Do Subs Need To Be Ported?
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=72295
Printed Date: July 13, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Topic: Do Subs Need To Be Ported?
Posted By: Bud Weaver
Subject: Do Subs Need To Be Ported?
Date Posted: February 06, 2006 at 3:24 PM
I am contemplating putting a sub-woofer into my 1990 Toyota pickup. There are 2 cubby hole compartments in the floor behind the seat in the extrcab that I was thinking of using to mount a sub and amp. Should the area be ported? Thanx, Bud
Replies:
Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: February 06, 2006 at 3:57 PM
That cannot be answered without at least a little info regarding the subs you have in mind.
Every woofer will require an optimal enclosure, some ported, some not.
Fill us in on the gear you are considering, and we'll try to go from there!
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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."
Posted By: Bud Weaver
Date Posted: February 06, 2006 at 4:26 PM
Okay, here goes. The cubby in question is approx. 1.25 cu/ft in area. Since this is part of the floor of the truck I wish to put a piece of Lexan over the top because it may be stepped on when accessing the back seat. I might even put the cubby door back on it to protect the speaker from damage. So, in essence, the cubby is fairly sealed. I am not looking to drive a big speaker. Maybe a dual-coil 8" speaker driven with a 2 channel, 300 watt sub amp. I am using the factory head unit so I will tap into the low-level RCA outs that I installed in the harness and run them through a passive crossover so I can get a clean, low thump. I do not want to hack up the floorboard of a cherry truck so that is way I am hoping to use a sealed sub. Thanx in advance, Bud
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: February 06, 2006 at 4:35 PM
Bud, the storage compartment on the drivers side of this vehicle is far from sealed. It leaks more air than water in a leaky roof. You need to choose a sub designed for a small sealed enclosure and a shallow mount at the same time. I would personally cut off the top of the metal in this area (cleanly), then glass the bottom and all sides to make the area sealed. Then I would make a new top and glass it into place. End result will be a small sealed box. I would look to see if the AVI shallow mount sub would work for yuo in this application. www.avisound.com
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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: Bud Weaver
Date Posted: February 06, 2006 at 5:28 PM
Thanx for the tips!
Posted By: Bud Weaver
Date Posted: February 06, 2006 at 6:57 PM
How would Kenwood KSC-SW1 self-powered woofer work if I put it in the cubby?
Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: February 06, 2006 at 9:16 PM
Bud Weaver wrote:
I am using the factory head unit so I will tap into the low-level RCA outs that I installed in the harness and run them through a passive crossover so I can get a clean, low thump.
Two comments/ questions, whatever. Did you build your own converter, or did you use an LOC? And as for the passive for the sub, that would be a mistake, IMO. Use an active lowpass filter instead. Your sub amp will provide that. Here's a source of info for reference: https://sound.westhost.com/lr-passive.htm, which reads, in small part, "My recommendation is that all low frequency crossovers should be active, and if you must use a passive network, then it should be for the mid to high frequency section only." ------------- Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.
Posted By: Bud Weaver
Date Posted: February 06, 2006 at 11:26 PM
I built the "converter" basically by splicing in 4 RCA cables to the low-level outs from the head unit before the factory amp. Is that not acceptable? The only thing that the factory amp is doing for now is not powering a sub. I am not certain of the wattage of the factory Toyota amp but it is probably in the 20's range RMS. I have Pioneer 6 1/2" in the rear and Infinity Kappa's with caps in the stock dash boxes. Doesn't sound too bad but it is definately lacking some punch. That is why I just want to put a subwoofer in the cubby. I might even parallel some dome tweeters into the "A" pilars. I will check out the link you provided. Many thanks!
Posted By: wranglercory
Date Posted: February 08, 2006 at 10:38 AM
I would recommend a small custom enclosure instead of the plastic int. panels
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