Small speakers--soo.. 8" sub?

[Godzilla311]

Hey guys! My internet searches for info kept pointing me back to your forum so I figured I'd join and ask for help. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Basically my question is... Is an 8" sub system ideal for my current speaker setup? or what would you guys suggest?

I need some opinions on what type of setup to add to my vehicle. I have an '83 Supra (owned for 18 years now) and I've never been 100% happy with the systems I have had SQ-wise; so, I just recently put my sub/amp (12" Infinity Kappa in sealed box / Alpine MRP-M450) into my fiancée's van and thus I need something new.

What's left is:

• Pioneer DEH-P4800MP head unit (50x4 MOSFET)

• 3.5" speakers up front: Blaupunkts.

• 5.25" speakers in the rear: Polks.

I think part of my problem in the past is that the subs I've had were not able to close the gap to the smaller 3.5" and 5.25" speakers (speakers were installed 15-18 years ago so not sure model numbers). Larger speakers are not really an option in those locations so I was thinking of a single (or dual 8") would be best?

What I am looking for:

• sound quality > earth shaking

• small size

- thus prefer single > dual

- prefer sealed > ported

• sub + amp

Other questions:

- Would getting a 4 channel amp for the 3.5"s and 5.25"s help a lot? If so, what is a decent ~$150-200 amp for my smaller speakers?

- What other configurations might be an option or should they even be considered? I've heard of boxes with 6"x9"s, or in these types of situations I've seen boxes with 6"'s and a 10" to fill out the lack of mids ... but those configs seem bulky and overly complicated whereas I'd like to stay small.

This is what I was considering:

• For a sub--I was thinking either the Infinity Reference 860w (I've always been an HarmonKardon/Infinity guy) which are $60 and can fit into a small .5 cubic foot box, or the sundown E8v3D2 which is $90. I've been reading here that the sundown SAs ($150) are amazing, but not too much on how the E series fairs as a budget sub compared to others inexpensive 8" subs such as the Infinity. But the Sundown E series seems to be better suited for sealed boxes and thus I can keep it small. If not then the SA but the ported box would need to be bigger. :/

Amazon.com: Infinity Reference 860w 8-Inch 1,000-Watt High-Performance Subwoofer (Single Voice Coil): Car Electronics

Amazon.com: NEW E8v3D2 SUNDOWN AUDIO PRO 8" SUB DVC 2 OHM 300W RMS CAR AUDIO BASS SUBWOOFER: Car Electronics

Amazon.com: SA-8 D4 - Sundown Audio 8" Dual 4-Ohm SA Series Subwoofer: Car Electronics

• For an amp, someone here suggested a good budget amp was the power acoustik a3000db so I was thinking the newer version might be decent and it is only $135.

Amazon.com : Power Acoustik CPT1-3200D Mono Block 3200 Watt 1 Ohm Stable Class D with Dash Mount Remote Gain Control, Phase Switch and Selectable 45Hz Bass Boost : Vehicle Mono Subwoofer Amplifiers : Car Electronics

With one of those subs + amp it would only run me about $200-230; or $260-320 for a dual.

I'd be building my own box. Room in the budget allows for a more expensive amp but If the power acoustik is decent I may as well go with that and save some cash allowing for a 4 channel amp for the other speakers.. What do you guys think?

Click to read more...

 

[BrownVanMan 10+ year member]

a buddy has my sundown e8 v3 (newest model) in an extended cab ford ranger and the SQ to me is more than acceptable and get loud and low.

plus its lower power (300 to 500 rms) so you wont tax electrical. just need to either build or buy the right box

 

[juanmgarza26 10+ year member]

Ill tell you i heard at a show last month a pair of e 8's in the sq category, specs on the sub stage enclosure was 1.8 cubic feet tuned to 25 hz i got a demo in that vehicle that sub stage sounded CLEAN with cdt mids and highs, again i cant give input of infinity, im sure the sq guys will chime in soon with REAL experience, also what is very popular on here in terms of sealed sq subs are the dayton reference subs

Car Subwoofer Speakers in the Car Audio Department at Parts Express | 391

 

[winkychevelle 10+ year member]

sundown sd2 8 would be much better for sealed boxes

 

[Godzilla311]

Thanks for the input so far guys. So you think an 8" alone would be ideal to cover my mids as my other speakers are only 3.5" and 5.25"s?

And wow winkychevelle . . . the Sundown sd2 8 says:

Suggested Box : 0.25 ft^3 sealed.

Tiny box! If I don't use that in my Supra I'm definitely going to throw one of those in the SS HHR for my next project.

 

[winkychevelle 10+ year member]

Thanks for the input so far guys. So you think an 8" alone would be ideal to cover my mids as my other speakers are only 3.5" and 5.25"s?
And wow winkychevelle . . . the Sundown sd2 8 says:

Suggested Box : 0.25 ft^3 sealed.

Tiny box! If I don't use that in my Supra I'm definitely going to throw one of those in the SS HHR for my next project.

It performs great in .3 from my experience look on youtube the owner has a video of two in his golf

 

[macsdad 10+ year member]

I have a set of dd608's in a box that's 1.6 or so, at 30hrtz, sounds **** good, could probably do them in sealed. I am thuroughly pleased with the output. Check them out on the dd web page.

 

[calebkhill 10+ year member]

Why not upgrade the mids and highs

 

[Godzilla311]

Why not upgrade the mids and highs

My mids are only 5.25"s and there's really no room for anything bigger in this car's OEM locations and I do not want to add speaker locations other than the trunk space. Maybe 5.25" is a sufficient size for mids? Maybe I'm just wrong in thinking that mids should be handled by 6.5" to 6"x9"s because most cars have those sizes. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

 

[cfox10 10+ year member]

I'd upgrade mids and highs first for sure... and put in some sound deadening/seal everything up.

The dayton someone mentioned is nice, I have sa8's and while they sound good I wouldn't say they are sq install worthy

 

[calebkhill 10+ year member]

My mids are only 5.25"s and there's really no room for anything bigger in this car's OEM locations and I do not want to add speaker locations other than the trunk space. Maybe 5.25" is a sufficient size for mids? Maybe I'm just wrong in thinking that mids should be handled by 6.5" to 6"x9"s because most cars have those sizes. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

Not change sizes, which you could.... Just upgrade speakers that can handle power and get off those stock drivers...

But if you're happy with your mids and highs then great. Throw in a sub and call it a day