Higher Tuned Boxes - Worth It?

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

I'm running 2 15" RL-P's, each in 2.5^3@30Hz. Don't have a lot of room to work with, so I'm at the minimum box size they recommend.

I'm considering building new boxes out of Baltic Birch to get some weight out of the car and see that I can do 2.7^3@34Hz. Would a little extra volume/higher tuning give me more output?

Would I actually be able to hear a 4Hz tuning difference? I'm looking for a little more output, especially more punch when listening to 80's metal/kick drums.

Worth doing the new design or not?? TIA...Mike

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[azbass 5,000+ posts]

i would run sealed imo if thats what your lookin for.

 

[Rich B 5,000+ posts]

i would run sealed imo if thats what your lookin for.

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Higher tuned ported boxes are great for sound off's, but they tend to sound boomy.

Sealed would be your best bet if you want good sound in a smaller enclosure.

 

[baseballer1100 5,000+ posts]

I agree with both of them.

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

Wouldn't I lose a ton of overall output though?

 

[grassroots 10+ year member]

just tune it higher and see how you like it. my old box for a single sx was ported at 37hz and it was awesome for kick drums and rock, still great for most rap too...

 

[PSturmer 10+ year member]

get win isd and find out yourself

 

[davidfre21 5,000+ posts]

pretty much all the boxes i build are tuned 35-37hz, and never have any issues with subs not playing low or anything. Try 37hz, if ur goin through the trouble might as well make it worth it.

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

get win isd and find out yourself

I'm looking for "real world" examples from guys who have built boxes tuned a little higher for daily, to see what they experienced compared to a lower tuned box.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to work up a 36Hz box and see how it looks.

 

[kickerlivinloud 10+ year member]

With my last setup, I ran both low and high tuned boxes. My first box was 1.09@29Hz. I had a 8W7 getting around 700w from a IA 20.1. It pounded out the lows real nice for only being an 8. I however was not happy with the output, so I built a box 1.00@43Hz. It was considerble louder and still sounded very good. I did lose a lot of low end however. I personally loved the output it had so I didn't worry much about not having a lot of low end. I also have runed a IA LI 12" in a 3.7@28 and 2.5@45. I had the same result as with the W7. Killer lows but lacking in output and then massive output but no low end. I currently have my new setup tuned at 36, and it is a low end moster!!!!! It is also very loud, I can not crank it and sit in the vehicle anymore.

Hope this helps you a little..

Jon

 

[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

My box tuned to approx. 35 will still play the low notes on songs like Soul Survivor.

 

[vgeek 10+ year member]

I went from 30hz to 38hz and I can tell a huge difference, lower notes don't have the authority that they did when it was tuned lower. It may help you meter higher tuning high, but you may not like the sound.

 

[bgdre12 10+ year member]

ye....that's liek me..my box now is tuned to 32hz...i just love my low bass, i'm not much of a fan of higher/mid bass...but at times on certain songs it does kinda get to ya

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

Thanks for all the responses.

What do you guys consider low bass? Mostly like modern rap stuff that just shakes the car, but has no punch to it? I usually listen to 80's metal, so not sure if the kick drums are considered low bass. Also old school stuff like Run DMC which again doesn't "seem" to hit the lows like the modern stuff.

Sounds like I might not miss out on much tuning higher, going by my choice of music.

 

[bk12321 10+ year member]

Thanks for all the responses.
What do you guys consider low bass? Mostly like modern rap stuff that just shakes the car, but has no punch to it? I usually listen to 80's metal, so not sure if the kick drums are considered low bass. Also old school stuff like Run DMC which again doesn't "seem" to hit the lows like the modern stuff.

Sounds like I might not miss out on much tuning higher, going by my choice of music.

i was told by someone pretty experienced, that if i wasnt satisfied with double bass / rock style music, considering im tuned at 30 hz, I shoudl tune possibly as high as 40-42. It will considerably lessen the peak at low end, but in rock you dont have those really low huge hitting notes like u do in rap. I think on my next box I will tune at at LEAST 35 hz, if not higher like 38 or 40. Im a huge eagles/zeppelin/hendrix/earth wind and fire fan and I also am really into hardcore and rock, and I am not really satisfied with the bass response in those songs. In rap my sub kicks my *** though.