Sub Placement

[trev913]

Hey
Ya'll may remember me as the newbie from a few weeks back posting some (probably) commonly asked audio questions.
Well, I never got to thank you for the advice you guys provided. Things are going well, as I've got a bit of an upgrade planned for my X when the IRS check arrives (haha).
Regardless, though...
I've got my decent sounding 12" sub in a "custom enclosure" (built to spec by me), and was thinking - does the placement of this subwoofer in the cargo area matter as to the sound I get from it? (more "thump" depending on where it's placed?) What are your thoughts on this, guys? Closer to the back hatch? Further away? Whaddya think?

 

[Burns]

What i would do is run all the wire with a little extra. Then move the set up around in the rear to see what works for you.

I run four 12s in my explorer and the best thing for me is keeping the box as far away from the hatch as possible. (which is not much) and firing the port at the hatch. I however went through 4 box changes to come to this point.

Hope you get it figured out.

Here is my set up:

 

[trev913]

haha I'd imagine that's not too far away from the hatch...
Unfortunately, (and I guess I forgot to mention this) I'm not running a ported box - completely sealed - as most of my listening is directed towards rock and I was told that sealed would be the best way to go in the sense that porting your box makes bass resonate a whole lot more - whereas having it sealed allows for "punchier" sounding bass. Would you say that's correct?

 

[aznboi3644]

saying sealed is more punchy than a ported box is hogwash. It's all about the enclosure design and install.

Post up some pics of your setup.

 

[trev913]

I'll try to tomorrow when it is light out. However, I just have to say it's pretty much basic... a 12" PPI in a 1/4" MDF box with an amp screwed to the back - basic. haha

 

[Infinity08]

If you stay sealed, you'll likely be happiest with the box as far forward against the rear seat as possible, and the drivers firing to the rear.


PLEASE tell me that you typo'd 1/4"!!!! If not, you need a new box. I don't go overboard on mine usually, but 1/4" MDF will flex like a **** even under the strain of a Funky Pup.

 

[ajvisbeen]

aim it towards the ceiling for sure

 

[jluv]

I also hope you're mistaken about the 1/4" MDF box. That's no good.

When I ran a sealed setup, I got best results firing the subs at the back hatch, and it was louder when I moved the box so that the subs were about 8 inches from the hatch. I normally ran it with the box pushed all the way back against the seats though, just for more cargo space. It sounded fine that way, too. Firing up sounded awful, with a dramatic decrease in bass. I've never heard a sealed setup that sounded better upfiring. For ported, some people like it best with subs up and port back. Mine is currently subs back port back, and sounds great. The box is also 1" MDF all the way around.

If you're going to be building a new box anyway (you need to if your current one is truly 1/4" MDF), I would suggest going ported. Do a little bit of research and see if that sub will perform well ported and what specs it needs. Just my 2 cents.

 

[aznboi3644]

you can't even brad nail 1/4" MDF.

 

[trev913]

Ok, ok, my mistake, guys. I believe it's 3/4" or 1" (can't tell by looking, but I know it's not 1/4" - that was a typo - it was 3AM!)

 

[jluv]

Ok, ok, my mistake, guys. I believe it's 3/4" or 1" (can't tell by looking, but I know it's not 1/4" - that was a typo - it was 3AM!)

3/4" is pretty standard.

 

[Joe Dirt]

So one says "aim toward the ceiling for sure" and another says "I got best results firing the subs at the back hatch"

I love this forum.

Best part about this? The factory sub fires to the side. LOL!

I know it doesn't compute at all for us non-audiophiles, but it just struck me as funny.

 

[DOZIER]

Man don't ask us...Stick the sub somewhere in the truck. Listen to it...Move it. Listen to it....Move it. Listen to it. It will take like 5 minutes if you loop the same track on the head unit over and over with the same bass line. Just find out where it sounds best. All cars are alike in some ways, but different in there own way. YOU need to find where it sounds best in YOUR car. You really don't need us.

As for the box, it is all user preference. You can make a sealed box sound punchy or loose. If it is sealed and it is built to spec, usually it will be a little punchy. If it is built to less then the specs, it will start to get punchier. If it is built to bigger than specs, then it will get loose and low. Ported boxes can be the same way, if you build it to smaller than the specs with the port, it can be less bassy and vise versa with bigger than the required airspace making it much more bassier....2 cents.
Adam