Help with subwoofer setup!

[Jared Schwersky]

Hello folks, first time here, thanks in advance. Been into car audio forever, however I've always went to shops and got their recommendations and had them handle everything. This time will be different t, I want to take that jump into learning about all the aspects of this world. I have a 2009 BMW 650i convertible coupe. I am looking to add a system to it that will satisfy my desire for volume while being reasonable on its quality. Ive had many competition setups in the past with duel 12" or 15". I cant do that this time because I just dont have the space. Unfortunately the car is at the shop getting repaired right now so I cant give you measurements. Ai says that because it's a convertible and needs room for the top it has 10.6 cubic feet available. It estimates the depth to be 16in and width to be 43.7". Ai says "There is no single "standard" height for the trunk because of the irregular shape caused by the convertible top storage mechanism." So that is my struggle. I am thinking either dual 10" in a ported enclosure or a single 12". Id like to avoid having to get a secondary AMG battery but please give me some recommendations on how much advantage I would have by bumping the subs and amps handling above that standard. I figured because of my space restrictions I am looking at a high efficient sub with maybe 1500 to 2000w power? I was looking into dual 10" CT sounds Meso or strato, or sundown e series. Im open to any recommendations, suggestions, help.


Listen to all types of music but mainly rap.
My budget is 1000-2500$

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[CarAudio.com - Hal AI Bots]

Hello folks, first time here, thanks in advance. Been into car audio forever, however I've always went to shops and got their recommendations and had them handle everything. This time will be different t, I want to take that jump into learning about all the aspects of this world. I have a 2009 BMW 650i convertible coupe. I am looking to add a system to it that will satisfy my desire for volume while being reasonable on its quality. Ive had many competition setups in the past with duel 12" or 15". I cant do that this time because I just dont have the space. Unfortunately the car is at the shop getting repaired right now so I cant give you measurements. Ai says that because it's a convertible and needs room for the top it has 10.6 cubic feet available. It estimates the depth to be 16in and width to be 43.7". Ai says "There is no single "standard" height for the trunk because of the irregular shape caused by the convertible top storage mechanism." So that is my struggle. I am thinking either dual 10" in a ported enclosure or a single 12". Id like to avoid having to get a secondary AMG battery but please give me some recommendations on how much advantage I would have by bumping the subs and amps handling above that standard. I figured because of my space restrictions I am looking at a high efficient sub with maybe 1500 to 2000w power? I was looking into dual 10" CT sounds Meso or strato, or sundown e series. Im open to any recommendations, suggestions, help.


Listen to all types of music but mainly rap.
My budget is 1000-2500$

Welcome to the forum, Jared! It's great to hear that you're looking to dive deeper into the world of car audio. Let's break down your requirements and come up with some solid recommendations for your BMW 650i convertible.

### Space Considerations
Given the constraints you've mentioned (10.6 cubic feet, with irregular trunk dimensions), you will want to maximize the use of available space without compromising sound quality. Dual 10" subs are usually a good option for a balance between performance and size, especially in a convertible where space can be limited.

### Subwoofer Options
1. CT Sounds Meso or Strato: Both of these are solid options. The Meso is known for its great sound quality and can handle a decent amount of power, making it a good candidate for your tastes in rap music. The Strato offers a bit more punch and might perform better for your volume needs while still maintaining sound quality.

2. Sundown E-Series: These are reliable and known for their efficiency. Depending on which version you choose (single or dual voice coil), they can provide good versatility.

3. Single 12": If you're also considering a single 12" setup, you might want to look at the Skar Audio EVL-12 or the Rockford Fosgate P3D2-12. Both offer excellent low-end response and are efficient enough to pair well with a decent amplifier.

### Amplifier Recommendations
For amplifiers, aiming for 1500 to 2000 watts RMS is ideal. Here are a few options:

1. Skar Audio RP-2000.1D: This amplifier is robust and offers great power, perfect for driving either a dual 10" setup or a single 12".

2. CT Sounds 2000.1D: This amp pairs well with their subs and will drive them nicely while providing good sound quality.

3. Hifonics BRX2000.1D: Another excellent choice that provides reliable power and solid performance.

### Power Supply Considerations
Since you want to avoid using a secondary AGM battery, make sure your factory battery and alternator are in good condition. If you're pushing towards the higher end of your amp's capability, you’ll want to ensure your vehicle's electrical system can handle the load. You can consider the following:

• Big 3 Upgrade: Upgrading your alternator wire, battery ground, and power wire can help improve electrical performance and prevent dimming lights or other issues.
• Capacitor: If you're experiencing voltage drops, an audio capacitor can help smooth out power delivery to your subwoofer.

### Budgeting
With your budget of $1,000-$2,500, you should have enough for a solid setup including subs, an amp, and a quality enclosure, plus installation costs if you choose to go that route.

### Enclosure Type
A ported enclosure will generally give you more volume, especially for rap music, as it emphasizes low-end frequency response. Ensure that the enclosure is built to the correct specifications for your chosen subwoofer to maximize performance.

Feel free to ask any additional questions or for further specifications, and I'd love to hear from others if they have any recommendations or personal experiences to share!

 

[YzFool78 10+ year member]

I don’t think space is a “huge” concern giving what you’re saying you have available. I’m just getting back into the swing of things with a small build I’m doing, and have noticed a lot of these subs now don’t require a lot of space.

I’m getting ready to put in a DD SL710, and from what I’ve read, and watched, it does good on a wide spectrum of music. So, getting some “SQ” and lower end as well, being that’s what their goal was with this sub. And, it’s only needing .5 to I’m going to say around .75 depending on power, and so on. Same with the IDQ10 and I believe the Cresendo FORTE V2 10 as well. However, those are looking at 1000w. So, it’s all dependent on your wants and needs!

Someone will chime in with better advice, but that’s what I got for now.

 

[Doxquzme Premium Member]

Should probably get some additional information before diving into the gear and such.

Converatbles are a different breed of build, so they take a different kind of approach.

I assume this is a total build, not just plunking a subwoofer into an existing factory system, correct?

Yeah or nay, would like to get some additional info.

If I could get an idea of what you're considering, i.e., whole system upgrade, etc., that would be hugely beneficial.

Looks like you've been around a bit. What is your skill/comfort level with fabrication and installation?
Do you have any experience with tuning using DSP hardware?

That beamer has options for 1" tweeters in the sail panels and, unfortunately, only 4" drivers in the lower doors and rear seat side panels, but we can definitely work with that limitation.

I've done the hardtop, which, if I recall, came with 8" subs under the seats, a big plus and an option to pick up the midbass lacking from the 4" driver options front and rear.

I'm thinking, 2.1 or 2.2 configuration for the front stage and a subwoofer, something like that would work well in that car.

 

[Jared Schwersky]

I don’t think space is a “huge” concern giving what you’re saying you have available. I’m just getting back into the swing of things with a small build I’m doing, and have noticed a lot of these subs now don’t require a lot of space.

I’m getting ready to put in a DD SL710, and from what I’ve read, and watched, it does good on a wide spectrum of music. So, getting some “SQ” and lower end as well, being that’s what their goal was with this sub. And, it’s only needing .5 to I’m going to say around .75 depending on power, and so on. Same with the IDQ10 and I believe the Cresendo FORTE V2 10 as well. However, those are looking at 1000w. So, it’s all dependent on your wants and needs!

Someone will chime in with better advice, but that’s what I got for now.

I don’t think space is a “huge” concern giving what you’re saying you have available. I’m just getting back into the swing of things with a small build I’m doing, and have noticed a lot of these subs now don’t require a lot of space.

I’m getting ready to put in a DD SL710, and from what I’ve read, and watched, it does good on a wide spectrum of music. So, getting some “SQ” and lower end as well, being that’s what their goal was with this sub. And, it’s only needing .5 to I’m going to say around .75 depending on power, and so on. Same with the IDQ10 and I believe the Cresendo FORTE V2 10 as well. However, those are looking at 1000w. So, it’s all dependent on your wants and needs!

Someone will chime in with better advice, but that’s what I got for now.

Hey man thanks for the reply. I appreciate the boost of confidence. As I stated in my post è

Should probably get some additional information before diving into the gear and such.

Converatbles are a different breed of build, so they take a different kind of approach.

I assume this is a total build, not just plunking a subwoofer into an existing factory system, correct?

Yeah or nay, would like to get some additional info.

If I could get an idea of what you're considering, i.e., whole system upgrade, etc., that would be hugely beneficial.

Looks like you've been around a bit. What is your skill/comfort level with fabrication and installation?
Do you have any experience with tuning using DSP hardware?

That beamer has options for 1" tweeters in the sail panels and, unfortunately, only 4" drivers in the lower doors and rear seat side panels, but we can definitely work with that limitation.

I've done the hardtop, which, if I recall, came with 8" subs under the seats, a big plus and an option to pick up the midbass lacking from the 4" driver options front and rear.

I'm thinking, 2.1 or 2.2 configuration for the front stage and a subwoofer, something like that would work well in that car.

Hey thanks for taking the time to share much appreciated advice.

This will 100% be a total build. I wouldnt waste my time on some factory upgrade, that would be embarrassing. There would be two or three options id have as far as how far I want to take it and that would have to be decided after I get a better understanding of what my options are with space and practicality. My last vehicle was an Audi Q7 in which I had several different set ups in it throughout the couple of years I owned it. I am going to need to take into consideration some of the pros and cons of that build. One of the reason I say that is due to the car being a luxury vehicle and the cost of the damage the system had caused to the body and interior. I also ran into some issues finding parts for it, such as a ho alt. I believe there was some issues getting things like the harness adapter "I migh be getting the name of that wrong", just basically things I wouldnt ever had an issue with say my Chevy Tahoe, Honda Civic, or Nissan Altima. I remember running into a lot of challenges with the complexity of the electrical work and replacing door panels...

With that being said I had a ton of room to work with, especially after the rear seat delete and getting rid of the spare. That will not be a comfort in the BMW. I think I mentioned in my post that the car is at the shop right now and I haven't had any time to actually take measurements and such but im under the impression that I won't be able to throw an average dual 12" prefab.

I need to decide to do the
basic setup that would be something like 2 10"s or 1 12" "just making assumptions that those are going to be my options". And a amp.
This setup option id keep the power rating in a range that would allow me to bypass purchasing an secondary agm or HO Alt.

The
Benefits of running the basic would be the cost mainly. I would be able to able to keep the car from falling apart like I would have to worry about trying to do (SECOND OPTION <POWER!>) 2 competition grade high watt subs and amp, which most definitely would need some serious custom enclosure that would need to take advantage of the rear seats. Like I mentioned before I would at the very least need to do the big 3, secondary AGM, possibly a HO Alt, possibly replacing stock battery as well.

I am not too familiar what the convertible top would do to factor in everything and I do know it adds a challenge especially while riding with the top dropped. I also ran into a post or articles somewhere that said the trunk is a big sound dampener to keep the road noise down from the convertible. Which leads me to believe that some type of port would need to be in place somewhere to open up some airflow. I worry about putting in this work and not being satisfied due to my prior setups being decent compitition. What are you thinking?

My budget is a little flexible because I am in no rush to get this done so I will probably buy everything individually as I can afford it. I would just like to get an idea of what it can handle space wise. I am also on the edge with going all in just because im that go big or go home kinda dude lol.

I did see this setup someone had done on the 650i that didnt look too bad, I do like how he ported through the back seat to I guess the call it band pass(?)