Box for 3 12"s

[StereoInstaller1]

OK, so here is the deal: 3 subs is dumb.

Not trying to be mean, but still, 3 subs is dumb.

In an E30, at least. These cars are tough to make sound good.

You could do a sealed box of about 3 cubic feet, but your max width is 36", and the woofers would overhang the sides or you would have to do a small "step" outward in the box...believe me, if you have to ask how to do that, that kind of shit is WAY over your head.

Plus, once you get over about 3 cubic feet, the fucking thing won't fit in the hole your trunk lid makes (ask me how I know...trust me, it sucked balls) and you would have to have the woofers fire into the trunk (or cut a fuckton of metal AND find some way to slide that bitch in front of your shock towers), so now your trunk rattles and all the kids hear you boomin' the hood and they come and steal your shit.

Now we get into the actual physics of the deal: Sealed boxes are not efficient. I would bet that one of my normal V2 12" boxes will play every bit as loud, and far lower AND sound better than what I could do with those 3 woofers in an E30. Getting 100% of the sound into the cabin is a HUGE advantage, plus a properly designed ported box is typically about 100% more efficient than a sealed box...and the idea of a 1 cubic foot ported box for a 12 is just fucking silly, even of there were 3 of them.

1 cubic foot ported is intended for an 8" woofer. I won't even do a 10 in 1 cubic foot unless I absolutely have to.


The other issue is that you have 3 4ohm woofers. Unless you run 3 smaller 2 channel amps, there is no way to make the most of any amp out there...amps want to see either 1 ohm, 2 ohms or 4 ohms...so it is not possible to do anything but wire the 3 in paralell to get the 1.3 ohm load, and use a class D monoblock...leaving about 20% of its power unused (waste of monies)

So, if you want massive boom, build a 3.2 (still too goddamn small to sound good) cubic foot ported box (oh yeah, say goodbye to trunk space!) and use an amp intended for a 2 ohm mono load and do 2 of those.

As much time as I have spent "perfecting" (yeah right...ain't nothing perfect in car audio) the bass in an E30, I truly believe the boxes I build are the best compromise between size, weight, bass quality/clarity and big fat fun BOOM (om nom nom, motherfucker!).

If I ever heard or thought there was a better way, that is what I would build for you guys.

[Dukedude0017]

I'm not doubting you at all..I don't know much about car audio other than the basics. I just don't have money to buy one of your boxes and I was basically given these subs. Would two subs sound better? I was kinda leaning toward selling one and making a new box from the beginning.

[Philo]

WOW! You are still not listening. Take two of you subs and throw them away. They are useless. Or even better yet, attempt to sell two of them. Then you have some money to buy one of luke's boxes.

After you choose one of these options, and are still too worried about money, sit down and attempt to build a box yourself. You need to properly seal the box (with exclusion of the ports and sub opening) and tune it. If you are too lazy to tune it, then go with a slot vent.

No offense (which means nothing), but with the listening skills you have displayed and your lack of knowledge on the subject, I see you having a hard time creating a box from scratch. G/L

[Dukedude0017]

Uh, I'm listening. I'm going to build a box myself. I've already LISTENED and understand 3 is overkill. I've been in many cars with two, and I think it sounds decent. I disagree when you say two subs are useless. If I find a buyer for 2 of them, it's possible I'll sell two.

[Philo]

How many E30's have you been in with two subwoofers?

The point everyone on here is trying to make is that in an E30, not any other car, 1 sub sounds better. Not one person in this thread has suggested otherwise. Even if you do 2 12's, the right way, it will flood over your mid and hi range.

For building your own box, I would look through lukes FS threads for pictures. It will give you a good idea for your build.

[Mot]

1 sub or none at all if you dont want it to sound like shit. It's not hard, Luke has been doing car audio for probably longer then most of us have been alive.