2-15"'s or 1-18" ?

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Audio One

Audio One

Keepin' it Real !
Jun 15, 2010
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Knoxville, TN
If given the choice in a new sub cabinet, would you rather have 2-15"'s or 1-18" ?

Now this is considering the 15"'s are the same brand, series, ect as the 18". And I know you can throw in a lot of varibles(amount of power,room acoustics,even the app. itself) but lets try to keep this simple.

And Canute, don't say 2-18"'s cause thats not the question.:triwink:
 
If it's a Yorkville LS801P I would recommend only 1. The 15's most likely won't give you the "depth" of sound that the 18" will provide. Now to be sure...are we talking about 2 15" subs?

I have two 15" subs and don't get the same amount of "low end" that you get with the 18" and I even coupled them together in the center of my rig setup.

And, what Watt are the 15" subs each?
 
We have both options available and would make the choice depending on the type of sound we'd need. In either scenario you'll need a mid-top cabinet system than can cross over with the bass bin(s) and keep pace with them.

If we're talking about front-radiating cabinets, a 1x18 will give your sound better rumble response and warmth than a dual 15. The 15s will give you a better thump response or punch; at and above 60Hz in most cases. This is especially useful for reproducing music that was recorded before digital superseded analog.

Bear impedance in mind as well... dual 15s are exclusively 4? systems. A 4? 1x18 box may be special order. OEM 18" drivers are available in 4? configuration but they're not standard. In the dual 15 scenario you'll have two drivers (and more SPL) from the amp source. With the 18 you'll only have one driver.

If given a choice between the two scenarios my personal preference would be the 1x18. We used the 1x18 cabinets almost exclusively upon aquiring them. The 2x15s didn't see much service after that.

Hope it helps.
 
Art, I'm talkin' about 1 cabinet with 1 18" vs. 1 cabinet with 2 15"'s. And wattage needed is going vary from manu to manu, thats just one of those varibles.

Scott, I guess the front load vs folded horn could be a completely different debate.
 
I use 15's. Each of my JBL Scoops however are 16ohms. This is the way I designed my system so I can tailor my needs to my Equipment. I usually run two scoops per side in Parallel Via a jumper cable between each pair. This gives me 8ohms per side. 15" Bass cabinets will give more punch while 18" Bass cabinets gives you more boom.

However, with proper EQ processing and the addition of a Sub Harmonic Synthesizer, a 15" transducer in the same class can give an 18" a run for it's money. The overall sound lies in the overall system. For large events/Clubs, I use a tri amped/threeway system. This can easily outperform a two way system using 18" subs.

To answer your question in a generic manner I would say that two 15"s coupled or in the same cabinet, can give you more bass than 1 18" (This can be affected by choice of Manufacturer and speaker model). Two 15" will move more air than one 18" watt for watt.
 
ahoustondj said:
However, with proper EQ processing and the addition of a Sub Harmonic Synthesizer, a 15" transducer in the same class can give an 18" a run for it's money.
Click to expand...

Great discussion guys. Question, won't that synth typically give that 15" a premature death?
 
rickryan.com said:
Great discussion guys. Question, won't that synth typically give that 15" a premature death?
Click to expand...
In the hands of an amateur a Sub Harmonic Synthesizer can also be called a Sub destroyer. I used the first generation Sub Harmonic Synthesizer from DBX when I first started in 1978 and had my Professional System. I used it up until about the year 2000. I never destroyed a speaker with it. Those Subs are still in use today. You have to have the correct balance between EQ and the SHS for it to give you the rumbling lows you seek.
 
ahoustondj said:
In the hands of an amateur a Sub Harmonic Synthesizer can also be called a Sub destroyer. I used the first generation Sub Harmonic Synthesizer from DBX when I first started in 1078 and had my Professional System. I used it up until about the year 2000. I never destroyed a speaker with it. Those Subs are still in use today. You have to have the correct balance between EQ and the SHS for it to give you the rumbling lows you seek.
Click to expand...

You started in 1078?? Holy CRAP!!! That's 934 years (this year). You must be the professional professional!

:)

Do you still play the stone tablets?
 
ittigger said:
You started in 1078?? Holy CRAP!!! That's 934 years (this year). You must be the professional professional!

:)

Do you still play the stone tablets?
Click to expand...

Or a DJ vampire god....
 
I was wondering when JBL introduced the Scoops. Now I know. the year of our Lord 1078. :tritongue: You must have been around thirty years young back then eh?
 
I'm not aware of a true dual 15" front loaded sub, so I assume the 15s would either be facing each other in an horn loaded setup or in a push pull setup (EAW has one). Personally, I would go with the 15s. I prefer the sharp mid bass attack vs the low end rumble (which those that do rap, hip-hop or metal may prefer). If you do the math, both push a similar amount of air (assuming similar drivers). The 15 box will probably be larger, which would be the only downside IMO.
 
steve149 said:
I'm not aware of a true dual 15" front loaded sub, so I assume the 15s would either be facing each other in an horn loaded setup or in a push pull setup (EAW has one). Personally, I would go with the 15s. I prefer the sharp mid bass attack vs the low end rumble (which those that do rap, hip-hop or metal may prefer). If you do the math, both push a similar amount of air (assuming similar drivers). The 15 box will probably be larger, which would be the only downside IMO.
Click to expand...

Just some examples...

FR250z_PHOTO.jpg


649391.jpg
 
The EAW is in a push-pull configuration as mentioned and I'm not sure what the second photo is, as I'm not aware of a JBL dual 15 sub other than the old MPRO model or one of their flying models, but none of those are front firing. They do have some dual 15 full-range cabs.
 
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