need help with subs...

[StereoInstaller1]

The one back on page 1 is sealed. Very clean, but dissapointing. Very small, too.

That is Browntowns sub. I may come and steal his car because the ported single 10 I finished today just fucking kills it using half as much power...and I will re-do his damn box so I like it.

[jdaigner]

I must say I am VERY impressed w/ the sound of the sub Luke fixed up for me (post above)....It is very clean and quite loud w/ my tiny "200 W" alpine amp powering a 10" sub. Long story short LUKE is the MAN! I'll post pics later when the car isn't covered in dirt and pine needles.....

[Dozyproductions]

Oh fuck, here we go...

OK, everyone has their groove...but let me see if I can explain this in very few words.

1. Ported plays louder with fewer watts: Ported with 10 watts will be about the same "loud" as sealed using 100 watts. Yes it really is that much of a difference.

2. Ported plays deeper and "punchier" with better clarity IF PROPERLY DESIGNED!

Right there is the catch. Most professional installers can't build a properly designed ported box. Very very few ported boxes are properly designed and most SOUND LIKE SHIT so there is this huge stupid misconception that sealed has better "response", whatever the fuck that is supposed to mean.

Sealed = easy, lazy, makes boom, WTF, lets go party, whatev.

Ported, sealed into the cabin, properly designed = Raging pain in the ass, difficult, possibility of having to do it 3 or 4 times to get it perfect, math, etc etc...but it fits the car, MUCH more trunk space, MUCH better sound from less shit, idiot kids go "is that 3 12s?" general feeling of being impressed with your work, blah blah blah.

Luke

I think that you just had wrong experiences with subs in sealed boxes. Of course ported boxes are more efficient with wattage at least but to say that sealed is lazy, makes boom and all that is wrong.

Different sub woofers respond differently to different environments. Some excel in sealed and others ported. Also, the dimensions of the box does wonders on a subwoofers' "sound" but in a car, especially in an e30, you really can't hear audible differences.

Sealed can play 'low' just as well as a ported box. Then again, whats the ported box tuned to? Lets say you tune it to 30hz then it will indeed be louder than a sealed at that frequency (with power being same and both boxes being ideal sizes) but then it will roll of and then rapidly afterwards.
But i guess that doesn't matter if you cross over the sub at around 80hz anyways. Sub woofers play the same frequencies in either box its just at what levels.





A tuning of a ported box essentially means it peaks at the tuning frequency as seen in the picture as example only. Sealed boxes give you more of a flat response curve but at the sacrifice of needing more power or a bigger box.


(p.s. i wrote in random order so don't mind it)

[Dozyproductions]

...

[1991 e30 bmw 318is]

well i never did say what i ended up with. i have infinity speakers in the front, clarion 6x9 in the back and in insignia subs and amp in the back with a sealed box. very happy with it sound is very clear and crisp. the subs that everyone did not be leave were worth getting are well worth the money. i bent a 3/4" aluminum flat bar around the bottom of the box then screwed it to the back of the seat so the box wont move and it looks good. hid the amp on the back of the box all the wiring is hid also. ill get pics soon.


thanks for all the input.

[1991 e30 bmw 318is]

some pics of my set up.

[jrobie79]

hey luke, not to threadcrap here sorry OP but did u ever get the plans for those boxes online, i been getting some free time so id like to build a box, and possible pick up one of those XP12 that u said to PM you for r3v price, ill let u know more in the coming week but if u got those plans that would be sick