Subs. Enclosed or Free Air?

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TriHonda

Member - Posts: 8

Joined: March 06, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: March 27, 2005 at 8:22 PM / IP Logged

Here's my dilema:

I have a 99 Civic EX Sedan. My wife drives it mostly, but I drive it on occassion. I have a VERY nice system I'd like to install into the Civic (including a $400 pre-amp, $1100 amp, $1100 sub enclosure, $200 cap, and $400 in wiring). I finally got permission to install the system, but the ONE holdback is the subwoofer enclosure. On our last car, it took up the entire trunk, and I NEVER heard the end of it.

I have permission to install the sub (a 12" Oz in a large bandpassed plexi box), but I know I'll never hear the end of the trunck space debate. In the interest of marital harmony, I'm considering going with a couple of free-air 8-10" subs mounted in (or just under the rear deck) in lieu of rear speakers. I know the sub I own now would create a lot more bass... I don't need to match the bass of the 12" bandpassed sub, but just enough for good SQ would suffice (don't plan to compete).

I would truely be happy with less bass, but will free-air be ridiculously absent of bass? I'm not familiar with free-airs at all, so any thoughts would be appreciated. I'd probably fab a MDF mounting board below the rear deck and mount the 8 or 10" subs just below the factory 6x9 speaker openings. If I used my current sub enclosure, I'd have to cut the rear deck to accomodate two 6" port tubes on the top of the enclosure.

In front, I'd go with some Q-logic kick panels with 5.25" separates, and a matching pair of 6.5" mid-basses in the doors. I've used Oz Audio speakers in the past (and love the rich mids and bass), so I'd like to get something similar sounding. I'm not a fan of harsh sounding (MB Quartz like) speakers. Any recommendations?

Any thoughts on the viability of the install? Suggestions would be appreciated. FYI: I'd be running a good 300w rms total to the sub(s) & 75w rms to each of the four front speakers.

Thanks all, I know you'll come thru for me!

theyoungone

Member - Posts: 27

Joined: March 07, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: March 27, 2005 at 8:25 PM / IP Logged

i would go with enclosed cause my mom has a large bandpass with 2 12's and it takes a lot of space, and th cars are pretty similar, shes got a 1991 Honda accord ex, but thats a few years distant, but definitely enclosed

geepherder

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Posted: March 27, 2005 at 9:44 PM / IP Logged

You could also upgrade the 6x9's and secure enclosures under them to the rear deck. It'd be a lot less work involved- no real fabrication- maybe some slight modifications (you could even pick up prefabs at Wal-Mart) for a lot less money. Get some speakers that handle a decent amount of power, and amplify them. Before I ever got a subwoofer, I had two 6x9 boxes running off deck power that would pound plenty loud and clean.

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supradude

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Joined: September 21, 2004

Location: South Carolina, United States

Posted: March 27, 2005 at 10:41 PM / IP Logged

I would go with subs that will fit in a small space. You could use 1 or 2 in a small sealed box and you would be much better off than using free air subs. Personally, I don't like the bass that the free air subs give, compared to sealed or ported ones. There are lots of brands out there that will fit in very small boxs.

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kfr01

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Posted: March 27, 2005 at 10:53 PM / IP Logged

I think supradude is right on here.

There are MANY subs built now for use in small sealed boxes and the SQ will far exceed that bandpass box.

Look to Adire, Image Dynamics, Arc Audio, Eclipse, Xtant, Infinity, others for subs that work in small enclosures.

I had the same issue with my wife and she doesn't mind the 0.6ft^3 Image Dynamics IDQ 10" in the back at all. You won't be able to "rock the neighborhood" or anything, but the in car bass and sound quality is nice.

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TriHonda

Member - Posts: 8

Joined: March 06, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: March 28, 2005 at 8:46 AM / IP Logged

I just measured (and used one of the neato calculators here) and determined my current bandpass enclosure has over 3.2 cu ft of air space (front and back). Wow, it's huge! No wonder my wife was complaining. I'm starting to think I could get a smaller sub enclosure which satisfy the wife's AND my needs :)

Keep the advice rolling!

kfr01

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Posted: March 28, 2005 at 10:01 AM / IP Logged

Your idea for the front sounds good. 5.25" kicks and 6.5" midbass in the doors is what I'd do if I didn't have giant feet. :-) Do you want a passive 3-way set, or a regular 2-way component set and an active xo between the components and the midbass?

On the bass, you should figure out the maximum enclosure size your wife can probably handle and we can help you more. :-)

New Project: 2003 Pathfinder

TriHonda

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Joined: March 06, 2005

Location: United States

Posted: March 28, 2005 at 10:21 AM / IP Logged

She aquiessed to the HUGE 3.2 cu ft bandpass box, but she'd (forever) give me grief for the lack of trunk space. So, I'm trying to mitigate the problem by finding a much smaller option... I'm thinking half the size would be nice (1.5 cu ft or less). Something that minimizes space useage (wedge or insert of some kind). Plus, I have to admit, the HUGE bandpass enclosure I have does get annoying with the size of it. It's all plexi and such and I am not going to show it.. It don't look right!

DYohn

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Posted: March 28, 2005 at 10:47 AM / IP Logged

Free-air installations can offer excellent SQ as long as the proper speakers are chosen and the installation is done correctly May people really like the low-Q of an IB installation - including me. I suggest probably the best solution is the same one everyone else is offering, which is to choose the correct speaker and build a small 1-1.5 cuft sealed enclosure. It will sound far, far better than any bandpass, although a BP is certainly loud. But if you are genuinely interested in SQ, sealed (or IB) is the best way to go.

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auex

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Posted: March 28, 2005 at 11:04 AM / IP Logged

You could also do a spare tire well enclosure and take up no usable space. You would give up the tire, so get AAA.

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