Hi, i'm new to installing subwoofers in my car. Not an SPL head, so i didn't decided yet if i will go with shallow subs or regular, aiming a bit to shallow 2 x 10" or 2 x 12", because of space and usability of trunk-cabin passage.
My current problem: when looking for subwoofers specs, i've seen a lot in the range of 30-200Hz and many others going to 600 Hz even 1000Hz.
Brands? probably something for budget like JBL or Dayton Audio aroun 150USD maximum a piece
Now, i am a bit intrigued which one should i go with, because i listen to music to normal volumes, very rare high volume
Should i go with a sub that's 200Hz MAX or with a piece that can go 600-1000 HZ?
At the moment i have a pair of JBL GTO 609C in the front (will be added A pillars midrange/widebands speakers) and planning to add a pair of woofers (probably without tweeters in the back doors) for rear bass feel, probabil will get them from 40hz to 1000hz.
Everything deadened anti vibration and sound absorbtion, will add a DSP but further on, will be the last piece of the puzzle
UPDATE: car is a VW Passat Sedan, maybe this counts when choosing the sub
Thanks
My current problem: when looking for subwoofers specs, i've seen a lot in the range of 30-200Hz and many others going to 600 Hz even 1000Hz.
Brands? probably something for budget like JBL or Dayton Audio aroun 150USD maximum a piece
Now, i am a bit intrigued which one should i go with, because i listen to music to normal volumes, very rare high volume
Should i go with a sub that's 200Hz MAX or with a piece that can go 600-1000 HZ?
At the moment i have a pair of JBL GTO 609C in the front (will be added A pillars midrange/widebands speakers) and planning to add a pair of woofers (probably without tweeters in the back doors) for rear bass feel, probabil will get them from 40hz to 1000hz.
Everything deadened anti vibration and sound absorbtion, will add a DSP but further on, will be the last piece of the puzzle
UPDATE: car is a VW Passat Sedan, maybe this counts when choosing the sub
Thanks
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There's a lot more to a woofer than the frequency response. Unless you need it to cover midbass, you just need a subwoofer that will work well 100Hz (that may even be a bit high), down.
If you have a good subwoofer, it will be felt everywhere in the vehicle.
If you're referring to midbass that you can feel, that can be difficult to get (clean) at high levels. You'll need a lot of power and very capable speakers.
If you have a good subwoofer, it will be felt everywhere in the vehicle.
If you're referring to midbass that you can feel, that can be difficult to get (clean) at high levels. You'll need a lot of power and very capable speakers.
Like somebody else told me, if a sub plays high bass will move the sound stage to the back and you an hear where the soud is coming.
I Wasn't thinking that will change the sound stage. My only experience with subs are in house. Also, i found out the6.5" will not play as low as advertised, or if they do, at high volume will pop. My GTO 609C make quite some bass (roof shaking at moderate volume, doors are vibro + acoustic damped, and interior door panels as well) but at high volume it pops (probably mechanical coil touching the back). If HP them to 120 or even better 160 from headunit pop gone (obviusly)
I was just surfing the internet and came to the idea that i could place a small subwoofer in the passenger footwell. Some recommend firing to the firewall for better low bass(but didn't find if placed in IB application like IB trunk subs or sealed enclosure just facing the engine) others i've seen mounting firing to the seat.
I think this will make sense if i can get a slim/shallow 10" in footwell (if i can build with minimal space eaten, don't want to limit passenger space at all) to fill the sound for the front doors mids and crossing them around 100-120Hz and when i get the budget up and add 2 x 12" shallow in the trunk and build the amp rack in the trunk.
I've started from the idea of 2 shallow subs in the trunk because i want to build an enclosure facing the cabin, not to thick and on some sort of mechanism that i can angle horizontally when i need to go snowboarding and placing my 2 or 3 snowboards from the trunk to the cabin, folding down half of rear seat.
Any idea of this setup with a footwell sub for the front doors speakers? and later on to add rear doors speakers and subs like i've described above?
Thanks.
The footwell sub is not going to give much bass unless you have plenty of power and a very good sub. Why can't you build the enclosures in the recesses in the side of the trunk area?
Do the boards go into the car through a ski slot or side to side?
Do the boards go into the car through a ski slot or side to side?
What do you mean by real power for the footrest sub?
well, at first i was thinking to place the subs in custom enclosure between tail light and wheel arch, but it's a sedan (vw Passat) and i think a lot of bass will get lost in the trunk (personal thought). And was thinking i would need a big sub.
I need to be able to fold the rear seats for practicability, when snowboarding a board is 160cm for ex so will go longitudinal with the car , ski slot is impossible, either the rear seats arm rest doesn't have a ski bag, and also that snowboards are big, wide (30cm) if carry 2 or 3 will get quite some space in the car.
Also sometimes i carry stuff and need to be able to fold the rear seats so that i will have bigger space for carrying.
That's why i was thinking about this set-up, with a footwell 10" slim sub in the front and later on when budget allows to add 2 x 12" slim in the trunk on a custom rack that can be facing to the cabin when not needind the folding rear, and when i need space to be able to fold the rack horizontally and get a bigger carry space. Done with some hinges or something.
I'm an engineer and i can figure this out, for sure, regarding the build and solution for amp rack and custom foldable slim subs in the trunk also.
Regarding sound, i'm not an SPL fan or super bass head, don't want my car to shake all over and see loose nuts and screws after a while. With a regular sub, a friend almost was about to fell the roof handle after some time.
even tho i listen only rock/hip-hop/rnb. Mostly 90-2000 hip-hop which doesn;t have so much synthetic bass added. Just the other day i was listening to some Barry White, Clapton, Dire Straits, 2pac (i use spotify) and remembered again how clean recordings were before, and speakers didn't distort at all when using instruments not computer generated sounds.
I'm not looking for 15-20Hz bass, just some mid-bass I GUESS in the front to compliment door speakers. I think 40hz-50hz would do the job, I GUESS 🙂)
well, at first i was thinking to place the subs in custom enclosure between tail light and wheel arch, but it's a sedan (vw Passat) and i think a lot of bass will get lost in the trunk (personal thought). And was thinking i would need a big sub.
I need to be able to fold the rear seats for practicability, when snowboarding a board is 160cm for ex so will go longitudinal with the car , ski slot is impossible, either the rear seats arm rest doesn't have a ski bag, and also that snowboards are big, wide (30cm) if carry 2 or 3 will get quite some space in the car.
Also sometimes i carry stuff and need to be able to fold the rear seats so that i will have bigger space for carrying.
That's why i was thinking about this set-up, with a footwell 10" slim sub in the front and later on when budget allows to add 2 x 12" slim in the trunk on a custom rack that can be facing to the cabin when not needind the folding rear, and when i need space to be able to fold the rack horizontally and get a bigger carry space. Done with some hinges or something.
I'm an engineer and i can figure this out, for sure, regarding the build and solution for amp rack and custom foldable slim subs in the trunk also.
Regarding sound, i'm not an SPL fan or super bass head, don't want my car to shake all over and see loose nuts and screws after a while. With a regular sub, a friend almost was about to fell the roof handle after some time.
even tho i listen only rock/hip-hop/rnb. Mostly 90-2000 hip-hop which doesn;t have so much synthetic bass added. Just the other day i was listening to some Barry White, Clapton, Dire Straits, 2pac (i use spotify) and remembered again how clean recordings were before, and speakers didn't distort at all when using instruments not computer generated sounds.
I'm not looking for 15-20Hz bass, just some mid-bass I GUESS in the front to compliment door speakers. I think 40hz-50hz would do the job, I GUESS 🙂)
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I don't think the footwell is going to be a viable option unless you REALLY don't need much bass.
There are a gazillion fiberglass enclosure tutorials. Why not make the enclosures removable if you need the added trunk space?
You may be able to temporarily remove only one to get the space you need.
Midbass is more like that of a bass guitar (not a stand-up floor bass). Think old funk like the Gap Band. It's not sub bass and not midrange. It's not easy to get it at any significant level.
For those too young to know what funk was, search YT for:
The Gap Band - You Dropped A Bomb On Me (Official Music Video)
Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage
The bass in the trunk will get through.
It would be nice if someone with experience in building subs in this type of vehicle would give their opinion.
There are a gazillion fiberglass enclosure tutorials. Why not make the enclosures removable if you need the added trunk space?
You may be able to temporarily remove only one to get the space you need.
Midbass is more like that of a bass guitar (not a stand-up floor bass). Think old funk like the Gap Band. It's not sub bass and not midrange. It's not easy to get it at any significant level.
For those too young to know what funk was, search YT for:
The Gap Band - You Dropped A Bomb On Me (Official Music Video)
Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage
The bass in the trunk will get through.
It would be nice if someone with experience in building subs in this type of vehicle would give their opinion.
uff, now you got me thinking, not because it won't make a lot of bass, but realised even for a slim sub i need some volume to the enclosure, and that would take a lot of space in passenger seat...so again not a good option.
would have been so much easier if i had a hatchback or break for bass fillin the cabin.
i will make a simulation with software about enclosure though and see if it;s worth the hassle, time and resources..probably adding a DSP would be a better choice 🙂)
would have been so much easier if i had a hatchback or break for bass fillin the cabin.
i will make a simulation with software about enclosure though and see if it;s worth the hassle, time and resources..probably adding a DSP would be a better choice 🙂)