Anyone converted to a Free-Air system?

[waterboy 10+ year member]

I think ive found a spot on the boat that I can mount two 12'' subs on top of each other. It is under the dash on the passenger side so it will be protected from direct UV and from splashes and wet swimsuits. This idea is what everyone tells me i SHOULD be doing but its going to take some extensive cabin fiberglass work to make it go..

I have two options. I can either put two of my CV vmax 10.2's in or I can put 2 L7's (12"s) in..

The problem is they will be FREE AIR, no box.. which ones are going to sound better? I get conflicting stories. Ive got guys on my lake that said theyve used all different brands, sizes, etc of subs as free air with no adverse affects and say you cant hardly tell the difference in sound because you dont have pressure levels in a cockpit (being that its an open air environment)..

And then ive got guys saying that only "free-air" listed subs should be used in free-air applications..

I know I wont get quite the "hard-hitting" feeling without a box but I also dont want to trash hundreds of dollars worth of subs and have two 12" or 10" holes in my boat that I cant do anything with..

Any help is apprectiated guys.. this site has been uber-helpful in getting this project done in time. in 4 days, im over $6k in equipment, parts and labor. I dont want to skimp on the last part.

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[Tehgregzor 10+ year member]

yes, not all subs are designed for infinite baffle situations.

the websites of each of those subs should suggest whether infinite baffle is appropriate or not.

 

[waterboy 10+ year member]

so is that the correct terminology "infinite-baffle"? The basket of the sub will be in the cabin with the door shut and the sub itself will be firing into the cockpit.

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

so is that the correct terminology "infinite-baffle"? The basket of the sub will be in the cabin with the door shut and the sub itself will be firing into the cockpit.

realistically yes...that is infinite baffle

 

[GearGuy2001 10+ year member]

Yeah since your cabin isnt 1-2 Cubes //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif (or however much you need for the subs your running)

 

[Techchild 10+ year member]

Same thing as mounting subs in your rear dash with the basket facing into the trunk and the cone facing into the passenger cabin

 

[waterboy 10+ year member]

im at my office and our computers are not flash-enabled so I cant get past the welcome page on kickers website. Can anyone give me a yay or nay on infinite baffle usage on the L7's?

 

[waterboy 10+ year member]

so if they arent "designed" for it and i do it anyways, whats the adverse effects?

 

[Fiercetimbo17 10+ year member]

terrible terrible sound, i do not think either one of those are able to do it.

 

[Zorasmiles 10+ year member]

You might want to contact Hemi-22...he just completed a project if I recall correctly.