how to make my system louder?

[BassIsGrace 10+ year member]

I get my tax money later this week and idk what to upgrade. My budget is $350 for car audio.I currently have 2 soundqubed hds2 12's at 1ohm on a aq 1200.they're in a 3.5 cuft 3/4 mdf box with a 6" aeroport tuned to 33-34hz.I have a 90amp alt.stock front batt.a group 31 diehard platinum batt in the back.and 4 gauge ofc tsunami wire.I drive a 2008 mazda 3 hatchback.idk if upgrading my subs will give my system more low end and top end.its the loudest at 42-44hz.barely picks up any lows :/.should I upgrade my electrical?

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[The Camry]

the hds2 are rated at 1200 rms. if you have them both hooked up then they are only getting roughly 600 rms each. Sell your amp, get a bigger one. Soundqubed 2200 would be a great amp for that. Anything morre and youll need a HO alternator.

Actually, check your voltage when your driving. it should never go below 11.5. Thats really dangerous territory. If it does. def look into getting a HO alternator..

Sorry man, Electrical really isnt my fortay but no one answered any of your questions so just trying to help. Def get a bigger amp.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

how are the subs and ports oriented? top firing? Did you try lowering your Subsonic filter? A 6 inch port aero does not give much sq inches of port area per cubic feet and soundqubed subs love a lot of port area.

 

[murph 10+ year member]

You need three 4 inch areo ports and an upgrade to at least an aq2200d.

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

A HO alt would completely eat that $350 budget. You'd have to put it on yourself too.

A shop wanted to charge me $400 to put my alternator on.. like, wtf? I just did it myself

 

[Boominburban 10+ year member]

As a general rule of thumb;

to make your system perceivably louder to the ear, takes a 3 db increase in spl. To make it twice as loud takes a 10 db increase in spl.

SO, with all else staying the same;

To get a 3 db increase takes twice the amplifier power output from what you are currently running

to get a 10 db increase takes 10 times the amplifier output from what you are currently running.

Or a HO custom enclosure designed correctly for your specific combination

You could use to upgrade that stock electrical for sure

And you have the headroom in your subs to dbl your amp output

I think you need to save some $, upgrade electrical, then find a quality amp with dbl the output you have currently.

IF your box design is up to par, and your subs are still in decent shape, your system output should be noticeably louder at that point ....

 

[bmk6795 10+ year member]

I'd get a bigger amp and see what kinda voltage drop you are getting. You may not even need an alt. I'm running a 2k sub amp and 300 watt front stage in my civic with a 70 amp alt, kinetik 1800 up front with the big 3 done, and I don't have any voltage drop, until I turn the heat on anyway. Lol.

also, as said before, how are the subs/port firing?

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

Big 3 to start. All 0 gauge wiring you want to lower resistance and box rise if possible Also if you can trade your subs for some d2 subs. And run at .5 as said before direction of subs and port. Sounds like your in a trunk as well. If so do the seats fold forward ?

If so. Turn subs towards cabin

 

[BassIsGrace 10+ year member]

Thanks man.running more power does add db's.I had a 95 ford taurus with a 120 amp stock alt.on my stinger meter it never dropped below 13.2 at full tilt on the road.I havent hooked it up yet in my current car.my mazda 3 hatch

 

[BassIsGrace 10+ year member]

The subs are facing to the back of the car and the port to the right side of the box.sub back port to the side.its louder than sub up port to the side

 

[BassIsGrace 10+ year member]

My uncle could put it on there for me for like $20 or so.lol.I could stretch my budget to $400.I just gotta save the rest of my tax $

 

[BassIsGrace 10+ year member]

So if I go from my 90 amp alt to a 250amp alt I should notice a difference in loudness? Add to that getting a bigger box? I know 2 box builders but they're always **** busy

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

The subs are facing to the back of the car and the port to the right side of the box.sub back port to the side.its louder than sub up port to the side

can you do sub up port to the rear? or sub and port to the rear? You'd want the port to load off the rear because of the horn effect you can achieve in hatchbacks. Fold your rear chairs down, driver side window up, passenger side windows down should give you some increases too, believe it or not, tiny miniscule things like that can change output a lot more than you think, especially sub/port positioning.

most hatch and SUVs get loud with sub up port to the rear.

 

[BassIsGrace 10+ year member]

What's the difference between 3 4"aeroports and just 1 6" aeroport?

 

[BassIsGrace 10+ year member]

Idk this counts but I did some testing.I turned the box around so the box was facing into the cabin and port to the ppassengers side.wasn't loud at all.titled the box upwards so subs were up and port to the right drivers side.was a little louder than subs front port on left side.the loudest was how I had it.subs to the back and port to the side.I still need to try sub up port back.sub up port up.and sub back port back.I get a noticeable loudness increase when I crack the front passengers side window ^_^