How to get more lowws from my Rl-p

[hardhitta47 10+ year member]

I've got a 15" Rl-p d2 in a 3.1 cu. ft. (net) enclosure. It's tuned to 28 Hz. (but actually when I plug the port dimensions into WinISD it says 29-30 Hz.) I had the enclosure made for me to the specs recommended to me by Mike at SS. It's powered by a PG Xenon x600.1 producing 632 W @4 ohms.

My problem is this:

Although I love this sub and it hits really hard, I really want more low end. I'm not getting hardly any bass in the high-20s to mid-30s (Hz) frequencies. For example, on Young Jeezy "I Luv It", Project Pat "Cocaine", or on a lot of screwed & chopped tracks (RIP to DJ Screw), when the bass line hits the low notes my sub goes from loud as hell to almost nothing, like the sub is choking.

I really can't fit a much bigger box in my trunk. I can barely get the one I have through the trunk opening of my Civic. lol

What do you guys recommend?

So should I buy a bigger amp and give the Rl-p ~1kW?

OR

Should I consider a different driver. I can only afford to do one or the other, so if I switched drivers it would have to be one that will outperform a 15" Rl-p with 630W in a box no bigger than 3.5 cubes. Any advice would be much appreciated.

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[DFW40 10+ year member]

I would get a different sub or go down to a 12. This is of course if you cannot make your box bigger.

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

If ur looking for a pure low end sub look into the IDMax12's, output might not be as good as the 15" u have right now, but it'll sound extremely nice with 630w, throw it in 2-2.5cft3 tuned around 28hz and u'll be set.

 

[oxsign 5,000+ posts]

You dont have to do anything nether one of those 2 options. Just port that box higher to around 32-34hz. I have 2 of these RL-p's in a box 2.5cf each ported to 35 hz, and they get loud & hit hard. 28hz is way to low for daily driving in my opinion. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

 

[Johnny Drama 5,000+ posts]

Try out different box designs before you go buy another sub. Question, does your civic rear seats fold down? You may be loosing output if it doesnt.

If all else fails in your attempt to get a lower output I would give an RE SE a try. It will work very well in the same box sizes you have and its going to be a good match up for the power you have. This I would consiter a last option. I think you should be able to get the RL-p to play to your tastes with a few changes.

Just for shits and giggles post up a few pics of your current box/install.

 

[hardhitta47 10+ year member]

**** you guys are fast!

Don't get me wrong, I love my Rl-p and it puts out a ton of bass in my car. Yes, my rear seats do fold down and I keep the one side folded down all the time when I'm driving. It definitely makes a big difference. Still though, even with the seats down, there is hardly any bass in this one frequency range down low. I wouldn't mind if it was higher bass notes, like 60+Hz, but these notes are down low where I want it to be loud. 40 Hz will shake around a full Mountain Dew bottle in my center console, but at 30 Hz or so the sub totally pusses out and I can barely hear or feel any bass.

BTW I've sound deadened the trunklid(multiple layers), trunk, rear deck and front doors with Second Skin.

I still don't know what I'm gonna do yet. From the replies, it looks like a bigger amp is not the solution, so that narrows it down..

 

[Johnny Drama 5,000+ posts]

**** you guys are fast!
Don't get me wrong, I love my Rl-p and it puts out a ton of bass in my car. Yes, my rear seats do fold down and I keep the one side folded down all the time when I'm driving. It definitely makes a big difference. Still though, even with the seats down, there is hardly any bass in this one frequency range down low. I wouldn't mind if it was higher bass notes, like 60+Hz, but these notes are down low where I want it to be loud. 40 Hz will shake around a full Mountain Dew bottle in my center console, but at 30 Hz or so the sub totally pusses out and I can barely hear or feel any bass.

BTW I've sound deadened the trunklid(multiple layers), trunk, rear deck and front doors with Second Skin.

I still don't know what I'm gonna do yet. From the replies, it looks like a bigger amp is not the solution, so that narrows it down..

Do you have a sub sonic filter on your amp? It could be set too high.

 

[hardhitta47 10+ year member]

I did some searching on here before posting this and saw that one guy who had his SFF turned all the way up..

No it is not set high. In fact, it's set low at about 20Hz.

 

[Johnny Drama 5,000+ posts]

I did some searching on here before posting this and saw that one guy who had his SFF turned all the way up..
No it is not set high. In fact, it's set low at about 20Hz.

Try turning it all the way down or off. Just to rule that out of the problem. If nothing changes, put it back.

Pics of the box would also help. Getting another's opinion on issues like port area, box specs, and more can be helpfull too. If you actually have the original design we can modify it if need be too.

 

[oxsign 5,000+ posts]

Ya, I mean I had them ported to 30hz, and I felt I was having the same problems. As silly as it sounds, redoing the box and porting it higher gave me what I was wanting. What type of music do you listen to daily??

 

[hardhitta47 10+ year member]

I listen to mostly southern rap. Three 6 Mafia, Lil Wyte, Project Pat,Crime Mobb, UGK, Young Jeezy to name a few.

Hmm..so you had the same issues with your Rl-p's too huh? If redoing the box tuned higher will bring my low frequency response up to where it needs to be, then okay. I don't understand that.

I'll try to get picsup tonight or tomorrow. My car's getting some maintenance work done right now. I'll mess with that sub-sonic filter as soon as I pick up my car too, but I don't think that's causing it. Would be nice if it was, though.

 

[hardhitta47 10+ year member]

The dimensions of my box are: 38"W x 17"H x 15.25"D

Slot port: 3" x 15.5" x 41"

 

[skadude016 5,000+ posts]

Ya, I mean I had them ported to 30hz, and I felt I was having the same problems. As silly as it sounds, redoing the box and porting it higher gave me what I was wanting. What type of music do you listen to daily??

its probably because the songs you thought were peaking at 28-30hz are peaking at 33-36 hz...

 

[60ndown 10+ year member]

seal your port completely and turn ssf off. = sealed = lows. + bigger amp maybe? low lows reqire power and lots of it.

 

[Immacomputer 10+ year member]

I would play a 30hz tone and play with your subsonic filter and see if you can gain any output. I would never trust what the dial says. Also, I believe that amp has an adjustable bass boost which might be giving you a ton of gain in the 40s making 30hz seem lower. Try cutting the bass boost all the way and playing with the subsonic. Try those things before doing anything big like building a new enclosure or buying a new sub.