FG sound worse?

I have a 2000 camaro and two 12" kicker CVRs. Right now, because of the small cargo space, i'm being forced to use a crappy prefab box made for a camaro. The last couple of competitions i've been to, i've mentioned to a few poeple that i'm probably going to build a fiberglass box, because this is the only way i'll get enough airspace to go ported instead of sealed. For some reason, everyone i talked to said not to do it because FG sounds like crap. I was suprised to hear this, but i figured i'd ask because i've never actually heard a FG box in action. I just figured if i built it right, it should sound fine. Any comments?

FG sound like crap? Who the hell told u that? If anything FG sounds better than MDF when properly built. Now granted a poorly build FG box that is flexing heavily will cause MAD distortion and will sound like ass, a properly build box that is strong enough to handle the pressure of the subs will produce no distortion because there will be NO flexing. Flexing = Distortion if you catch my drift. Who ever said that FG in general sounds like crap has been smoking crack or works for the company that makes those sh*tty bandpass boxes and needs customers.

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"Shiny chrome when used in conjunction with bikini models is particularly effective in inducing brain deficit disorder"

02 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Monster System on its way.

No shiat. If FG jobs sound soo horrible then i highly doubt that allllll of those custom jobs and project cars with all the sweet FG jobs would be built, think about it.

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Fortune: You will continue to take chances, and be glad you did.

I agree with the last 2 replies here, if done correctly, fiberglass can sound really good.  Abou a year ago, I made a single enclosure for my old Accord, and I only used about 3-4 layers of 1-1/2 oz fiberglass and it sounded real good.  If I would have put a little more effort into it, being that it was my first attempt, it probably could have sounded even better!

People like to run their mouth and act like they know what they're talking about. Competitions are especially prone to this since there's a lot of ego on the line. Everyone wants to be the guru. I've heard some of the dumbest and craziest things at competitions. Things like "My amps is running a .01 ohm load. We measured it." or (same guy) "My 6.5's are crossed over to play 30Hz and below." And he wants to open up a shop. Lord help his customers. Anyway, as others have already pointed out, fiberglass sounds just fine. It sounds terrible if you make a terrible box, but that applies to wood enclosures too.

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"My 6.5's are crossed over to play 30Hz and below."

muhahahaha, thats probably the funniest thing I've ever heard!

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"Shiny chrome when used in conjunction with bikini models is particularly effective in inducing brain deficit disorder"

02 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Monster System on its way.

He was dead serious too. I even asked him several times if he meant they had a 30Hz subsonic filter. Nope, they're playing 30Hz and below. I also tried to explain how his (2) four ohm subwoofers could in no way be wired to give a .01 ohm load. He said he measured it and you couldn't tell him any different. I had to walk away when I felt an aneurysm coming on.

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What would constitute a sh*tty FG enclousure ? Do yall just mean like the fiberglassing job its self is sh*tty or like the shape ? How much does shape effect a sealed box ?

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Fortune: You will continue to take chances, and be glad you did.

shape shouldn't effect the sound in a sealed. In a ported the location of the port can cause sound changes 'I THINK' dont quote me on that as thats just an assumption (dont event go saying 'you know what happens when u assume') I'm making based on my knowledge of ported boxes which I dont usually deal with so yes, I'm speaking out my ass (ok, so I read something about it somewhere that the sound comes from the port at the tuning frequency).

Anyway, a sh*tty fiberglass box would be like my first one. It was for 2 12" kicker C03 12's, I made it 4 layers thick and though it was the sh*t. Needless to say when I hooked up my amp and started bump'n the box was flexing almost as much as the subs were excurding, MADDDDD distortion. I was so baffled by this (I was an idiot with fiberglass then) that I let it play while I tryed to figure out what was wrong. Needless to say the box had cracked in 5 places and the side was actually being held together by a few strands of fiberglass by the time I turned it off. Anyway, THAT is a sh*tty fiberglass box. The box that held my 2 RFR3110's was about 15 layers thick and u could park a tank on it. That was a good box. Haha, 6.5's hitt'n 30hz! HAHAHAHAHAHA I cant get over that

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"Shiny chrome when used in conjunction with bikini models is particularly effective in inducing brain deficit disorder"

02 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Monster System on its way.

Yea, i have definitely noticed alot of douchey kinda people at the comps i go to. I just try and ignore it. What i love, is when some loser walks up when i'm about to run, and says "you know, you should get rid of those kickers". But, then i crush them,  So, next question. I know that this will probably be one of those "it just depends" kinda questions, but if i build this fiberglass enclosure (build it good), so that i can finally port these things (probably around 47hz) i'm hoping to gain at least 2DBs. Is this a realistic goal? I am told that CVRs really come alive in a ported enclosure (of proper airspace of course).

Also, i was wanting to make the ports changeable, so i can have 28 for daily, and 47 for comps. Anyone have any suggestions on the easiest way to do this.

Ports will definately make CVR's pound out some heavy dB's, just dont expect much for SQ.... of course I know those arn't gona be for SQ hehe. As for changable ports...... hummmmm..... the only way I could think that that would be possible to be to have 2 ports, 1 tuned to 28 and one tuned to 47 and have it where you can plug the cap from the inside (minimize distortion to the other port). I really cant think of a way that you could actually make physically changable ports.

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"Shiny chrome when used in conjunction with bikini models is particularly effective in inducing brain deficit disorder"

02 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Monster System on its way.

Why couldnt you just have a port that bolted in and you could take the bolts out pop in the other port tube and put the bolts back in. Of course use a rubber seal around the flange of the port.

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Fortune: You will continue to take chances, and be glad you did.

A port's length cannot change without changing it's diameter also.  The longer port you have the wider in diameter it must be to accomodate the same tuning frequency.  The only possible idea (that I can make sense of) would be to create two ports, and just block the one not in use.

i have found that 2 things can make a huge diff in fg,
1) use some mdf for the large flat sufaces,it is best to make a small 't' on the flat sheet to brace the surface(obviously depending on the area of that sheet(like a 1*1,no biggie,but 2*1.5,run a 2" wide piece glued down the long way,to make a short 't'))

2) curve the fg as much as possible,cuves are always stronger,just like the sheet metal of the car,the edge of a curve on a panel doesnt flex,but the door panel does..

i guess one more thing,try putting expanding foam in the seams of like a wheel well,then shape it into a nice curve,then fg it.. think about a surfboard,itsjust styrofoamn with a thin layer of fg!just a little over 1/8 "..either one wouldnt do anything!,but together..
try some styrofoam instead of mdf if weight is an issue..
and you can,and should shape a brace like i said for the mdf into the foam..

if the 't' of mdf is too much,just use the 2" piece in the fg,with the EDGE of the mdf against the flat surface,it uses the same airspace,but is 10* stronger(probably more but..)PLEASE try some braces,you wont believe the diff!! a few small pieces mean the diff between being able to stand on the box,and being able to PARK your CAR on it..I mean park your car LITERALLY,i HAVE done it many times to show off the boxes i build..,and this is probably something many have thought of,but to find the volume,fill it with peanuts,and vacume them out..
for the anal customer,charge him more,and use sand,it cant change volume as much as sand..

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'Stereo' Mike
The Audio CARtist,LLC
9600 Balt. Ave.
College Park,MD 20740
301-474-6260

man box looks awsome i think and the door pods are sweet     great job keep up good work