Car Audio (Subwoofer)

[Jesus Jones]

Anyone use those flat active car subwoofers. They're about 3/4 inch thick. Just wondered what they sound like as i don't want to put a huge box in the back. I'm looking for something i can disconnect easily when i load the car up.

I know bass is about moving air, but just curious as to what they sound like if anyone uses them?

[the dogcatcher]

It's all about moving air. Trick is not to let the sound from the back of the speaker get around the front, unless it's via a properly engineered port.

[Sawyer]

Installed an infinity basslink the other week for somebody. A 10" model, impressed with how it sounded. Although you have to be careful unplugging it as you'd still have a live lead from the battery just dangling round the cab of your car.

Car Audio & Security: Car Stereo, Speakers & Subwoofers, Car DVD Players, GPS and CD Changers

Something like that will fix the problem for "quick release".

[Jesus Jones]

^Thanks, the basslink looks like it migh be a good option.

[Sawyer]

My mate had his behind the rear seat in a MR2. Really nice sounding. 200RMS too so they pack a punch, especially when your sat in the cab infront of it! They pop up on Ebay quite often. What front speakers do you have? Also what head unit?

[Sawyer]

The best thing to do really is to find a decent car audio shop, ask for their recommendations and suggestions then ask to listen to the various subs they suggest. You can get subs now which really don't need a big box to get good results. It's also pretty easy to build a box with some 3/4" MDF, some glue and a few screws. Then you can build it to fit neat to your car (and ultimatly not take up much room). Depends how much time you have on your hands I guess.

What kind of music do you listen too? If your not really a bass junkie, an 8" sub might be ok just to add a some tight low end to your car. Plus it's small and doesn't need a great deal of room (plenty of people fit 8" subs in passenger foot wells). Theres also theres a few subs out there now designed to fit under car seats, I've no idea how these sound though, but it avoids using any boot space at all.

[Jesus Jones]

^Thanks for the info. As for the technicalities i have a full understanding being a former audio engineer working alongside audiophile equipment from the US and UK. One of my jobs was building and testing subs for REL. But as far as car audio goes, i'm out of date. I know that if i want depth, and i'm referring to depth and not bass as it is totally different, i need a sub that can move air quickly, but the right box and the elimination of standing waves is important. But as it is only a car, and the sound will be coloured somewhat by the road noise, i just want a reasonable sound, without taking room on a permanent level. Under the rear seats there is about 5 inch of space, and have have seen in Thailand sound quite thin subes with 10 inch bass drivers. The thing that concerns me is the magnet behind the spider must be very small. The magnet type and size is important to starting and stopping the bass unit quickly.

I will venture out and try and get a demo. Alternatively i will have the neccessary cables installed to the rear and plug one in and see what happens.

My fronts are Boston Acoustics, rears are the standard supplied. The front end is alpine.

Thanks for you info.

[Sawyer]

I'd love a job testing subs, that must have been a great job.

Ahh cool! Let us know how you get on. I'd like to hear your opinions on those smaller subs, unfortunatly i've not heard enough of them bar this infinity bass x! Looking again on the internet there seems to be quite a few:

Focal Access BUS 20 Underseat Woofer
Pioneer TS-WX77A Subwoofer - Car Audio Direct
Pioneer TS-WX22A Subwoofer - Car Audio Direct
Pioneer TS-WX210A 8" Active Underseat Subwoofer
Ground Zero GZUB 800ACT Active Subwoofer
Pioneer TS-WX11A Subwoofer - Car Audio Direct

I'm a bit of a JL Audio fan and just noticed they make a "flat" sub also, it also describes the design a little bit: JL Audio TW5 Subwoofers - Car Audio Subwoofers

Where abouts are you based?

And yes, your quite right, cars ain't the best places to put sound. Although getting reasnable and better than stock sound is fairly easy and not stupid expensive. I think getting Audiophile sound is insanly expensive and it still never sounds as good as your hifi. haha.

Have you sound deaddened the doors? That makes a big big difference especially to the mid bass/bass of your front speakers. It's a fairly easy process, it'll add a little weight to your car but i'd say it really tightens things up. I used a little in my boot and doors and the difference was amazing. Instead of using my standard door card locations I created some MDF baffles, drilled them directly into the door then fibreglassed around and screwed the speakers into the baffle. Much better than the plastic standard door locations. It secured the speaker more, less rattles, less loss of sound and more punch and bass.

You could also power those 2 front speakers off a 2 channel amp instead of the head unit you'll notice a better response as well, you could always replace those back to speakers for a pair of 6x9's. (then buy a 2 or 4 channel amp) 6x9's aint the best of things but you'll defently get an improved bass. Plus you could fit them to a redesigned parcel shelf and an amp can easily be fitted under a seat.

This is what I did with my car:

Before:



A little bit later:



A bit later again (I redid the sound deaddening on the outer skin to bigger peices once i'd got my heat gun)



Messy, but strong!



And after all that!



It's still a work in progress my car, but i'm hoping once it's finished it'll sound great. Then I'll be happy to drive everywhere again.

[Jesus Jones]

^Nice job there. OK today i tried an MB Quart flat sub i think. Anyway, it sounded like a bag of rotten spuds, so i've ruled that out. I will try and find somewhere that has the infinity as being 8inch in depth it should provide something. Failing that i will make my own.

I'm in Thailand, there is quite a big range of car audio here. However, all the installs I have seen and heard sound cack, but that could be down to the shyty digital casio keyboard dance sound they use.

One question: Why did you install the tweeter so low. Looking at it, it looks like it may fire into the legs where a large percentage will be absorbed. Tweeters are directional in sound which i'm sure you know already?

[Sawyer]

Ahh, fair play I've never heard any MB Quartz subs, their comps are usually ok. Well keep me updated how you get on.

Also a few people have asked me this, it's actually a little forward so it fires infront of my knee's across the car - so it's ok (i've got little legs!). Also JL recommend you put the tweeters within 8 inches of the mid/bass The manual actually recommends the location i've put them (I couldn't believe it myself at first). The tweeters wouldn't fit the stock location of the car, I was going to adapt the stock location to make them fit but on testing it sounded a little "hissy and harsh" with the tweeter being so high. Although in my old car I had them in the stock locations which are roughly the position as my car now, although they were Alpine comps and not JL's im using now. I tried a few other locations and decided they sounded ok there!

Yeah I can understand that, some of the "dance" music i've heard when being over there is terrible and if it's anything like a lot of club sound systems volume seems to replace quality. Felt like my ears had been rattled for days last time I went out in Bangkok - and I love going to clubs and checking out big sound systems. Haha, Casio Keyboard sound! What kind of music do you listen too out of interest?

For testing bass I can't help but recommend 16Bit - http://www.shetme.com/mixes/16bit-THE_MILKY_PIE_MIX.mp3

[Jesus Jones]

The recommendation of 8 inches from the mid is actually true, as it limits diffraction and improves imaging. I'm suprised they recommend that in car audio as the majority of high frequencies depend on reflections. Anyway, if it sounds good that's the main thing. Tech data actually means feck all.

As for door padding. I used dynamat already.

[Jesus Jones]

BTW, it was a Bostwick sub, not MB Quart.

[Fondles]

Bostwick is shit, end off.

My first car here (94 mitsu lancer) i fitted focal 6 inch splits front and rear with a 10" JBL sub in a tiny sealed enclosure all running from a 5 channel JBL amp was all supplied/fitted by Turbo Sound in Naklua (Pattaya), whilst it would never win any awards it was a tidy little set-up that had decent sound quality (i dont do doof doof).

[dotcom]

I can introduce you to the top installer in BKK.