Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio Shiva or JL audio

Ok this forum is dead. Here is a question to get some people talking.

Who has experience with JL audio subs. Are they worth the money? Also, how would they compare with the shiva?? I will probably be purchasing either 2 JL audio subs or 2 shivas in about 2 months. I am hoping to start competing once I get these subs.

I have not heard much on the JL subs. I have had very good experience with Orion subs though. My ex-room mate used to blow out several 12" subs a year until he got 2 Orion XTR3 subs. He is still using them almost 2 1/2 years later.

Just food for thought.

Renaldo, the Shiva is better in almost every single category than any sub JL Audio makes. The SQ on the JL subs is what normally sets them apart, but IMO, the Shiva still wins in that category. I'll post a comparison I made at the RX7Club in just a minute.

What about the w7's Dave?

JL Audio has been making fine products for many years. They are also coming out with the new W7. This is supposed to be the new BAD BOY sub that will push more SPL then any other JL ever made. There flagship sub, the W6, has been hitting hard for years. There are many other subs that are better of course, and I have no experience with this "shiva" or whatever it is.

Jared

SVTweeter.....Shiva is Dave's love child. He pushes them very hard.


P.S. It looks like I beat you to the w7 comment.

The W7 should bevery nice. But If you're going to spend the money on it, get the TC15HE from www.stryke.com.

Actually, the Shiva is my red headed step child, the lambda PL series was the result of my last scandalous affair.

BTW, I still have not seen the W7's specs.

Here is a post I made at RX7Club. A guy was making some outlandish claims that a single kicker L7 Solobaric would outperform 2 or 3 of every other woofer on the market....

Well, you are partially correct. The New L7 subs will outperform the W6 subs. But they are far from the best. Alma Gates is not the current world record holder, although she has a damn nice install. Below is a chart that list the maximum potential output, the output at 300 watts, compares your 3 JLs vs 2 of the Kickers in both max and 300 watt inputs.

Speaker...Max SPL...(300w).....3vs2 (max)..3 vs 2 others (300w)
JL12W6....111.8.......111.8.......121.0...........116.3
Kicker L7..118.8.......114.8.......124.8...........117.8
Shiva........119.1.......115.8.......125.1...........118.8
Kicker SB..114.8.......111.8.......120.8...........114.8

JL12W6
Advantages: has a 34 hz F3 which is tied for the deepest response. Requires the smallest enclosure. Has more IASCA wins than any other sub in competition history (mainly because it has existed for more than 6 years)

Disadvantages: Comparatively low power handling. Low sensitivity which is a by product of the smaller enclosure size. 11.1 mm Xmax could be better.

Kicker L7
Advantages: Good sensitivity (caused by more cone area) so it produces more sound per watt than the JL. Good power handling)

Disadvantages: Bigger box required. High F3 (40 hz) will not go as deep as a 12W6. If musical accuracy is your goal, find another sub.

Shiva
Advantages: Highest sensitivity, second highest powerhandling. Most potential SPL in every category. Lowest F3. Lowest price (115.00).

Disadvantages: 1.25 cubic foot box required.

Original Solobaric
Advantages: Smallest box.

Disadvantages: Almost everything when comparing.

Out of the JL and the new L7, the L7 is the superior sub but is new technology. When the new W7s are released, it will be a diffrent story.

Now onto the personal opinion part. The Adire Audio Shiva is better than almost any commercial car audio product at a considerable savings. Anyone who argues bang for the buch and mentions kicker or JL audio does not understand the full scope of the products that are available. Installation and the car you have can have profound affects on the results. The above comparisons were based on maximally flat sealed systems (Q of .707) and you results may vary greatly depending on the enclosure you use. This was also measurements based on a open air setup without boundary effects (aka transfer function/cabin gain). When comparing the SQ qaulity portion, the JL stands out ahead of the L7 in accuracy but suffers a lack of output comparatively.

There are subs on the market that will utterly destroy anything that Kicker makes for less money. Check the PL series Lambda subs at www.stryke.com to find some of these. Also the DVC and Titanic subs at www.partsexpress.com and the Shiva at www.adireaudio.com.

Man Dave, you have ugly kids. Why can't you like any good looking subs? I thought the PL was homely, then I see this freak. I thought the "Shiva" would be a white cones, brushed alluminum piece of art... but instead it looks like ass Oh well, at least she has a nice voice!

It got my looks with my wife's lovely voice.