Audiobahn ALUM-12

Price Paid:  $130.00 from EBAY

Year / Model Reviewed:
2000 Audiobahn Alum12

Summary:
I earlier left a review saying that this sub was a power hungry monster and that it wasn't really all the hard hitting with even it's rated maximum power. I'd have to correct myself. I've done a lot of experimenting with it, and learned a lot more about box building(vent tuning was easy, but for the longest time I didn't understand nuetralizing air speeds). Since then I've grown to absolutely love this sub. It is still housed in it's original 1.6 cuft. net box but with 31HZ tuning from 10SQ inches of port(11inch of portdepth) on the face of the cube shaped box. Before tuning it peak at an unacceptable 35HZ when sealed but after tuning it was more like 40HZ with a wider extended powerband. The differences between 1.6sealed and 1.6w/31HZtuning is amazing. Sealed it only started to become "loud" at around 45HZ, and when it finnally peaked at 35HZ it was merely good for a 12. I carried a note down to 25HZ and then signed off and still did "OK". Vented, the sub actually does it justice. It starts getting loud at around 55HZ and becomes amazing right around 45HZ. It sounds equally loud from 45HZ down to almost 30HZ and is the definition of clean bass. It signs off at the same level it used to but I believe even at 20HZ it is louder because of how much louder it was up high and then the volume drops just as much when it starts to sign off. The sub still peaks a bit low but tuning it higher isn't accessible without increasing the airspeed and lowing SPL with my current port setup. The box is still too large at 1.6cuft. to be vented to only 31HZ. More ideally would be 1.2cuft(I know that seems damn small for a 12 but these subs are insanely space effecient) with about 30HZ tuning to make it peak just shy of 50HZ, and sacrifice the extreme low for a lot of extra SPL in a more usable region that is played in normal day to day music. The bigger box I have now punches amazingly accurate and would be less accurate in the 1.2cuft. box I plan on building but I expect it to still do excellent. The sub is mounted right now in a 1991 Nissan 240SX fastback facing the rear in it's 16X16X16 cube just 8 inches from the back wall. It will meter an honest 142-144 on a new termlab meter with 1270WRMS(the amp makes 1270@2ohms and it'd be my best estimate to say the sub is getting at least 1100W when I run it at 3ohm parrallel) at right around 40HZ. The sub will get hot and eventually burn up at this wattage if left WIDEOPEN(meaning non stop signal tones, about 1min of wide open signal makes the sub start to warm up on the rear and starts barely giving off that burning odor) but with my experience it would take a very very bass heavy song and a long period of running to burn up on regular music. I expect the single sub should reach SPL numbers in excess of 146DB(more like 150dB on the year or more ago meters) with the new box w/ 1270WRMS, I'll try to keep everyone posted. I just purchesed a audiobahn ALUM15X also and will review any differences between these subs in the near future.

Strengths:
Extremely Strong Cone More than honest power rating when vented(1000WRMS) Makes insane sound at low frequencies with a very small box. Motor, and assembly is damn tight and well made.

Weaknesses:
I just wish they offered it in dual 4 and dual 2ohm configurations.

Similar Products Used:
Infinity Perfect 12

Price Paid:  $95.00 from www.thezeb.com

Year / Model Reviewed:
 Alum-12X

Summary:
My friend just got 3 of these subs and built a triple slot ported box designed to the maximum SPL standards and they beat like no tomorrow. He has a Visonik V900HC amp pushing them at 3200 RMS. They hit so har that his CD player constantly skips. The quality was unimaginable. No distortion whatsoever. With 2 two farad caps he still doesn't have enough power. THese are some MEAN subs. Just make sure you break them in for a few weeks.

Strengths:
With 1000 watts RMS each thats enough strength.

Weaknesses:
Not many. But Audiobahn subs will blow kindof easily if you dont break them in.

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer Premier Blaupunkt Visonik Legacy Boss

Price Paid:  $185.00 from personal dealer

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 alum Q

Summary:
these speakers are in my opinion better than anything ive heard. most people have a problem with them becuse they underpower them. U MUST PUT ATLEAST 700 WATTS RMS TO THEM OR THEY WILL BLOW. im runnning 2 with a 1500 rms hyphonics amp, which is actually pushing more.

Strengths:
awesome bass quality and durability as well as extremely slick look to them.

Weaknesses:
peoples inexperience and ignorance to not enough power

Price Paid:  $125.00 from ebay

Year / Model Reviewed:
 02

Summary:
This woofer demands POWER and u must give it what it needs. extremtly impresive bass if powered right. if u dont want to spend money on a amp get the jbl bp1200, and power this woofer. i use a rf 750x and i love it. it is too much bass for me though

Strengths:
low bass, never distorts, impreses everyone who listens to stereo. teaches people that there are better woofers out there, great looking woofer

Weaknesses:
demands a lot of power compared to many great woofers out there.

Similar Products Used:
w6, w7

Price Paid:  $150.00 from internet

Year / Model Reviewed:
 2003 alum 12

Summary:
this subs are very beautiful, when you build the box you got lost, should i show the front or the back, talking about sound they're very loud even with low volume,i mean very sensible, i've got a BD1000w rockford fosgate and its working in 1.5ohm very well in a 1.0 cf box, don't forget a 20% fiberglass to improve they very deep bass !!!

Strengths:
my 2 12" comp vr kicker couldn't play like this subs play, for real,$ 300 a pair i think is good deal for the power.

Weaknesses:
buy a high current amp, more than a thousand or it won't play !!!

Similar Products Used:
none