UnderFire
New member
Alright, I'll start out by saying why the JL may not be the right sub for use in a 4Runner.
JL's current line-up, especially their lower lines like the W1 and W0 are geared towards people who want to give up a small amount of space while still getting the most out of the equipment that goes into it, that is why their recommended enclosures are almost always small sealed boxes. That is perfect for the boxes that are molded into the side panels of trunks, or factory integrated set-ups, but in an SUV, you get a lot more room to play with.
Both the Sundown E10 and SSA DCON 10 are designed to get the most out of the 300W you give them, but to do that, they need a little more room to breathe, both can be ran sealed still, but with these two, ported will just about always give you more output and a flatter response (i.e. plays all frequencys from 30-~80 close to the same volume) To go ported though, you have to give up a bit more space.
JL's subs are around .65-.7 Ft^3 Sealed
The DCON and E10 take around 1.25 Ft^3 + the space the port takes up.
If you're wondering where the difference in price comes from between the 3 relatively similar woofers, here's what I think, this isn't concrete fact, just an educated guess.
The JL W1 is around 180$, The DCON is 150$ and the Sundown right around 100$.
The JL is Assembled in the US with Chinese made parts, this accounts for some of the difference but not all of it, part of the extra price you are paying is for the name that's on it, JL has built a huge mainstream reputation, and advertises a lot more than most car audio companies, all of that costs money, and therefore you end up paying more for the product in the end.
The SSA is completely built in the US, for the price you're getting a cast basket that allows for more excursion (16mm) vs the stamped metal baskets on the Sundown and JL W1 (12mm or so) they are able to keep the cost down due to low profit margins to compete with the Chinese built subwoofers (as stated by the owner of the company who is a regular on the audio forums) and being effiecient in general.
The Sundown is made in China, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing, all of their products go through QC and testing here in the US before they are shipped out, and even the most minor defect gets it pulled from stock, google "Sundown Yard Sale" and you'll see what I mean. Sundown has built a great reputation with the audio community as a whole, some people will run their subs, amps and speakers exclusively, and I've never seen a major complaint, or any for that matter go unresolved.
In the end, it comes down to how much space you are willing to give up, if it isn't a whole lot, the W1 is a great choice, and so is the Image Dynamics ID10v3 now that I think about it, but if you're willing to go a bit bigger, there are subs that are better suited to it.
I especially like your runner, it almost has an FJ80 look to it, you know?
arty: