Opinions on Sundown Audio SLD shallow mount subs.

Looking for some opinions. I currently have a pair of Sundown Audio SD-4’s 12”, in a 2cu.ft. box in my truck. They play better with rock, country or music like that. I like music with more low end. The depth is fine for my box, but just wanted to gather some opinions before I pull the trigger.

 

You might pick up a little more SPL with these, but I wouldn't expect a huge jump. Maybe consider vented to help bring in the low end. You'll add group delay, which drives some people nuts, but that's the easiest way to get the low end. A single U12 in an appropriate vented enclosure tuned to the 20s and fed a couple kilowatts aughta do it.

I have an SD10 and did kinda the same to get to the low stuff - stuck in an SA10 in a 1.4 cube enclosure tuned to the high 20s. It has GOBS of low end on only 550W. Too much really, but comes in handy when I wanna abuse my ears a little. It doesn't sound as good though and I'm going back to sealed soon most likely.

Best of luck with the opinions on that sub - it's pretty new. Looks like another winner from Sundown though.

 

Thanks for that rob. Yeah, not really looking for ported right now, I’ve never liked the sound of them, too overpowering. SPL would be nice, but I’m looking for them to play a little lower, gimme that shake. The SD-4s play down to around 40Hz or so, and I’m looking for lower. Had some Alpines’ that would shake the cab on the low notes, but I blew them with a bad tune on my amp. Sundown hasn’t really let me down yet, but I’ll have to give it more thought.

 

Closest I’ve come is the Skar Audio VD series. They do kick pretty good, better than the SD-4s, I’d say they hit the mid 20s.

 

SD4s will play into the 20s just fine. But you need excursion to do that with any authority and you have to be careful with these motors at high excursion. The backplates aren't bumped so the former will slap the backplate with no warning because of low distortion near excursion limits.

Going by specs, that Skar should give you lower output than the SD. The only advantage it may have is that it appears to have a bumped backplate - which might give you a little more room to work with. However, Skar advertises 11mm xmax where Sundown advertises 14.5. All things equal the SD will certainly sound better - unless you like high distortion woofers (and many do because that makes them sound louder)(also assuming 2.83v method for Skar's sensitivity rating). Never mind that the Skar is a poorly made copy of the Sundown SD2. You also have to give up an inch on the back of the Skar for the vent. The SD can be mounted flush against a wall.

Hoffman's Iron Law states that you can have high sensitivity, a small box, or low end - pick any two. Also keep in mind that the human ear perceives lower frequencies at lower volumes, so it takes a lot more of everything on the extreme low end to give you the sensation that all levels are more or less equal.

And are you really sure you need 20s for music? There are very few tracks which actually take advantage of that. My ported SA setup will get down there handily and it hardly ever does. And I listen to some fairly bassy tunes. 20s are more important in home audio where' they're encountered much more frequently.

 

I know this is an old thread, but did you end up buying the sld 10? I am about to go with 2 of those in my tundra. Just wondering what your experience with them have been?

 

@Beaker801 Actually, I went with the SD-4 12”. Mounting depth and clearance behind the seat for the surround were deciding factors. IMO, can’t really go wrong either way, Sundown makes great gear.