using different size woofers

Can't hurt to try and find out. Phasing might be an issue (cancellation) but considering some home speakers do something similar to this it may work ok. The thing is the speakers are crossed over to minimize "overlap" and avoid cancellation..the frequencies an 8'', 10'' and 12'' sub can reproduce are pretty close so using cross overs is probably a waste. If you try this make sure they do not share the same air space..I could see that causing the smaller subs of over excurt.

Lets us know what happens if you do this..personally I find one 10'' enough to cover all the sub freqs. needed to enjoy music.

What if you used an ultra high end 8''...a medium quality 10''...and an entry level 12''??   Would they all sound the same??  Jus kidding.  lol...but absolutly a factor if the goal in doing this was to "cover all the frequencies". Logic tells me there would be no point in doing this but experience tells me it would work..well somewhat...in other words there will be an increase in sub bass output at the frequencies the subs reproduce working together.

But then again if a basshead loves shaking the neighborhood @ 30hz I don't even think an 8'' is a consideration

Yes, that application makes some sense. When I am designing a system utilizing 10'' or 12'' subs the lower spectrum is covered. In that case if I was considering adding an 8'' to this system I would bandpass it and use it as a midbass and place it up front if possible such as in a custom enclosure cut into the floor or in the doors if possible.

I don't think there would be much advantage to install an 8'' sub in the rear if you already have 10s or 12s there as it would pull the sound stage back, not the best for sq.

I agree.  And if the 8" were combined with the larger sub under the same crossover, it wouldn't make any difference that it were a smaller cone area driver.  Except that the sound quality would most likely suffer because of the mishmash of different driver sizes being used to produce one part of the total sound spectrum.  It's like, if you usually don't see such a sub arrangement done, there's good reasons why you don't.

Questions like your friend posed, and as it reads in your post, seem to normally come about because of the novice desire to "have the best of both worlds", or "reinvent the wheel".  They are burdened by their lack of knowledge and experience on the subject.  Like the people who can't comprehend the distinction between SQ and SPL, and so carry on with their own "SQL" terminology.  Or the beginner who strings 23 flea-market drivers around in his beater and assumes that gives him the distinction of being a newly-crowned King of car audio and recognized audiophile expert.

You hit the nail on the head, I wish to add only one thing. A lot of people are going by myth that is created by "experts" in this industry. As the new year has followed a lot of sales reps representing different brands are about trying to push/market there new line ups for the year. It is amazing the amount of b.s. some of them spread in which rolls down hill to the sales/install staff and eventually the customer. stevdart, dyohn, hemp, forbidden etc....... you cats have enough knowledge to baffle many (inc. me :) and your information is valuable  for all especially  beginners please continue to share....

And yes a rep as early as today commented on the vast "SQL" potential of their new subwoofers for '07, I corrected him but he was mecp certified for product knowledge...........................

stevdart wrote:

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Or the beginner who strings 23 flea-market drivers around in his beater and assumes that gives him the distinction of being a newly-crowned King of car audio and recognized audiophile expert.

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You'll upgrade.  We all do.  I know it's hard to be humble about your first major aftermarket system.  And there's a hell of a lot of us who are "poor boys" too.  Just playing around with this hobby will continually assure you of THAT status!  If I ever begin to forget that fact, my wife is right there to remind me.  ;)  Start with the cars, then take the hobby into the family room with HT...I've got discarded speaker projects all over the place here.  You'll have your own little speaker museum pretty soon, too.

Hey jmelton86, what makes you think anyone was talking about you???? Do you really have 23 drivers?? If so how did anyone know?

Kidding aside, I am a FIRM believer that whatever works for the listener..is the best for them..period. I admire "do it yourselfers" even if using anything they find laying around...hey..many of us learned that way.

My first "system" was an 8'' mounted on a board...free air....not infinite baffle mind you.....just on a board. I enjoyed it so thats all that counts...until one day I found out that placing it into an enclosure would actually allow some bass reproduction to be heard...so I enjoyed it more.

It's all part of the learning process..so don't take anything to hard that you read on here...even those that seem rude or egotistical...I find they are actually very helpful, respectful, decent people.....well most of the time anyhow....: )

Take care.

master5 wrote:

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Hey jmelton86, what makes you think anyone was talking about you???? Do you really have 23 drivers?? If so how did anyone know?

Kidding aside, I am a FIRM believer that whatever works for the listener..is the best for them..period. I admire "do it yourselfers" even if using anything they find laying around...hey..many of us learned that way.

My first "system" was an 8'' mounted on a board...free air....not infinite baffle mind you.....just on a board. I enjoyed it so thats all that counts...until one day I found out that placing it into an enclosure would actually allow some bass reproduction to be heard...so I enjoyed it more.

It's all part of the learning process..so don't take anything to hard that you read on here...even those that seem rude or egotistical...I find they are actually very helpful, respectful, decent people.....well most of the time anyhow....: )

Take care.

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jmelton86 wrote:

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I'm proud of the fact I put my 23 driver system together. Yes, 80Hz and up is all Alpine powered. It may not be what you 'experienced' guys prefer but coming from a poor-boy standpoint, it sounds d*mn good for everything being under $500! That's what matters to me, so it doesn't matter to me how you feel about it. I may not have the best equipment but at least I don't say someone elses' get-up sucks, that's not right. I might suggest ways for them to sound better but im not a jerk about it. Now, not all my speakers are from the flea-market, just half of them- that's not fair!

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Yeah, I personally don't see the point in buying equipment that you can't sit in front of and crank up. I like the fact that mine is loud enough to drown out road noise with the windows down on the interstate, while sounding clean. That, for me, is loud enough. Like someone said before, why put $3000 in a $500 car? -Bu that's just me. It does help the economy, though! By American made equipment, people!

Back to the top, I have always wanted to see one of these arrangements. I bet if in the right enclosure with enough power, would sound very good. 

If any equipment was made in America anymore...I doubt I could afford it.  But recently I purchased a ford...the bad news is that it is actually a Mazda....or is that good news? The last few fords I owned had major catastrophic mechanical problems at under 75k...the mazda just seems to 100 dollar me to death, but I recently hit the 75k mark with it..holding my breath..lol

I still have the stock deck......not even a cd player...and everytime I open the trunk I find chunks of the factory speakers surround in it. But I did install a remote start..up in NY for now and it got friggen cold. The RS is DEI...an American company...oh wait...it's all made overseas....darn.

Saving up for a system however hoping stupid unforseen catastrophies don't wipe me out. I want to mold in a double din DVD/nav unit..anyone know an American brand that makes one?  lol

Wow //sounds like a political view. I actually agree..well to a point. As much as we can blame the unions for the mess this country has become (IMO the middle class is soon to be gone..you are struggling paycheck to paycheck broke..or rolling in dough) is corporate greed..and companies caring more (alot more) about it's stockholders then it's customers...and WORSE .it's employees.

The only reason the big corporations (well most..can't blame em all) give any lunch breaks...paid vacations..benifiets...overtime etc..is because the LAW forces them too. I am sure many employees would prefer a pay raise in lieu of all that..and perhaps the companies as well...but do you think the stockholders would go for that??are you kidding they would legalize slavery in a heartbeat if it meant the stock go up a point. But...the big wigs??? Huge bonuses (millions)..heck..when they get fired they get millions...but if the stocks drop.......the workers are the first to go.

So for me it is a tough call...the industry I am in (installing) had never had a union..but my uncle and grandfather are NYC local 3 electricians...and the union took great care of gramps..and my uncle is still working with them...yes there is layoffs..but he gets half pay...about 1700 dollars a week.

I have been installing for almost 20 years...I earn about 200 dollars more a week take home then my first job when I was 17..it's far less then my uncle makes being laid off...and he will have a job again...in my industry with no union....everyday I consider a new carrer.

You really have to look at both sides of the coin..I am a registered independant but consider myself a libertarian...I believe in personal freedom and would fight for it..but at the same time I hate seeing the American dream become a nightmare for so many due to greed.

Now we could get into nafta and the clusterf78k that caused..and all the unfairness..cheap labor overseas that in no way can we compete..and yes..most Americans take more pride in thier beer or football team then thier work..but I know I could use a break..I love this industry but have to put food on the table..real estate/rents .... skyrocketing...fuel...up..copper...up..my pay...the same...you tell me whats up????

Thats my piece agree or not.

Oh..was that what the post was about?? lol

All soap boxing aside....For all out sq.I find 10'' high quality subs to be a great compromise between solid tight sound reproduction and low end output..buts thats just me.