What does the box do?

i hope you didnt damage your subs by running them free air. Its very easy to do.  "People with mullets live 40% longer"   - Ricky Bobby

Yeah, don't be experimenting with expensive gear without knowledge of the facts.  If the sub's manual says to use a box, use one.Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.

Without an enclosure, there is pretty much complete cancellation at nearly all frequencies that a subwoofer is designed to produce. The enclosure is there to keep the back wave (a wave that is 180° out of phase, BTW) from coming in contact with the front wave, and causing near complete cancellation. It is also an important part of the subwoofer system, as the enclosed volume of air provides a "springy mass" to work against, and provide additional mechanical damping and control.It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

Also...would you want to roll around with your subs literally rolling around in your trunk trying to thump away??? lol

nouseforaname wrote: even "free air subs" usually sound like poopy.

Perhaps a little bit late, but I might also add here that there is no such thnig as a "free-air" subwoofer. The correct nomenclature is "Infinite Baffle". The infinite baffle does the same thing as a box, it just does it without the "springy mass" mentioned in my previous post. The mechanical components of the infinite baffle woofer are usually VERY stiff, so they will perform correctly in such an alignment. The mechanical stiffness takes the place of the enclosed volume, but you cannot have anything replace the actual baffle's function - separating the front wave and rear wave from one another. Depending on the woofer, I have always been a fan of infinite baffle loading, it seems to me to provide the best extension and response of most any alignment I have personally heard. The transmission line follows very closely behind, in the list of "preferred alignments". (IMO) I am thinking seriously of putting my SW9122 in a TL in this next system iteration... I'll be plugging the numbers in soon, and determining if it is going to do what I really want it to do, and posting the results, hopefully soon. If I do this, I might have an Eclipse DA7232 for sale... Hands up, if interested! Box and all manuals still present. Gently used, never abused!It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."