I don't think my setup is loud as it should be

[benner410 10+ year member]

I got an AQ HDC3 12" with an AQ 1200 amp. The sub is in a 2.3cubes ported box tuned to 38hz. It's being fed with 4gauge cable, in a Mazda6 sedan.

The sub + port are both firing toward the rear of the car.

My stock HU goes to volume 33, so I set it to 26 and set the gain using my DMM to 34.5'ish AC volts. The gain was **** near all the way up to achieve this voltage on my DMM.

I went to listen to some songs, and they were loud, but just about as loud as my previous system (rockford p3 + kenwood 500 watt amp). Also, when I turned the volume up past 26, the clipping light came on, on the remote.

I've seen videos online with this setup (same amp, sub, box tuning) with roofs flexing, windshield wipers flapping up and down (lol) and other stuff like that.

Could it be because my sub is new? I'm just kind of disappointed after spending that kind of cash to have it perform about the same as my rockford + kenwood.

SSF is set at ~30 and LPF is set at ~80-90

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[snb778 5,000+ posts]

I got an AQ HDC3 12" with an AQ 1200 amp. The sub is in a 2.3cubes ported box tuned to 38hz. It's being fed with 4gauge cable, in a Mazda6 sedan.
The sub + port are both firing toward the rear of the car.

My stock HU goes to volume 33, so I set it to 26 and set the gain using my DMM to 34.5'ish AC volts. The gain was **** near all the way up to achieve this voltage on my DMM.

I went to listen to some songs, and they were loud, but just about as loud as my previous system (rockford p3 + kenwood 500 watt amp). Also, when I turned the volume up past 26, the clipping light came on, on the remote.

I've seen videos online with this setup (same amp, sub, box tuning) with roofs flexing, windshield wipers flapping up and down (lol) and other stuff like that.

Could it be because my sub is new? I'm just kind of disappointed after spending that kind of cash to have it perform about the same as my rockford + kenwood.

SSF is set at ~30 and LPF is set at ~80-90

i bet most of those vids you saw were in small hatchbacks, or SUV's.... am i right?

 

[IDSkoT 5,000+ posts]

I'm not sure... but that wire might be too small. But I'm not sure. How many ampers does that amp pull? (count the #'s on the fuses)

 

[ThatChevyGuy 5,000+ posts]

Is the sub wired at 1 ohm?

 

[benner410 10+ year member]

There are 3 40a fuses on the amp. Yes it's wired at 1-ohm. Like this...

 

[benner410 10+ year member]

i bet most of those vids you saw were in small hatchbacks, or SUV's.... am i right?

Do you think it would be louder if I put one of my seats down?

 

[IDSkoT 5,000+ posts]

Do you think it would be louder if I put one of my seats down?

Yes, it would be. You might get a better output if you put subs forward port forward and then seal off your cab from the trunk.

 

[TurdFergueson2 5,000+ posts]

Do you think it would be louder if I put one of my seats down?

Try it and see. I gained 3+ DB on the TL by doing it. I have the HDC3 15 and 2200D.

 

[benner410 10+ year member]

Try it and see. I gained 3+ DB on the TL by doing it. I have the HDC3 15 and 2200D.

I'll try it... but we'll see.

 

[tc3k101 5,000+ posts]

do u have a stock electrical?

 

[snb778 5,000+ posts]

seat down will DEF. get a lil louder

 

[mobeious 10+ year member]

hmmmm i think iv commented on this already

 

[Wkbdkid 10+ year member]

Reason why you have to set you gains high is because the stock hu doesnt have high voltage. Thats what a gain is for, it compinsates the different ouput of voltage from HUs.

 

[Saint211 10+ year member]

In theory, this new setup would only be about 3 db louder than the last one. Because of the sub maybe a little more. Most of the extreme flex vids are in SUV's or hatchbacks... because the whole cabin is open, they get more pressure. It is kind of hard to get a trunk car loud, as you can see many of us put hours upon hours into reaching 150 db... where you can hit 150 db in an suv with "lower quality" equipment and less thorough planning. Plus some trunk cars have shitty acoustical properties as well.

Taking out the seat or folding it down helps immensely. I ended up completely removing mine. That amp on one speaker with an average electrical and other possible conditions such as impedence rise with a backseat wont be earth shattering loud, but it should bump decent and be heard outside the vehicle a little bit. Taking the back seat out makes it sound a lot louder.

And the suspension on my nightshades were so stiff that it took about 3 days to peak and settle in its output volume wise. At first, the sub barely even moved.

 

[benner410 10+ year member]

Wow.... this morning it sounded like a completely different sub. I was listening to "Prime Minister" by Jeezy on the way home on my lunch break, and my roof was flexing at 18/33 volume. Yesterday was when I installed it, so it makes me think that maybe it just needed to loosen up a little bit?