SQ :: Install relationship - discuss.

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

If the rest of the car is set up right, just about any sub will do. That is my honest opinion. The subwoofer forum on here is the busiest because so many people place too much emphasis on the subs as a vital part of the system. If true SQ is your goal, even really loud SQ, your primary focus should be on your front stage. Get it where it can play down to 50ish Hz convincingly. From there, you can mate it with just about any properly enclosed sub and be quite pleased with the outcome. The fact is that most people spend 90% of their time and effort on equipment that plays less than 20% of the audio spectrum and still claim to be after SQ. If they apportioned their expenditures based on the portion of the music that was being covered, the midbass/midrange would be what everyone was stressing about. There are 10 octaves in the audible range. The sub should cover 2 or less. The tweeters usually cover 2.5-3 (but there are instances where this can be as much as 4 or even 5 in the case of HLCDs). What's left is the domain of the midrange driver. It is responsible for as much as 5 octaves or 50% of the audio spectrum.

Consider also that the sub really doesn't have much effect on the imaging or staging of the system. Much of the tonality and texture of the sounds typically associated with the subs come from the front stage speakers, not the sub itself anyway. Everyone gets all wrapped up in finding an "SQ or SQL sub" all the while not realizing that the best sounding sub will not make a mediocre front stage sound any better than mediocre but a great front stage can make an average sub sound really good.

My point is if you want quality sound buy and focus on quality where it makes the most difference.

 

[Buffalohed 10+ year member]

You have to realize that I am asking about subwoofers only insofar as subwoofers apply to overall SQ. It happens to be the piece I am looking at upgrading right now, so I am dedicating time and research to do it correctly. I have no intention of compensating for a trash front stage by breaking the bank on a sub. When the time comes that I have the money and feel it is necessary to upgrade my front stage or other components I will do that. Trust me, midrange is vastly more important to me than the subsonic and tweeter ranges (tweets cause pain at much lower volume than mids), and I assure you that I will spend a lot more money/time on it than I am with my sub.

In a perfect world I would buy some 10,000$ Focal components or whatever right now and be happy, but the reality is that I have a POS substage right now and, because the substage is really not very important in the scheme of things, it is most economical and efficient for me to upgrade it once and be done with it to be able to concentrate on the rest.

I do value your input but I think you are misjudging my intentions so I want them to be perfectly clear.

 

[samson 10+ year member]

Helotaxi, what do you have in your front doors that will keep up with a 15" sub at 50hz???? I agree with what you said in an ideal world, just curious. Wish I could pull that off.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Helotaxi, what do you have in your front doors that will keep up with a 15" sub at 50hz???? I agree with what you said in an ideal world, just curious. Wish I could pull that off.

I don't have anything that will keep up with a 15" sub, but I don't have a 15" sub either. I currently have 2 8" subs because I'm not into annoying the neighbors.

My system isn't currently where I want it either. Getting ready to redo it again adding 7 or 8" midbasses crossed in the 40-50Hz range and a a sub stage with a variable lowpass to allow me to set it for the music. Rock, jazz, country and classical it goes way low. Rap and electronic I turn it up a bit (who cares about SQ on that stuff anyway //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif ).

To the OP, I was talking about how the sub relates to SQ as well. My point was that it makes up a really tiny part of it. Really tiny.

 

[samson 10+ year member]

Not trying to bust any eardrums, myself. Does anybody ever get their system exactly how they want it? I have 6x9 co-axles in front. Not exactly ideal for SQ but they have decent bass output and blend nicely with my 10" sub. I have it crossed at 80hz though. Tried 60hz but the 6x9's distorted at moderate volumes. I like the idea of an 8" midbass, just chicken to try the install.

 

[inapontiac 10+ year member]

didnt SS do an install with 8s in the doors? anyone got pics?