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Sub output: Is it the woofer size or the rated RMS

In any subwoofer output, how important is the Watt output versus the woofer size? I have been reading reviews on some subs such as Earthquake, Sunfire and JL audio. The Earthquakes (15" woofers; ~650W) have reportedly more "slam" than the Sunfire (1000W-1500W, 12" woofer), or the 650W-750W SVS, or even the fathoms.
And each of these are box subs.
Or is it really about the proprietary technology unique to every sub?
In other words, what really influences a sub's output for all the wonderful things we want in a great sub?
dogmatix

Showing 6 responses by rwwear

rwwear
2,883 posts
 
A large driver in a large cabinet needs less power to produce deep bass. A small driver in a small cabinet must have huge amounts of power and much further excursion to produce deep bass. A small driver may seem like it would produce faster bass but in reality it must move further than a large woofer to output the same amount of bass. The laws of physics are constant and unchanging.
rwwear
2,883 posts
 
And I suppose she's an expert on........subs.
rwwear
2,883 posts
 
I for one believe that a fast sub is not reproducing deep bass. The very thing that makes deep bass deep is the long wavelength. I am not saying a small sub can't make deep bass. It just takes much more power and further cone movement than a large sub. The further cone movement negates the quickness of the small sub because a small sub must move in and out so much further than a large woofer, it is just as slow.
rwwear
2,883 posts
 
The design is of the utmost importance for a sub it's true. It's just easier as the driver size increases. That being said a system with multiple small drivers would probably be the best but would require a lot a of equalization and power to have real low bass.
rwwear
2,883 posts
 
Just because a driver is large doesn't mean it will sound less good. Remember it is trying to reproduce such devices as ten foot bass drums and long stringed instruments. In order for ten inch drivers to play deeply enough they will require much more equalization and power than an eighteen inch model. doubling or tripling drivers does lower their f3 point. It just decreases their distortion and increases power handling and output.
rwwear
2,883 posts
 
((doubling or tripling drivers does lower their f3 point))

I meant to say does not.
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