2 subs/box for hard hitting rock/metal music

[Strakele 10+ year member]

Hey,

This forum was helpful in getting my first system set up. And as most people know, no matter what you have, you always keep looking...

So that's where I am. I have 2 Alpine Type R 10 inch subs in a sealed box in my Mitsubishi Lancer being powered by a 900W amp. It sounds pretty darn good and I really enjoy this system. I listen to mostly rock/metal music like Metallica. With my set up, the kick drum beats feel like a nice tap through the back of the seat. I go to concerts fairly often, and anyone who has ever been to a rock concert knows that the kick drum beats feel like a good punch in the chest. That's what I want.

Is that even possible? I know at a concert the speakers/subs are ported, firing forward toward me. In my car, the subs are sealed, firing away from me, and the sound pressure has to pass through the back seat and through my seat before hitting me, and even then, it hits my back rather than my chest first. So before I even think about spending any money, is what I'm looking for even possible in a car?

If so, what should I be looking for? I have the ability to listen to a decent range of subs/boxes at local stores, but as we all know a room is very different from inside a car. At one store, I heard a pair of the black/yellow Kicker subs in a ported Kicker enclosure that actually did what I want, feeling wise (and of course they were firing towards me, and the ports were round holes on the sides of the enclosure, rather than a big slot in the front.) The room was an absolute acoustic abomination though, rattles everywhere, way out of balance, etc, so I could tell absolutely nothing about sound quality. From what I read, Kickers seem to be great for SPL, but not for SQ. I want the best of both worlds.

If it is indeed possible to do what I want, please make recommendations for subwoofers and enclosures. I'm not sure about price, so please feel free to list anything within reason.

Thanks!

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[Strakele 10+ year member]

Just some additional info:

The subs are in a Q-Logic prefab sealed box. I read a lot of places that the enclosure makes a big difference and I'm considering trying a different one. Do you think that would help? My subs right now can heavily vibrate the seats, rear view mirror, etc, but I just don't get that punch in the chest feeling.

 

[thorshammer1 10+ year member]

I'm a big metal head and there's nothing I enjoy more than Nasty double bass slamming me in the back of the head.

Before you go fudging up your system try a diff. box. preferably something ported. Should be more like ya want.

 

[Strakele 10+ year member]

Yeah man, the double bass really kickin me is exactly what I'm looking for. Are there any decent prefab ported boxes out there that I should look at?

 

[speedfreak28 10+ year member]

I actually prefer a sealed enclosure for that type of music, I've been runninf a13w6ve for the past few months and I love how accurate and loud it is, its for sale but if ur budget allows 2 12w6v2s would sound great

 

[Strakele 10+ year member]

I bought the sealed enclosure for the tightness/accuracy. It certainly is fairly tight. I have never heard any other car with an upgraded sound system though. I'm the only one I know who has upgraded their car stereo. I'd like to hear/feel what a ported box is like. I'd really like to be able to get what I'm looking for with a change of enclosure rather than having to buy new subs as well. Possible?

 

[Strakele 10+ year member]

Is it possible for a simple enclosure change to make the difference I'm looking for?

 

[jaymann107 10+ year member]

I have close to the same set up as you but my type-r's are in a ported box and trust me it made all the diffence in the world. If I were you I would really try to get a custom box made but if you can not here is my recommendation.

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=20153

 

[Strakele 10+ year member]

Thanks for the link. I'll see what I can do about getting a custom box made but I really wasn't looking to spend that much.

 

[Strakele 10+ year member]

After taking a closer look at that enclosure and reviewing the specs on the subs, it seems that box is too big. Alpine recommends between .6 and 1.25 cubic feet for the 10" Type R's. Almost all the boxes I see are 1.5 and up. How will that effect the sound?

 

[Strakele 10+ year member]

Also, I've been looking around and have found a few places with boxes that are said to be made specifically for the Type R's using Alpine's specs with "labyrinth" slot venting port design. Does this actually sound good or is it just marketing?

Here's something like what I'm talking about. http://www.soundsgreat.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SDS&Product_Code=328-10-alpine

What do you think?

 

[alvitae 10+ year member]

I've got a box like that (labyrinth) I don't use it any more but it did get loud. That box did a 142.1 on a term-lab with the cheapest subs I could find, 2 of these 45 dollar 250rms 12's and a "900watt" kenwood amp.

 

[Strakele 10+ year member]

Did you use it with any higher quality woofers to see how it sounded? I don't just want loud, I want that concert-like punch while sounding good too.

 

[alvitae 10+ year member]

Did you use it with any higher quality woofers to see how it sounded? I don't just want loud, I want that concert-like punch while sounding good too.

No, I went with a custom box when I changed subs. It may have been a great sounding box. I just am not an sq guy and would be talking about something I don't know about. But I do know loud //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Edit: As a matter of fact I think it is the 12" version you have on that link. I know the dimensions are the same even down to the 1.6 ^3.

Glad you posted it. I may want to replace it with one that doesn't have tons of screw holes.

 

[GregU 10+ year member]

Hey,
This forum was helpful in getting my first system set up. And as most people know, no matter what you have, you always keep looking...

So that's where I am. I have 2 Alpine Type R 10 inch subs in a sealed box in my Mitsubishi Lancer being powered by a 900W amp. It sounds pretty darn good and I really enjoy this system. I listen to mostly rock/metal music like Metallica. With my set up, the kick drum beats feel like a nice tap through the back of the seat. I go to concerts fairly often, and anyone who has ever been to a rock concert knows that the kick drum beats feel like a good punch in the chest. That's what I want.

Is that even possible? I know at a concert the speakers/subs are ported, firing forward toward me. In my car, the subs are sealed, firing away from me, and the sound pressure has to pass through the back seat and through my seat before hitting me, and even then, it hits my back rather than my chest first. So before I even think about spending any money, is what I'm looking for even possible in a car?

If so, what should I be looking for? I have the ability to listen to a decent range of subs/boxes at local stores, but as we all know a room is very different from inside a car. At one store, I heard a pair of the black/yellow Kicker subs in a ported Kicker enclosure that actually did what I want, feeling wise (and of course they were firing towards me, and the ports were round holes on the sides of the enclosure, rather than a big slot in the front.) The room was an absolute acoustic abomination though, rattles everywhere, way out of balance, etc, so I could tell absolutely nothing about sound quality. From what I read, Kickers seem to be great for SPL, but not for SQ. I want the best of both worlds.

If it is indeed possible to do what I want, please make recommendations for subwoofers and enclosures. I'm not sure about price, so please feel free to list anything within reason.

Thanks!

I can't believe no one has yet asked about what kind of mids/highs he is using......

Yes, it's very possible but in order to do so I would NOT be as concerned with your subs as I would with good midbass and midrange drivers. What your describing is more of an SQ system and most of the sound your talking about would be reproduced by a midbass and midrange driver, not so much as the sub.