Subwoofers to fill open air, on a boat?

[yachtsoffun]

Breakdown:

40 Sea Ray Express:

Alpine Head Unit

DB Drive EQ-Line Driver

2 sets of JL Audio 7.7 marine 2 ways ~6 channel jl audio runing

1 set JL Audio XR 6.5" 3 way components ~1 kenwood 1000 watt 2 channel

1 set JL Audio VR 2 way components ~1 kenwood 1000 watt 2 channel

2 JL Audio marine subs ~1 3000 WATT DB Drive running.

I am not happy at all with the marine subs.

I am looking into 2 JL Audio 13.5 low profiles, 1 JL Audio 12W7, 4 JL Audio 10"w3s

I am looking to fill the bass up, should I go for qty of subs?

Click to read more...

 

[yachtsoffun]

View attachment 26523483

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

don't limit yourself to JL lol

 

[Bettr n' Revrse 5,000+ posts]

Yes please look else where... There is much better out there for cheaper

 

[yachtsoffun]

Please offer me some solutions. I have great luck with JL.

I am here to see what the actual users say about other equipment. Not looking to talk to someone who gets best kick back from the manufacturer. I am however lokking for quality and affordability for the subs. with good service.

 

[Bettr n' Revrse 5,000+ posts]

JL isnt horrible dont get me wrong they make nice stuff but I regret being young and dumb and dropping so much money on my 79's system cuz I didnt know any better... My best suggestion would be to just look around here for awhile and see what you like and what will work best for your application...

 

[SoCalNoob 10+ year member]

dam repost much? lol

 

[yachtsoffun]

I have done some looking around a bit, I would appreciate assistance if JL is not what I should use, what is compariable, you say they cost too much?

any input of brands and where to get would be appreciated.

 

[pro-rabbit 5,000+ posts]

Best option I have found on subs is using a couple subs in a custom built 4th or 6th order bandpass enclosure.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Id be interested to know the enclosure design. Usually in an open space like a convertible car, or boat, a down-firing enclosure will help contain the sound 'inside' the vehicle. Getting the right enclosure design is easily as important as buying the right equipment.

If you want suggestions other than JL, the best way is to give us a budget to go on and we can see what will fit it. Also, pics of the enclosure/space, and an idea of the space available for an enclosure, would be a big help in getting good advice.

This is, of course, assuming the subs are mounted in a custom enclosure, rather than some stock enclosure that cant be modified/eliminated. You suggested different sized subs, so I figured this was a safe assumption.

 

[pro-rabbit 5,000+ posts]

I have built many various 4th order for boats and they always seem to do better then any other designs we have tried. Firing down was very close to the 4th order, but i would imagine that most normal people building on their own would fair much better with a down firing then trying to design a BP enclosure haha.

 

[tlooknbill 10+ year member]

You might look into subs that are designed and sold for outdoor patio's and barbeque outings to see how they design their speaker enclosures. I've seen something like that at a big box home improvement store.

I think a down firing design pro-rabbit suggests is what I saw at the store and it makes sense from just a plane physics aspect. You're going to need a lot of resonance because open air knocks the life out of good and deep bass response especially if you're standing very close to the speaker as would be the case in a boat. I would think you'ld get an even better bass response placing the subs in a cabin to add even more resonance. You need to use the boat walls in amplifying the resonance.

Not really sure on this. I've never installed anything in open air. I'm just going by a feeling on this.

 

[yachtsoffun]

[ have been consulting with a guy and he seems to say 2-3 JL 10W7 firing down under my seats will really sound well.

I have alot of seating enclosure. and measures enough for each sub easily.View attachment 26523507

 

[yachtsoffun]

middle picture not accurate, I do not have one of the interior clearly. I have room for 12' even a 15"

should 3 10's be better than 2 12"

or 1 15" or one 10 one 12?

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Are you set on JL's? If not, give us a budget (and amplifier being used) and we can recommend some other products as well. JL W7's are quality pieces, but notoriously expensive too.