Sub not hitting lows, reccomendations?

[dragonsho 10+ year member]

Ok, so I have a Kicker S10L5 in a ported enclosure tuned at 38hz. Ever since I've had it it's refused to play lows (it's always been in the same enclosure). I was wondering if it had to do with the enclosure or just the sub itself.

An example is Flashing Lights by Kanye. The first bass line is ok, then the 2nd bass line (the lower one) just barely comes through and you just hear the kick drum.

Any suggestions of what is causing the problem? After reading some I believe it's the enclosure.

It's this enclosure btw http://cgi.ebay.com/10-VENTED-MDF-KICKER-L5-L7-SUB-ENCLOSURE-S10L5-S10L7_W0QQitemZ150251009756QQihZ005QQcategoryZ50568QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Click to read more...

 

[ThatChevyGuy 5,000+ posts]

Its the enclosure. I suggest building or pay to get built a 32 hz tuned enclosure.

 

[528hz 10+ year member]

Tuned WAY to high.

 

[BEAVER.989 10+ year member]

put it in a larger enclosure tuned lower.

 

[dragonsho 10+ year member]

Ya that's exactly what I was thinking. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't ported enclosures have trouble playing frequencies below what it's tuned at?

I think I'm going to try building a sealed box since I don't have much experience and then take it from there and see how I like that. Would you guys suggest using some heavy plywood like 5/8 in thick or should I use MDF?

 

[BEAVER.989 10+ year member]

3/4" mdf at minimum

 

[innsanes 10+ year member]

get a box that is tune lower, or if your lazy try some polyfill

 

[ThatChevyGuy 5,000+ posts]

it will sound 10000000x better in a larger lower tuned enclosure.

 

[the727kid 10+ year member]

Tune it at 25hz, it will never have an issue with low notes again.

 

[ultimate157 5,000+ posts]

Could always go oversized sealed if you want a really flat response //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[BEAVER.989 10+ year member]

won't be so flat after cabin gain, though...

 

[memphisman 10+ year member]

Definitely tune lower!!!

 

[Unholysavage 10+ year member]

What type of vehicle? Hatch, trunk? It's tuned way too high IMO, but have you tried moving the box around, or experimenting with different firing directions to see if your low-end improves?

My vote goes to enclosure, but you could be experiencing cancellation issues.

 

[dragonsho 10+ year member]

I have an '87 rx7 so I don't have that much room. I'm going to build a sealed enclosure that is in the kicker manual.

Front and back panel is going to be 12x12, top and bottom are going to be 12x10.5 and the sides are going to be 10.5x10.5

I would really like to be able to have a nice big ported enclosure, but until I get a new car, that's not gonna happen.

Thanks for the advice everyone, how do you think this box will sound?

Edit: Moving the box doesn't help, it's definitely tuned too high because some songs destroy the sub (A Milli by Lil Wayne). It's by far the hardest and loudest I've heard my sub go. It's just the lows.

 

[jbizzle 5,000+ posts]

sealed will actually make it worse for the lows.. but what ever chief its up to you