Sub for convertible - top open/closed

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A friend asked me to build a subwoofer for his convertible. I think a sealed enclosure would be best, based off the type of music he likes, his bass preferences, and the space available. Now, I realize that the cabin of a car amplifies low bass frequencies, and the smaller the cabin, the higher of a frequency at which this starts. So this is even more dominate in a small convertible.

Now, my main question is, if I design the sub to sound good with the top closed, will I lose all my cabin gain bass when the top is opened? Is there any way I can remedy this?

Thanks in advance!

Reece
 
If you wanted a super-slick implementation, you could have your cake and eat it, too.

Top-down, make an eq curve that sounds good. LOTS of power and bass-boosting action.

Top-up, make the eq cut out and let cabin gain work for you.

Use a micro-switch or an existing switch for the car's sensor, whatever you can hide.

Of course, if it is a ragtop, you will have next to no cabin gain anyway due to the lossy nature of the top IIRC, so vented is the way, all the way.
 
Cabin gain (or room gain) comes because the air in a volume is compressed. If you have flexible walls in your house or a cloth roof to a car, they will be (at least) very lossy, contributing "not much" to the low-bass output of a subwoofer.
 
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