Different Size Subs in one Car
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=20134
Printed Date: September 11, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Topic: Different Size Subs in one Car
Posted By: specialblendj
Subject: Different Size Subs in one Car
Date Posted: October 15, 2003 at 11:11 AM
Why do people say not to put different size subs in a car. I've heard because of cancellation, but how do they cancel each other out? Can cancellation be prevented by the way you have them firing or the way you build your enclosure? Alpine has a show car that has 2 15's, 3 12's, and 2 10's. Granted this is a show car and they want it to look good, but of course sound quality is important to them.
Replies:
Posted By: Ketel22
Date Posted: October 15, 2003 at 11:17 AM
to only proper way to use different size subs which most people dont realize is to use each sub ofr set of sub sizes for a certain frequency. ie 15's for 40hz and below, 12's for for 40hz-90hs and 10's for 90hz-120hz that would be the type of settings you would use for the setup you mentioned. but using different sized subs does seem to be discouraged in this forum for some reason im not sure of, i mean if you set them up right their will be absolutly no cancellation caused by the different size. although if you had them all running at the same freqrency they subs would cancel because the 15's, 12's and 10's all have different response times and excursion maxes.
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Posted By: wvsquirrel
Date Posted: October 15, 2003 at 11:33 AM
I think it's mainly discouraged because a lot of us are inexperienced at enclosure building and tuning. If someone is really interested in doing it, I've seen the advice given. But usually everyone tends to agree that it takes more than a little experience to properly set up that kind of configuration and to have it sound great.
Keep in mind most people so far have only seemed interested in either buying prefab enclosures or building simple enclosures and then just putting multiple subs in them. It takes a lot more time to properly build the kind of enclosure that would be required to do it right. A lot of poeple aren't interested in taking that time and diong it right. But if your really interested, I'm sure one of the experts would give you a hand in a thread or PM.
And no, I have never done it before. I'm just starting my first "real" custom enclosure with (2) 12's ------------- Squirrel
"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"
If its too loud, then you're too old
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Posted By: auex
Date Posted: October 15, 2003 at 1:38 PM
What should be done is to have or build a bandpass crossover with steep slopes. This way the subs would all play different frequencies. There will still be a little cancelation but would definately be less then if you had them all running off of the same amp/crossover. Angling the subs different directions probably won't help much if at all. And nobody says not to do it, just it would sound best not to mix subs. If you are going to do it then you should do it right.
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Posted By: italnpimp59
Date Posted: October 15, 2003 at 9:42 PM
yeah i installed 2 10's and 2 15's for a customer all off the same amp and it sounded like crap...cancellation is why. its usually not a good idea to mix subs like that unless you are an expert box builder and also have a good crossover. by the way, wvsquirrel, who that u know of on this site is really good with enclosures? im ok with it, but i have some questions i would really like to know the answers to.
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Posted By: wvsquirrel
Date Posted: October 16, 2003 at 12:17 AM
Bberman1 and Big Purds have extensive knowledge, but not a lot of time. I also believe Velocity Motors and Esmith69 have excellent knowledge as well. I'm sure there are a lot more out there, I hate dropping names because I can't get everyone! Your best bet is to start a new post and just ask everyone.
Have you checked out Basic Car Audio Electronics yet? It's got a lot of the basics. ------------- Squirrel
"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"
If its too loud, then you're too old
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Posted By: tdsteele
Date Posted: October 16, 2003 at 8:49 AM
Hven't seen Esmith on here in quite a while...wonder where he went off to.
Posted By: wvsquirrel
Date Posted: October 16, 2003 at 8:57 AM
I was wondering that myself. Probably got too busy at work to play with us deadbeats anymore  ! ------------- Squirrel
"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"
If its too loud, then you're too old
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Posted By: nedgeworth
Date Posted: October 16, 2003 at 3:44 PM
Nah even when at work there is always time for 12volt! Well of course this is easy when your job requires you in front of a screen all day!
Posted By: wvsquirrel
Date Posted: October 17, 2003 at 1:00 AM
LOL. Amen to that. I work 3rd shift, 12 hour days right now. This site helps keep me sane and awake in the middle of the night! ------------- Squirrel
"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"
If its too loud, then you're too old
Donate to the12volt.com
Posted By: nedgeworth
Date Posted: October 17, 2003 at 7:43 AM
Lol. Yeah it's very helpful in that way. Only thing is least you get a lot more activity on here than me cause of time difference! Whenever i'm just hoping for something to babble on about there's just nothing there. Then when i get round to a post my brain just doesn't function.
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