SoundSplinter vs Maelstrom

**Fishie** · **05-07-08, 02:56 PM**

Which one would fit better in a big llt box, the Soundsplinter rl-p 18" or the maelstrom-x 18"?
I an looking for low bass and that it's able to play pretty loud.

The soundsplinter is a little more pricy, but is it actually better?
I think I would run them with this http://marathonaudio.com/mamamaprosea3.html

**Blaser** · **05-10-08, 10:30 AM**

Here are the SS Rl-p18 sub specs:

Dual 4 Ohm Measurements
Qts: 0.436 Qts: 0.493 Mounting Depth: 26 cm
Qes: 0.482 Qes: 0.554 Total Depth: 26.5 cm
Qms: 4.535 Qms: 4.500 Outside Diameter: 46.7 cm
Fs: 20.71 Hz Fs: 21.5 Hz Weight: 41 lbs
Re: 3.74 Ohm Re: 6.26 Ohm Magnet Width: 18.8 cm
Ls: 3.317 mH Ls: 4.341 mH Mounting Cutout: 43.2 cm
Rp: 7.629 Rp: 10.27 Displacement: 0.2 cu ft
Vas: 314.2 L Vas: 276 L
Mms: 376.7 g Mms: 373 g
Cms: 156.7 u Cms: 137.7 u
Bl: 19.50 T*m Bl: 24.25 T*m
SPL: 89.45 dB SPL: 89.25 dB
Sd: 0.1188 m^2 Sd: 0.1188 m^2
Xmax: 27.4 mm Xmax: 27.4 mm
500 - 1000 watts RMS range

The Maelstrom-X Pre-Production Parameters: Fs: 17.7 Hz
Le: 0.87mH
Re: 3.1 Ohms (Voice Coils wired in parallel)
Qms: 7.8
Qes: .38
Qts: 0.36
Mms: 494g
Cms: 0.17 mm/N
Vas: 324L
Sd: 1182 cm^2
Vd: 7.8L
BL: 21.17
X-max: 33mm
X-mech: 42mm
Pmax: 1500W

Prices are comparable with a bit more for the RL-p18. I have been playing with WinISD and got some shots for you below.

According to WinISD, It seems they have both quite similar performance, with the RL-P18 a bit more efficient, and slightly louder. The Maelstrom X can be tuned like 1 hz lower and could have a slightly smaller enclosure than the RL-P18

I have dual of those and you really can't go wrong with Sound Splinter. I do not know the Maelstrom X but it looks like a good sub. But the Soundsplinter would be more tempting for me.

Note: The Rl-P18 is in green, 2000 W signal applied, cone excursion and port velocities are assumed RMS (closer to realprogram material).

**Blaser** · **05-10-08, 10:36 AM**

The Marathon amp looks pretty robust... How much does it cost?

**mdrake** · **05-10-08, 11:46 AM**

Both woofer looks good I wonder what it would look like if you threw the Ficar Q into the mix?

Matt

**Fishie** · **05-10-08, 12:20 PM**

Thanks for replies!

The marathon amp costs 745$ here

**Mike P.** · **05-10-08, 12:59 PM**

Quote:

blaser wrote:

Here are the SS Rl-p18 sub specs:

Dual 4 Ohm Measurements
Qts: 0.436 Qts: 0.493 Mounting Depth: 26 cm
Qes: 0.482 Qes: 0.554 Total Depth: 26.5 cm
Qms: 4.535 Qms: 4.500 Outside Diameter: 46.7 cm
Fs: 20.71 Hz Fs: 21.5 Hz Weight: 41 lbs
Re: 3.74 Ohm Re: 6.26 Ohm Magnet Width: 18.8 cm
Ls: 3.317 mH Ls: 4.341 mH Mounting Cutout: 43.2 cm
Rp: 7.629 Rp: 10.27 Displacement: 0.2 cu ft
Vas: 314.2 L Vas: 276 L
Mms: 376.7 g Mms: 373 g
Cms: 156.7 u Cms: 137.7 u
Bl: 19.50 T*m Bl: 24.25 T*m
SPL: 89.45 dB SPL: 89.25 dB
Sd: 0.1188 m^2 Sd: 0.1188 m^2
Xmax: 27.4 mm Xmax: 27.4 mm
500 - 1000 watts RMS range

The Maelstrom-X Pre-Production Parameters: Fs: 17.7 Hz
Le: 0.87mH
Re: 3.1 Ohms (Voice Coils wired in parallel)
Qms: 7.8
Qes: .38
Qts: 0.36
Mms: 494g
Cms: 0.17 mm/N
Vas: 324L
Sd: 1182 cm^2
Vd: 7.8L
BL: 21.17
X-max: 33mm
X-mech: 42mm
Pmax: 1500W

Prices are comparable with a bit more for the RL-p18. I have been playing with WinISD and got some shots for you below.

According to WinISD, It seems they have both quite similar performance, with the RL-P18 a bit more efficient, and slightly louder. The Maelstrom X can be tuned like 1 hz lower and could have a slightly smaller enclosure than the RL-P18

I have dual of those and you really can't go wrong with Sound Splinter. I do not know the Maelstrom X but it looks like a good sub. But the Soundsplinter would be more tempting for me.

Note: The Rl-P18 is in green, 2000 W signal applied, cone excursion and port velocities are assumed RMS (closer to realprogram material).

What box volume and tuning frequency did you use?

**Blaser** · **05-10-08, 01:33 PM**

Hi Mike,

Did I forget to mention that?

I used 600 L and 14 Hz Tune for the RL-P18, 500 L and 13 Hz Tune for the other.

Both with 8" port by the way. A 13 Hz tune for the Malstrom in that size box might be a little tricky (about 1 m long), a 14Hz tune for the RL-p18 in a 600 L box would be about 67 cm only... and that's another reason why I would prefer the Soundsplinter.

**Blaser** · **05-10-08, 03:03 PM**

All we can do is speculate at this stage for the Maelstrom, but keep in mind I used the terms "Pre-production parameters" and "according to WinISD"

I still find the R-LP18 more suited for an LLT application with a huge box...

**Blaser** · **05-10-08, 03:10 PM**

Quote:

mdrake wrote:

Both woofer looks good I wonder what it would look like if you threw the Ficar Q into the mix?

Matt

I'll do it for you later on

**Blaser** · **05-10-08, 03:53 PM**

Yeah I understand you meant nothing wrong. But unless there is a complete re-design of the driver, the assumptions based on pre-production data can be considered safe enough for a modelling... But if they change the parameters, that is sure another story

**Blaser** · **05-11-08, 04:23 PM**

I have edited the graphs to show the Frequency axis.

**Fishie** · **05-12-08, 03:23 PM**

Quote:

blaser wrote:

I have edited the graphs to show the Frequency axis.

Nice!

What is the sensitivity on the Maelstrom?

**Mike P.** · **05-12-08, 08:32 PM**

Quote:

Fishie wrote:

Nice!

What is the sensitivity on the Maelstrom?

It hasn't been listed yet.

**Blaser** · **05-12-08, 09:26 PM**

Yeah! It hasn't yet. WinISD expects 88.7 db based on the other preliminary parameters.

**eyekode** · **05-12-08, 11:25 PM**

My vote is for the SoundSplinter. Looks like the Maelstrom wants a smaller enclosure. Jeeze you could run the thing sealed in 4ft^3!

**Fishie** · **05-15-08, 10:24 AM**

When will the first pre-order Maelstrom arrive to those who have orderd them?

**Blaser** · **05-16-08, 04:06 PM**

Quote:

eyekode wrote:

My vote is for the SoundSplinter. Looks like the Maelstrom wants a smaller enclosure. Jeeze you could run the thing sealed in 4ft^3!

Nothing wrong with a smaller box. The only problem is integrating the port.

**eyekode** · **05-16-08, 06:15 PM**

Quote:

blaser wrote:

Nothing wrong with a smaller box. The only problem is integrating the port.

That is what I meant. With the smaller box it is hard to fit a large diameter port (which is required for the low tuning).

**Exocer** · **05-17-08, 05:11 PM**

Very cool.

Rl-p 18 = more efficient in the higher frequencies

Maelstrom = appears to have a more linear FR

What happens when you use the same exact Volume/Tuning for both drivers?

Don't have the time to do the modeling myself

plus im lazy lol.

**Blaser** · **05-17-08, 11:17 PM**

The Maelstrom becomes too much bottom heavy with a bump around tuning.

**Ricci** · **05-18-08, 12:39 PM**

Maelstrom looks better for small sealed and PR. It also looks good for medium vented with tuning's above 15hz.

RLP18 needs more volume sealed, but has the advantage for large and low tuned vented. It is much easier to get sub 16hz tunes out of it. RLP appears it may have a bit better build quality overall for those who care about those things.

**Blaser** · **05-18-08, 05:32 PM**

Quote:

Ricci wrote:

RLP appears it may have a bit better build quality overall for those who care about those things.

I was tempted to say that from the pics, but I only really know the RL-P18. It is robust and very high quality.

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