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What enclosure is better for me?

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: General Mobile Electronics Questions and Answers
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=42287
Printed Date: May 14, 2024 at 5:36 AM


Topic: What enclosure is better for me?

Posted By: Master Asylum
Subject: What enclosure is better for me?
Date Posted: November 05, 2004 at 7:17 AM

I am sure to some degree that question is a personal preference, but I'll give you a general layout of my situation. I *am* new to car audio. I have done a bit of reading(10/+ hours easily) and asking around in person at stores and such to figure this stuff out, if I am wrong about something please tell me, I won't take any offense. I can provide a link to all the equipment I mention.

I drive a 1998 Monte Carlo(Lumina look, yes, it is old lookin.)

I am wanting to put 2 12" Stage 2 Rockford Fosgate Punch Single Voice Coil Subs in. I am going to be running them with a mono-channel amp that from what I can tell will put out 150w RMS to each one (If you can help me with bein 100% sure please email me or catch me on AIM.)

I have been desperately trying to figure out if a Bandpass enclosure or Sealed would be best. I don't have much problem spending a bit more on the bandpass but I'm not looking for competition level (Look at the vehicle it's going into, not for competition.). Also I am going through Best Buy(I know, boo, but I like my ability to force them to fix my stuff if they mess it up.) so take into account the product they'd be giving me. If you happen to know a low shipping cost organization or a local for my area(Between Dayton and Cincinnati Ohio) let me know!

All help is greatly appreciate and welcomed!



-------------
1998 Monte Carlo w/
Eclipse CD8454
2xRockford 5.25" Power 2-way T152C
2xRockford 6"x9" Punch 3-way FRC4369
1xMemphis 16-MCH1300 5-channel
2xKicker 12" L5 Solobaric-2 Ohm



Replies:

Posted By: auex
Date Posted: November 05, 2004 at 8:52 AM
Sealed will sound better but bandpass will be louder. It is always cheaper to build a box then to buy it retail.

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Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
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I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.




Posted By: supradude
Date Posted: November 05, 2004 at 10:14 AM
I personally like the sealed box. I am using 2 15's by Fosgate, with 900 watts on them by Crossfire. They sound good and are plenty loud too. Just my opinion.

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'85 Toy




Posted By: Master Asylum
Date Posted: November 05, 2004 at 12:55 PM

I keep hearing a lot about distortion from ported designs and I was wondering how dangerous that could possibly be. If it isn't really anything I need to worry about, then I'd say bandpass is probably my best option.



-------------
1998 Monte Carlo w/
Eclipse CD8454
2xRockford 5.25" Power 2-way T152C
2xRockford 6"x9" Punch 3-way FRC4369
1xMemphis 16-MCH1300 5-channel
2xKicker 12" L5 Solobaric-2 Ohm




Posted By: lathan
Date Posted: November 05, 2004 at 10:56 PM
to me... bandpass never belongs in a trunk. Just me. It sounds like garbage, and I just cant help feeling that way, lol. definitly sealed. especially for rockfords. good luck and peace

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Lathan Hites
"I'm sorry, without a credit card I'll be requiring a stool sample"




Posted By: jeffchilcott
Date Posted: November 07, 2004 at 12:49 AM
I wont ever let a bandpass near my vehicles I install on,    sealed or slot ports    I also hate round ports     just my opinion

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2009 0-1000 Trunk WR 154.0DB 2009 1001+ Trunk WR
2007 USACI World Champion
2007 World Record
2006 USACI Finals 2nd Place




Posted By: boxmaker85
Date Posted: November 07, 2004 at 1:09 AM

A bandpass will sqeeze out every last db out of your sub it has.  The problems:  they have extremely poor sound quality, if not built for the sub (or if the sub's not built for it) then you can easily fry it, and when they do distort you cannot tell very easily because you usually have them slaming and they sound crappy anyways.  But if you don't care for the sound quality then yeah go with it, but as has been said, it's not recomended.  That aside, a sealed box is your best bet.  Especially if you're new to car audio.  Build one youself.  Not hard and a sealed is very forgiving on size differences (up to like 20% i believe).   And cost a butt ton less.  As far as distortion, like I mentioned earlier:  you can have a hard time telling with a bandpass box.  A ported will give you those extra db with a little sacrifice in sound quality.  But they shouldn't distort unless your amp clips or you've got way to much power running to them.

Go and get a good 500 watt rms amplifier for your two subs (combine not 500 to each).  I've never underpowered my subs.  You can always (well most of the time) run more then the factory stated rms value.  Mono or bidged 2 channel will do.  Wire accordingly.

Also: bandpass boxes are normally extremely big.  If you don't mind having only half your trunk space.....then yeah go for that bandpas.  A sealed is the smallest box you can build for your sub.





Posted By: layinframe_95
Date Posted: November 08, 2004 at 8:31 PM
Sealed all the way... Better SQ, less space, just my opinion... 




Posted By: archemedes
Date Posted: November 08, 2004 at 11:34 PM
I would say sealed also, what does RF suggest for those subs?




Posted By: Master Asylum
Date Posted: November 10, 2004 at 8:08 AM

I've decided to go sealed. Here is a basic outlook of what my speakers are going to be:

2- 5 1/4" Rockford Power T152C 2-way (Door Speakers)
2- 6"x9" Rockford Punch FRC4369 3-way (Rear Deck Speakers)
1- Kenwood KAC-8401 4-Channel Amp (60w RMSx4)
2- Rockford Punch P212S4 12" Subs (4 ohms)
1- Rockford Punch P3001 Mono Amp
1- Sealed Box

I might get around to designing a bandpass sometime when I have a better understanding for what best fits the speakers, but I'll probably stick with sealed since the overall consensus seems to go that way and it was what I originally planned on. Thanks guys, lmk what you think of the speaker setup!



-------------
1998 Monte Carlo w/
Eclipse CD8454
2xRockford 5.25" Power 2-way T152C
2xRockford 6"x9" Punch 3-way FRC4369
1xMemphis 16-MCH1300 5-channel
2xKicker 12" L5 Solobaric-2 Ohm




Posted By: boxmaker85
Date Posted: November 10, 2004 at 12:15 PM
Good stuff.  Not a big fan of RF's new stuff, but it's not too bad.  Definately a sealed for now.  You don't normally see to many bandpass boxes.  They are loud but not very good with the sq.  This is my opinion and I think some will agree with me on this, if you're running two subs then get a box that seperates the drivers.  As in one box for one sub and another for the other sub.  You can have them together but make sure they have seperate sealed areas from each other.  Gives better sq IMO and if one sub blows the other isn't playing in an enclosure that's twice what it's suppose to have.




Posted By: Master Asylum
Date Posted: November 10, 2004 at 12:22 PM
So basically 2 sealed boxes put in the trunk and potentially harnessed together? Anyone think that is a bad idea? Sounds smart to me.

-------------
1998 Monte Carlo w/
Eclipse CD8454
2xRockford 5.25" Power 2-way T152C
2xRockford 6"x9" Punch 3-way FRC4369
1xMemphis 16-MCH1300 5-channel
2xKicker 12" L5 Solobaric-2 Ohm




Posted By: boxmaker85
Date Posted: November 10, 2004 at 12:45 PM

Or just one large box but make sure that both subs have their own sealed seperate spaces (they're so childish, have to have everything to themselves....sigh).  posted_image   But yeah that's the general idea.





Posted By: Master Asylum
Date Posted: November 10, 2004 at 12:55 PM
Ok, thank you! I believe this should tie things up here. Now for the amp problem.

-------------
1998 Monte Carlo w/
Eclipse CD8454
2xRockford 5.25" Power 2-way T152C
2xRockford 6"x9" Punch 3-way FRC4369
1xMemphis 16-MCH1300 5-channel
2xKicker 12" L5 Solobaric-2 Ohm





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