Polk Audio SR5250 + JL 12W6v2...

TakeTheTime

Greetings!

I'm new to the forum. I am from Norway, and got introduced to Polk Audio this winter.
I decided to ugrade my front speakers, and something lead me to try Polk Audio SR5250.
All I can say is WOW, these sound great! Have had them running for about 25 hours now.
It was definately worth the money, I fell in love with this really great looking speaker set.
I spent some time damping my doors and installed them in the doors. Here's some pics:










I think this work well, eventhough the mids aren't on-axis. What do you guys think?
The Polk's been driven by an Alpine MRP-F200 amp, bridged to 2x 100w rms.
I've used Pioneer deh-3000mp, but this weekend I'm changin' to Alpine 9880r.

Current subwoofer in the back is the Pioneer TS-W307D4 (12"),
but I have gotten a great price on a JL-sub: The 12W6v2!
Is this a good one? I've heard it's great for SQ, and that is
what I want. SO i figured it would work well with the SR's?

Another question: I'm noticing more and more midbass in the speakers,
when will it be fully breaked in? How many hours of playing? I'm at 25h.

God bless.

jay27

I'm sure you'll like the JL sub. I've never heard anything bad about them.

Thanks for sharing pics. Nice install of the mids and tweets!

chandler9a

Congrats on the new speakers! very nice. I have never heard the JL W6 but have read very good things about it, you should really like the sound quality from it. I have a Polk SR sub in my car and love everything it has to offer. I would keep that W6 in a sealed box for a nice tight sound.

Others will chime in here and be able to help you out, welcome to the club!

TakeTheTime

jay27 wrote: »

I'm sure you'll like the JL sub. I've never heard anything bad about them.

Thanks for sharing pics. Nice install of the mids and tweets!

Wow, much faster reply than in norwegian forums Thanks!
I think the JL is meant for me, yes. It's a great sub for SQ, eh?
I can share more pics if you want. Have worked som in the back too.
Do you guys think my sub-amp, Alpine MRP-M650 will work well with JL?
(I will run it in 2 ohms, charging the JL-subwoofer with 600 watts rms...)

chandler9a

That amp should work just fine. There may be better ones out there but you won't be disappointed by any means.

TakeTheTime

chandler9a wrote: »

That amp should work just fine. There may be better ones out there but you won't be disappointed by any means.

Okey sounds good. I hope it won't produce "boomy" sound. I've always liked Alpine.

chandler9a wrote: »

Congrats on the new speakers! very nice. I have never heard the JL W6 but have read very good things about it, you should really like the sound quality from it. I have a Polk SR sub in my car and love everything it has to offer. I would keep that W6 in a sealed box for a nice tight sound.

Others will chime in here and be able to help you out, welcome to the club!

Yeah, I've considered the SR-sub too, but the JL is "in the same street"
and the special price I got on this one is a very nice offer. Otherwise,
I would go for the SR to complete the Polk system in my car...

I have a sealed box ready for the W6-subwoofer,
a solid one made by a friend - it's volume is 35 litres.
That's the optimal size for that one right? I've heard that.

Installer4life

35.4 liters is correct but this is net volume. Meaning you have to have this amount left after the woofer and bracing is installed. This is a great subwoofer just build to JL recommended box specs and you will be fine..

TakeTheTime

So it won't work that well with 35 litres including the woofer? I hoped I could use this...

fj_az

I love JL subs. Selling my JLW3s this weekend. Sad to see them go.

MCCLIPSE

Welcome to the club triple T, I love how clean your door install is. I've been very impressed with all the JL stuff I've heard and I think the W6 will sound great. Post more pics as you go so we can see the progress.

TakeTheTime

fj_az wrote: »

I love JL subs. Selling my JLW3s this weekend. Sad to see them go.

Okey. Why do you sell them then?

MCCLIPSE wrote: »

Welcome to the club triple T, I love how clean your door install is. I've been very impressed with all the JL stuff I've heard and I think the W6 will sound great. Post more pics as you go so we can see the progress.

Thanks dude. Yes I am pretty satisfied with this, and yea I like it clean

The install of the subwoofer is gonna be clean and elegant looking too.
I have been doing some sound-damping in the back now. Here's pics:









Then I placed the wheel and the amp that runs the front system, like this...
(though I'm gonna throw out the wheel soon, make better room for amps)





Sorry if it's too much pictures.

TakeTheTime

I also want to say that I switched the db's of the tweeters (on crossover) to -1.5,
this works out well for me since I listen to a lot of heavy metal with screaming guitars
and riffs of intensity. I recommend to use these crossover-settings to satisfy your taste.

TakeTheTime

Ok, I'll post some pics of the JL w6 install this weekend. Check it out...


New ground (for both amps, power cables are 25mm^2 and 50mm^2):





New placement for my Alpine-amps:




Gettin' the plate for sub ready (making holes + "cable-list"):





Cables of the subwoofer (6mm^2):





And finally, all set with the subwoofer:





It sounds really great!
What you guys think?

arun1963

Looks very good and clean. Hows the new HU shaping up?

TakeTheTime

arun1963 wrote: »

Looks very good and clean. Hows the new HU shaping up?

Thank you very much Arun! I like it clean/classy.
I'm very satisfied with it, especially how it looks.





^ Last picture showing of the HU with my lovely SR's

+ Subwoofer control is good, so I can adjust the level
to what kinda music I'm playing and for the back passangers.
+ The buttons are much better. Most spesificly play/pause and search
+ Three RCA outputs, USB and full iPod control (I have yet to buy cable though)
+ A tad better soundquality than my previous Pioneer.

- In the sound menu, I can only go back by waiting or muting.
- Can't find out how to use BALANCE on the 9880r. Is it possible?
- I still miss more EQ-options eventhough the SR's are playing very correctly.

Overall, I don't regret it, I needed more RCA-outputs.
I love Alpine, this HU is a great match with my amps.

dl090465

JL Audio makes the best subs and amps IMHO....

chandler9a

That looks really very nice! I wish I could hear it, it is similar to my set up.
I just installed the same Alpine HU in may car and as usual, very pleased with that company.

How does that W6 sound?! I assume pretty good. I have the SR124 and wouldn't trade it for anything but was always curious to how it sounds in comparison to the W6. Do you (or anyone) have an opinion on this?

Again, very nice and clean set up... Bravo

TakeTheTime

chandler9a wrote: »

That looks really very nice! I wish I could hear it, it is similar to my set up.
I just installed the same Alpine HU in may car and as usual, very pleased with that company.

How does that W6 sound?! I assume pretty good. I have the SR124 and wouldn't trade it for anything but was always curious to how it sounds in comparison to the W6. Do you (or anyone) have an opinion on this?

Again, very nice and clean set up... Bravo

W6 sounds nice, but my amp is unstable these days. Got to fix it next week
I could have better amp, and a larger box to the sub but when everything's
working 100% like it should, this subwoofer sounds really great. JL rocks!
Ah, SR124 - that's nice! That would be nice to, Polk Audio SR is the best.

About the SR5250 components: My midwoofers are startin' to "get lower".
I mean, the midbass is starting to come more and more. Better and better!
I've used them for around 30 hours only, but I'm already hearing great midbass!
Have had them going full-range some times now, and they can play low!
The SR's produce great midbass/bass eventhough they're 5.25 inches wide.
My buddy earlier today thought I had the subwoofer connected, but I hadn't.

1996blackmax

Nice set up, the SR's are some very nice speakers.

I've run a JL W6 a couple of different times. It's a very good sub...

TakeTheTime

1996blackmax wrote: »

Nice set up, the SR's are some very nice speakers.

I've run a JL W6 a couple of different times. It's a very good sub...

Oh yes. It sounds great alone too, right now I don't use the sub
because of the amp-trouble, but the SR's sounds great all-range!

But yeah I'm looking forward to connect the JL sub again...
The SR's is getting better & better, when is it fully broken in?

TakeTheTime

Okey, sounds good. So mine isn't fully "developed/in shape" yet?

arun1963

By 100 hours at stoutish volume they would be broken in 90%. But you may continue to 'hear new things' for a bit longer. So yeah they will continue to sound better

TakeTheTime

arun1963 wrote: »

By 100 hours at stoutish volume they would be broken in 90%. But you may continue to 'hear new things' for a bit longer. So yeah they will continue to sound better

Sounds nice. Can't wait! But I'm already noticing much better midbass/bass! :cool:

TakeTheTime

I've done a lot lately, and car audio is totally stuck in my mind all the time.
So here's what's up; got some new amps and a new enclosure designed for my car:





Gotta get some clothes on this enclosure,
and it's about 59 litres - the old one was 35.





^ Both are Genesis 3 Stereo 100 - 2x 85w rms,
one for the SR midwoofers and one for the Vifa's.
Also, I got some handmade MDF plates for the SR's,
with these I get som angle - pointing up from door:





I'll update again over this weekend showing this finished.
Thank you all for patience. This is all for now...



Good night!

TakeTheTime

DSkip wrote: »

Is that box a little big for that sub? I wouldn't think it would need that much air.

Nah, it'd be perfect said the guy who made it.
He's a professional and have done this for years,
he had experience with this sub and recommended this.

chu

TakeTheTime wrote: »

Nah, it'd be perfect said the guy who made it.
He's a professional and have done this for years,
he had experience with this sub and recommended this.

So I'm guessing the box design are in chambers but only one chamber. It seems a bit big, unless its a ported design with the hole out in the back.

catch22atplay

For a sealed box 59L would be .69 Q. Seems a bit low to me on the Q. You'll have to tell us how it compares to the 39L. I'd probably build it at 40L even to start. Which is real close to what you started with. If i thought it was a tad to boomy at 39L i'd probably try 45L next. If i thought it was way to boomy i'd try 50L. Oh were the measurements before speaker displacement or after? If it was 39L before counting the speaker you'd subtract 2.5L for 36.5L net giving a Q of over .8

For ported i have no idea. But it doesn't look ported to me.

catch22atplay

How it sounds to you is what matters. So while it seems large it could end up being the perfect size for you personally.

You should double and triple check for leaks. A sound deadener inside (not that foil back stuff). The last box i built i went cheap and just went to Pep Boys and bought some rubber undercoating to seal inside and for a tiny bit of deadening. I did a before and after test and noticed the difference. But i applied like 4 or 5 coats giving each coat a day to dry. Ya, i know a cheap alternative and maybe not the best. Wonder how many others have used this cheap method. Oh i also made sure the speaker binding post was already installed and wires connected to it as quite a few have mentioned this to be an area of leaks. So i sealed that from the inside as well. Only problem is it required the carpeting to be installed first. So ended up masking up the front of the box to not ruin the exterior carpet.

TakeTheTime

I've reinstalled the SR midwoofer once again...







I love the MDF-plates! I even got a little improvement in the midbass...
It's very good! Here's a little video of the SR's giving some great punch:

Dream Theater - "6:00"

catch22atplay wrote: »

For a sealed box 59L would be .69 Q. Seems a bit low to me on the Q. You'll have to tell us how it compares to the 39L. I'd probably build it at 40L even to start. Which is real close to what you started with. If i thought it was a tad to boomy at 39L i'd probably try 45L next. If i thought it was way to boomy i'd try 50L. Oh were the measurements before speaker displacement or after? If it was 39L before counting the speaker you'd subtract 2.5L for 36.5L net giving a Q of over .8

For ported i have no idea. But it doesn't look ported to me.

The previous box wasn't that big; it was 35L without the sub - so 32.5 net...
The new enclosed box will give the JL a net of 56.5L - I'll let you know the difference!

catch22atplay

Ha that looks like my last install. I sealed the crap out of everything just like you did. We may have both taken it a bit to far. But i can't argue about it as it sounded badass.

I was so far off on my last post. Remind me not to use online calculators for thiel/small parameters again. 56.5L i bet will sound great. And ya, 32.5L was way to small for SQ.

TakeTheTime

catch22atplay wrote: »

Ha that looks like my last install. I sealed the crap out of everything just like you did. We may have both taken it a bit to far. But i can't argue about it as it sounded badass.

I was so far off on my last post. Remind me not to use online calculators for thiel/small parameters again. 56.5L i bet will sound great. And ya, 32.5L was way to small for SQ.

Thanks man, I think it's a good install. Maybe "overkill" with all the sealing, but I've gotta say
(like you said) it sounds badass, with three layers all over the door's inner and outer wall.

I'll let you know how the subwoofer will sound with 56.5L,
I think it's gonna be great. This weekend I'm recreating
everything in the back, and it looks like this is gonna
be a very nice finish - if everything go well. :rolleyes: