I've got an IXL18.4 and I'm thinking about trying it in my car. I would only have 3 cubic feet of volume to work with and it would be running off of 750 watts (Audison LRx 5.1K).

How would that sound? Would it be peaky? Would I be able to blend it well enough to call it musical?

I appreciate all the input you can offer. I don't have a ton of spare time to experiment so if you don't think this will work well I'll probably just install the JL 12w6v2 that I was originally intending on using.

The sub shouldn't be peaky if you put it in a sealed box with polyfill. Ported on the other hand will peak around the tuning frequency you choose.

I guess what I'm wondering is how this particular speaker will react to being in a sealed enclosure that's about 65% of the recommended size. Will the install limitations keep me from taking advantage of the bigger speaker to the point where I would be better off to use the smaller speaker?

Help me choose.

Option 1: IXL 18.4 on 750 watts in 3 cubic feet (65% of recommended enclosure volume).

VS

Option 2: JL 12w6v2 on 1150 watts in 1.25 cubic feet (100% of recommended enclosure volume).

if your goal is to have great sound quality just use the 12w6v2. if you want more volume use the 18. also the w6 wont take 1150w

Edited November 20, 200816 yr by dbjunior

maybe>>> mj-18m >>> recommended box is 3.3 sealed...

why not get an IXL 15" and put it in that 3 cubes sealed?

From what I understand by the initial post, he already has the 18" IXL and wants to make it work, not buy a JL.

From what I understand by the initial post, he already has the 18" IXL and wants to make it work, not buy a JL.

I have both. I just thought it would be cool to try the IXL since it's a little more unique.

oh, right. He already has it. Well nvm then.

As I'm sure you've read, Mach5 recommends 4.6 cubes sealed for that 18. Even with polyfill a 3 cube enclosure won't react like a 4.6. If you have a lot of processing that could lower the peakiness of that smaller enclosure to bring it to the relatively low output lowend it might work. But....... I think the JLs would be better and much easier to implement.

3 cubes would be considered small, but as John mentioned, add stuffing - R12 fiberglass on all sides - and you may be Ok with it. I think you will be surprised by it...

Personally I think I would wait and give it the right enclosure elsewhere

Personally I think I would wait and give it the right enclosure elsewhere

Yeah use it for a Home Theater sub where its performance will really shine

However if you do decide to build it i dont think there will be a problem, WinISD models the IXL 18 as being optimal sealed at 100L (not sure why Mach 5 recomends more) and in a car probably not even noticeable... Sealed with lots of power will provide some serious output for sure :bigclap: But then again i'd use it in my house instead

I say give it a try. Worst case scenario, you're out $20 of MDF and some time, but will have a reusable enclosure in the future.

3cf + heavy acousta-stuff should get you the equivalent of about 4cf from what I recall. Though the Qtc will be a bit higher, I'm sure it'll be fine in car.