Sub suggestions

[1djbdub]

Well, I am working with little space. I purchased a Pioneer shallow mount and after less than a week and the voice coil is locking up already. Obviously this sub is not going to work for me. I am hoping to get it replaced under warranty and put this sub in my wife's SUV.

I am looking for suggestions on subs that hit low(I listen to hip hop and miss my two 15's in a hatchback) and require less than 4 3/4" mounting depth.

Anyone have good suggestions?

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[bbeljefe]

I wouldn't be so quick to condemn the sub, even though it's not much of a sub.

How much power are you sending it?

How did you go about setting the gain?

Do you use bass boost on the amp or head unit?

If things aren't set up correctly, you can wipe out the best of subs and if they are, even a cheap sub can last for years.

 

[1djbdub]

I was putting about 400W RMS. I have had several Systems in my time and i'm pretty aware of setting things up properly. Yes I use the Bass knob, but I use it as a volume control only. I used a DMM to set my gain output with the bass knob in the middle so I have a cutoff when I pull into my neighborhood. As far as head unit I kept is stock with a line out converter.

 

[VWBobby 10+ year member]

You still have to keep your controls set flat on the factory head unit. Some factory units have a little bit of a 45hz boost, so some cut might be needed on the bass control (-1, -2 or more) in order to keep from sending a distorted signal to your sub amp. Make sure you defeat the bass boost on your amp.

 

[bbeljefe]

I didn't ask about the bass knob, I asked about bass boost. Most amps have a bass boost setting and most of the time, the do more harm than good. But on the subject of the knob, gain should be set with it wide open. The reason being that it is actually just another gain pot and you shouldn't be able to turn it up to a point that's higher than the safe gain level that was set during the install. By setting it at half way, you set yourself up for introducing distortion any time it is turned even a fraction above where it was when you set the gain.

With head units and LOCs, it is very common to have clipping in the signal path even when you turn the head unit's bass control down, especially on LOCs with no gain adjustment. Also, setting gain with a meter only tells you a voltage level. It cannot show you clipping and you can be clipping with the output voltage at half what it is rated at or below.

Assuming the sub you had was rated at about 250 watts (you didn't mention a model number), it would not have blown on 400 watts if it were 400 watts of clean, unclipped power. So that leads me to believe you were clipping. And the answer isn't a sub with a higher power rating, it's getting the gain set with the proper equipment.

 

[mclerico83 5,000+ posts]

what size what box

SD 2 10D4 Sundown Audio Slim Mount 10" Dual 4 Ohm Subwoofer Shallow Series Sub | eBay

best thing for your setup sub 200

Stereo Integrity | Order Online

if you want to really go all out this is your best option for slim mount

 

[1djbdub]

@bbeljefe, I do not have bass boost. I am with you and not a fan. I know it causes more trouble than it does good. The sub was 300RMS/1200max. Amp is 800w RMS but I had it set to out to around 400w Head unit set -1 on bass. Not necessarily looking for a sub that requires more power, but one that hits more so I am less likely to try and drive it harder. My amp is CEA-2006 compliant and a pioneer. I would think it is putting out clean signal and I had the gain set by voltage to only be pushing the 400w.

@mclerico83 0.45 sealed box under rear seat of my SuperCrew.

 

[T3mpest 10+ year member]

If your staying with a small sealed box you'll gain very little by switching subs in terms of volume, almost anything will be within a db or so and you'll barely hear the difference. Sounds like you want more bass than 1 12 under a seat will do for you, which if your used to 2 15's, that makes sense. I'd either be looking into a way to do a new box, or find a a very abuse tolerant sub that can handle you overpowering or clipping your amp even to help get the volume you want because if you want louder in that box then you want a sub that can handle the full 800 watts that amp can put out cleanly.

The SD-2 linked above will be as loud as the sub you just had was, at the volume knob at the same point, great news is it probably won't break and you can probably set your gains for 500-800 watts RMS and be ok.

 

[Side Show 10+ year member]

goodluck getting the pioneer sub replaced under warrenty... you have cooked it. 400wrms into a 300wrms sub what did you think would happen. also if you are gonna use those stupid bass knobs, turn it all the way up when setting your gains.

 

[1djbdub]

What was I thinking? I was thinking I used to give my 500wrms rockford's 600+ and they loved it. Figured a sub that has a 1200wmax could handle at least 400wrms. Anyway, I don't think the shallow mount is going to feed my need. Are their any non shallow mount subs that are 4.75 or less mounting depth?

 

[Side Show 10+ year member]

also worth looking into ported shallow mount enclosures..... these can actually sound pretty decent and get qite loud. some shallow mount woofers must be in a seal enclosure only tho.

 

[RoYALbLUE08 10+ year member]

no one every gives a sub exactly the rms rating. most ppl give it more. they can do more if ran on CLEAN power.

did you look at the alpine type R shallow mount subs?