@@DIYAudioGuy Simple, build quality. I've seen too many DA subs come apart in my time, that's why I don't deal with them any more. I have observed, that when PE has a website refresh, certain negative reviews seem to disappear (cough) ... !!!! I love Dayton speakers and the 6.5" subs, and I currently use them (mids/tweeters) in my home audio set up, but the subs, I won't touch! There are far too many other brands in the game, to worry about the latest from DA/PE!
For the money Dayton Audio is one of the best period. To me, in the EXACT same order that you listed them in but obviously it depends on what each person wants. I finally picked up the DATS V3 speaker tester. Waiting for it to get to me. As always good job.
I run a Ultimax 10 in my Pontiac G8 powered by a Kicker Key500.1 with a custom box tuned to 29hz and it does great. Nothing crazy loud but blends well an does great on low notes for sure. Awesome review and comparison to other dayton drivers.
Impressive for sure. Of course, building a box for it is a good idea. In my opinion, a sealed and ported box. That way we can see the characteristics of the same sub in a different enclosure.
@@DIYAudioGuy maybe try various amounts of Polyfil in the sealed box to check the claims about stuffing boxes to make the driver think it's in a bigger enclosure?
Waiting for a video on their new Reference high excursion! Closely looking at getting the 10 and like that it is advertised as being for small enclosures (10” in 1.0 cu ft with 25mm xmax)
Dayton Audio is so underrated, and I like it that way; the less people know about this amazing company and their incredible products, the better. My car's audio system is all Dayton drivers, and it far outperforms any system it has been compared to. Systems costing hundreds (if not thousands) more don't come close. Lots of people get lost in big names, power numbers, and marketing... Yet some of the best sounding drivers are just a click away.
@@DIYAudioGuy I use dayton audio tweets in my 2021 toyota hybrid. I use the cerwin vega shallow sub in my spare tire well,no spare from factory! The hybrids are not the best for subs as you are recommended to stay under 30 amps!
Parts Express is always having a sale, and I have coupon codes on my blog. $15 off a $150 order. diysubwoofer.blogspot.com/2021/06/parts-express-coupons.html
I love those wire strippers btw, only had mine a few months but man they're nice. And due to your video I'm tempted on trying Dayton audio. The alpine R types have been my favorite sq sub so far but the B2 audios reference is on my radar next. But for the price Dayton sounds enticing
All good choices, you're not going to go wrong. Those exact wire strippers for one of the first real tools that I bought when I started getting into audio.
There is hope for humanity! :D The Ultimax is very good at shaking the house as he said with the 18 tuned to 15Hz...this ain't grandpa's Bose! The MX series looks good for the 15" for HT so it might move to my "suggested" sub for cars. ?!? Because it happens that the car audio nuts eventually get tired of giant subs and go with something more reasonable so the 15 would be great for HT so to not get rid of a good thing. Dayton is also coming out with a series called "HE" or high efficiency, thing much higher output with less power so good to say DA actually doing something. Good stuff.
i bought 4 of the 18" ultimax for my home theatre got the boxes home unpacked one and my wife came and asked if i was insane had to return 2 of them so sad
@@pappo666 Should have returned the wife. I was one of the very early buyers of the 18-22 and only bought 2. But my wife knows not to comment on my subwoofer buying addiction. As she know what will get returned.
I am in a serious internal conflict right now with what has happened to me with PE .. and UPS in this last month... I finally get up the funds to purchase a Tymphany STW-350, you know, the 7.4" voice coil monstrosity... Supposed 2 day shipping.... Check tracking 3 days later because I realized wtf, had lots of other stuff come in during that time from different places and couriers... But my sub... Nada... I talked to my regular driver, turns out he was on vacation at the time it was "delivered" and my god its been a nightmare. Both companies are playing pass the buck and I dont know what to do... Did PE send me a nothingburger? Or did UPS driver jack my 500$ sub?! What would you guys do??? BTW- Sweet vid DIYAG... You should build some reference boxes, one of each type for single sub benchmarking, have them be the "Gold Standard" by which you can compare similar subs like these, one sealed....Vented, 4th, and a 6th. and PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE DO AN 8th order video!!! ALSO ALSO andPLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE DO AN 8th order video!!! As well as maybe address the 170db 8in subwoofer and its box?? Ronnie Smith's Sniper box
Oh man, that's rough! Sorry to hear about your shipping problems. Typically companies don't point to blame at each other like that, but when they do you get caught in the middle.
I had my eyes between the Dayton Audio Ultimax or the Stereo Integrity 18”. Both have a really low FS. I prefer a neo subwoofer to cut down on weight in my vehicle but they are too damn expensive.
Quick question. I've been deep into car audio for years. I got a CT Sounds Bio 12 (300 watts rms) in my older 90s sony powered sub box (for home theatre @ about 125 watts rms). I've seen alot of people using poly fill inside the box. Does that help in some way?
Aloha. Im looking for a sub for my 64 falcon. I have a JL 700/5v2 and i can run 300w@2ohm. Is this enough for this sub? I dont need to boom the world i just want to round out the Kicker KSs. I'm more about a tight bass for rock and some old school country.
@@DIYAudioGuy i happened upon a harman kardon citation 12 in slight disrepair, what would be a good match for a preamp ( fixed gain pains) and speakers is it best going to perform with it loves my p1 fosgates at 2 ohm but i wanna be nice to it not abuse it 🤔
What is your opinion on the max-x vs the reference? You mention both and build a box for the max-x but don’t really touch on how they actually sound. I’ve been looking at the two and there isn’t a lot of reviews out there for car applications. I know there is only a $50 difference between the two but some of us are balling on a budget. Haha. But honestly, I think we all value your opinion. That’s why we watch your videos. I appreciate you and your videos.
@@DIYAudioGuy Thank you for the reply! I currently have a Kicker Key 500.1 amplifier. So the subwoofer bridged would be 1 ohm I should be putting out 500 watts from my amp on paper. I don’t know if either one will perform better than the other with only 500 watts. I have a sealed enclosure that I would probably end up using that is 1.3-1.4sq ft. I have a ported enclosure but it’s way too big for my trunk to be practical. Haha. Right now with a coupon they sent me they would roughly be $60-70 difference in price. So I would be more than happy to pay that if it’s worth it. I also don’t want to over/under power one of them. I really do appreciate the fast responses and feedback that you give. You rock.
The Max-X seems like the Ultimax, but more for compact enclosures or car audio. The Ultimax line straight up needs some huge boxes and don't like being in compact boxes.
When cranking up 2 ultimax 18 inch subwoofers inside your house does putting non see through curtains on your windows prevent your neighbors from looking at you through their windows and reduce your chances of getting your self into trouble for making your neighbors mad
@@BabyCharlotteschannel I went to slamology this year, an Dayton Audio has a yard sale? As well do u guys think they throw stuff away? I bet the dumpster is locked
@@EarthPoweredHippie LoL, I know it's hard to read the tone or way things are being said reading online but seriously!? it was a joke.. I'd say most of US here are here to learn more about something we really enjoy and to have fun.. **BTW, I can guarantee that I could find some killer deals on used stuff, demo stuff, and open box stuff etc etc..
@@DIYAudioGuy coils are generally available for most but these are a bit off from the standard sizes available. partsexpress used to repair speakers too would be nice if they did still especially their own.
Great channel man, I've learned so much from you. But I have to say it would also be lovely if you got yourself some no copyright music. I'll be honest, I sometimes forget you don't play sound and I feel so disappointed
I have been trying to work on that. I spend a few hours a week browsing the RU-vid music library looking for good demo songs. My last subwoofer review for example: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CnfS9bltCz4.html
@@DIYAudioGuy If you look at the basket it has a place for another set of terminals. I'm thinking about getting 1, if were in a dual 2 or even D4 I'd have one already 😁
Is the plan to drop this subwoofer into the existing enclosure? If so then just verify that it will fit into the opening. The original driver is probably a four ohm driver. You'll need to verify that first. You can wire this one in series to get a 4 ohm load. There's no way to predict how it's going to sound unless you can measure the internal airspace of the box and estimate the port tuning. That can all be done with a tape measure and a little bit of math.
Do you think the prefab down 4 sound sub box you reviewed in a previous video would be a good fit for one of these max x’s? You had said it was the best pre fab boxes you had ever seen. The specs seem pretty close. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated.
@@DIYAudioGuy My mistake. I thought this enclosure was the same as the one your video. Sorry. Do you think it would be ok. The description is pretty vague. I saw the lcs and the e12 both came in the same box. :/ So I thought it was the same as the one in your video.
You describe the benefits of Reference and UltraMax drivers in detail. However, only mentioned Max-X good for small enclosures, Is that all it's good for?
Lower price. I have built an enclosure for it and have been pounding on it for a few weeks. I am giving it a little over rated power and it can take the extra juice, no problem. I am enjoying it quite a bit. The surround design gives it more cone area than the other subs, and it has great X-max -- more on that when i get the video posted.
It's just a soggy 12-spoke old-school small motor 18 it can dig low because of its soggy britches and you can probably make one yourself out of used speaker parts it would probably cost me 20$ for the use basket 20 to 30$ for the motor. Used then soft parts which it has small spiders and you don't need 4 on there so that helps keep cost low . give it a shot making subs is hella fun
@@jayden974 it loves the lows "soggy" means soft suspension which means it will have a low FS which means it will most likely like the lows more / Tech... Not sure where you were going with your reply?
@@jayden974 there's absolutely nothing special about any of the parts it's made with so finding all the needed parts to make one of equal performance if not better and for the same or less $
@@jayden974 well for 1 "better" is subjected to the person. 2 people take the path of least resistance especially in America we're so lazy we much rather pay somebody for something as opposed to enjoying and learning how to build something. And #3 It's much easier to sell a product that works pretty good in multiple applications than it is to sell a product that works extremely well in one specific application and generic speakers that work pretty good in multiple different applications will always outsell drivers make for very unique applications. And I'm sorry but every single part that subwoofers made with are very very normal everyday Parts in fact most of those parts have been around for longer than some of the most popular Parts in car audio so there's not exactly new technology being implemented in fact it's more like a classic car if you were to look at it from the car audio standpoint. The frame itself is kind of like a Ford Model T in the car audio world. But i had a pare of 18's that had the same baskets and they were great subs i enjoyed them but like I said they work in multiple different applications and I eventually replaced mine for baskets that have much deeper spider Landing and wider spider Landing because the 12 spoke basket limits the driver to having a 8 or 8 and 3/4 inch spider and a xmech of about 33mm one way and that limited me for the application I was putting them in (playing 17 to 24hz at full tilt) it's not that they couldn't play the frequencies that they did not produce enough output it said low frequencies do to what's mentioned above. So I changed it up and have baskets that are made for 10" spiders and a xmech of about 55/60mm one way xmech so that I can move much much more air on those lower frequencies. But like I said driver specific application because what I sacrificed was some efficiency and box size but nothing perfect.
I'm assuming you're talking about the ultimax? I would follow the recommendation on the Parts Express website. They have a recommended tuning for infra-sonic low frequency effects.
@@DIYAudioGuy may i ask sir? What hz tuning box that the bass feels like crawling under the ground? Is it 35-38hz? Or 40hz or 42hz? Or what esle? Just for the box tuning hz
Hi my name is chico i bought a klipsch 2.1 system.i replaced the sub with a dayton dcs6.5 woofer ..my demensions are h9.5 W10.8 lenght 9.8 .my port hole cutout is 2 1/2 inches ..it seems to make alot of unrelenting buffering noise ..please help
@@DIYAudioGuy thanks I missed that I thought it seem to small not even a shallow sub would go in a box that small will you be build a box on your videos for this?
@@MyBlowncobra I have a pair of the E-12 V4 D4'a and have been playing around with them for a few weeks. Very nice mid-level subs. I grabbed them from the Sundown Yard sale page for $89 a piece shipped.
5:58 "𝘛𝘶𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 15 𝘏𝘻" Do people actually tune enclosures below 20Hz? Sounds like a lot of fun but other than that, is there really any sonic joy below 20? I've gone down to 33Hz tuning and by golly those subs will physically mess with your internal organs. Jumping Jehova's what does a 15 Hz box feel/sound like? Great review and to the point, cheers.
Parts Express does recommend a home theater tuning for the ultimax with an f3 of 18 Hertz--I probably should have said f3 instead of tuning frequency, that's a big difference.
I have a 33CF box with 2 Ultimax 18-22s tuned to 20hz. They really don't get that loud. But they do dig very low without much effort. Great if you like low end extension. I can tell from your comment you have never experienced an old school ground pounder car audio system. 150+dB below 35Hz. That will steal the air right out of your lungs, good times.
I've been running 8 of the 18" Reference HO drivers sealed in 2 cabinets (4 per cab.) in my home theater for years now. Running 10K watts total to the subs using a Linkwitz transform circuit to extend the low frequency response. Very clean and reliable drivers.
The specs are a little bit confusing. They list the 11 mm of X-Max in the official specifications, but in the product description they state that the X-Max is closer to 17 mm and that they verified it with a klippel.
