yet because i am still waiting on my other amp plus i have to purchase a new video camera too but if the 18 doesn't get low, then AQ would have never even thought about producing it!

I own 2 of the HDC3 12s and as of right now both 12s are only wired to 1 AQ2200d @2ohms with a 1300w rating.

Can they get low? hehe, that's an understatement. My box is tuned to peak at 34hz and i have the subsonic set at 28hz for the time being until the other AQ2200d comes in and i can strap them together.

The specs on the site were taken as FRESH, not broken in. When they are broken in , they will drop approx 8hz on the Fs spec.

The funny thing is, i started playin em on this one amp at 1300w and they handle the lows perfectly.

They want you to tune high because they have been specifically designed to excel in the lows and the higher notes (40-60hz) quite nicely.

Tuning as high as 38hz can still get you decent lows down to 30hz. If you are a lowend fiend, then tuning to 35hz will allow it to drop down to the mid to high 20s with ease.

They have a very, very, very stiff spider and a 3" mechanical peak to peak excursion rating.

I am going to be running an AQ2200d on each of mine.

for a 1500w for 1 18, it will get loud for sure but you will not get it to it's max potential unless you keep the amp in a moderate clipping area which isn't recommended really.

For the amp you have, i vote whichever is cheaper but if price is no object, i think the BL will reach it's max potential which should get you louder.

Now, if u had 2k-3krms non clipped power, i vote HDC3 all day.

The sound of the sub is install dependent as well. I let a local member on this forum, phi, demo my setup with only 1300w in it right now and we both are amazed at the transient response of the setup.

Although, it has a lot to do with the sound deadening, the box design i built and position\tuning but it is not mudding sounding at all and drops low to an unexpected level. The funny thing is, i only have my 12s in 2cuft each after displacement, common chamber. I was afraid i may not have enough space but apparently i was wrong which is good.

I also own their previous HD3 line, i have 2 of those 15s and they got insanely loud. Off of a metered power output of 667w got me a 144.3db on an AC mic @31hz in a crown vic with a walled trunk. That was with 1 15!

Pretty damn good for resistive air flow and @31hz. Their subs are no joke, heavy duty ass subwoofers.

I weighed everything i ordered for my setup and each of their 12s weigh in at 46.5 lbs! Pretty heavy for a VERY underrated 1kwrms rated driver.

Wow!!! thanks that helps alot

I have seen what the BL can do, but have not seen the HDC3.

I have my bl10 in 1.1-1.2@33hz or so on a jl 1000/1 and it gets impressively loud for a 10. Louder than the two 12'' kappa perfects I had sealed. It is obviously great for rap but it is acceptable for other genres as well. When I listen to Pink Floyd or Tom Petty or anything other than rap I just turn the subwoofer control on my headunit down so it blends better. I would highly recommend it for what you are looking for. I can't comment on the HDC3 because I haven't heard one, but the bl is a great daily pounding woofer.

i have owned a 15'' FI BL fully loaded for daily and loved it .. it was brutal took lots of power over a long period of time to just make it really loose... the HDC3 can get low one guy on our team is doing about 150 with two HDC3s at 30hz.. however it has been our discovery from recent run ins with the 10'' and 12'' HDC3 that they are not durable for daily.. the joint where the suspension meets the cone breaks after long periods of playing it just fatigues and gives out due to use of cheap suspension parts.. they are loud but not durable... personally and from experience FI makes a much more reliable / more durable woofer that sill gets very loud..i broke 145 in the trunk of a mazda 3 with a SAZ1500 on my 15'' Bl ...

i have owned a 15'' FI BL fully loaded for daily and loved it .. it was brutal took lots of power over a long period of time to just make it really loose... the HDC3 can get low one guy on our team is doing about 150 with two HDC3s at 30hz.. however it has been our discovery from recent run ins with the 10'' and 12'' HDC3 that they are not durable for daily.. the joint where the suspension meets the cone breaks after long periods of playing it just fatigues and gives out due to use of cheap suspension parts.. they are loud but not durable... personally and from experience FI makes a much more reliable / more durable woofer that sill gets very loud..i broke 145 in the trunk of a mazda 3 with a SAZ1500 on my 15'' Bl ...

Wow very nice! what was your electrical like? And what was your box tuned too/note played?

Edited June 26, 200817 yr by helotr3vor

what kind of power were u running and for how long?

Whenever i get this messed straightened out, i'm running an aq2200d per 12