System Rebuild: Advice Wanted

[Disarmer 10+ year member]

I currently have 2 SA8v.2's in the back of my Jeep in a 1.5 cu/ft enclosure tuned to 34hz. It gets low and loud for a couple of 8's, but I just don't like the way it sounds, so I'm looking to change things up.

I have a few options and I'm looking for opinions on which way I should go.

GOAL: Achieve much better SQ while keeping about the same SPL level as I currently have with the SA8's. I listen to a lot of rock, so I like quick punchy bass but I also like to dig low for rap occasionally. Because I want to get back into an SQ oriented build, I think I'd like to do a new setup in a sealed enclosure.

Option 1. Keep SA8's and rebuild the box to some other specs in hopes that it will sound better (suggestions?)

Option 2. Sell SA8's and go for 4 SQ 8's of some type in a sealed box. Suggestions on subwoofers here?

Option 3. Sell SA8's and go for 2 SQ 10's of some type in a sealed box. Suggestions on subwoofers here?

I could squeeze about 2 cu/ft total out of the cargo area, and don't have room for anything larger than 10's. I'm currently working with an AP15001D, but power can be changed to match subwoofers.

Thanks for any suggestions.

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[OnYrMrk 10+ year member]

PHD Fb10.1. 1 cu ft sealed and you are good to go.

 

[Disarmer 10+ year member]

Guess I've been out of it for a while, but I've never heard of PHD. Doing some research now. All other suggestions welcome!

 

[SounDrive Pro Seller]

How about a single SA-12 in a 4th order bandpass? Just something different to think about.

If you want the same output as 2 8s ported, you're most likely going to be very disappointed with the output from a sealed box. You'll need approximately twice the power or cone area to achieve the same loudness.

 

[Disarmer 10+ year member]

How about a single SA-12 in a 4th order bandpass? Just something different to think about.
If you want the same output as 2 8s ported, you're most likely going to be very disappointed with the output from a sealed box. You'll need approximately twice the power or cone area to achieve the same loudness.

Unfortunately I don't have the surface area on a box for anything larger than 10". There is about 11" total between my back seat and my back door. I guess I could fit a 12" in an angled box firing towards the seat... I'll think about it. Only problem is that I'd have to sacrifice some of the airspace to gain some room in between the box and the rear seat.

Every setup I've had before the SA8's has been sealed, so I know what I'm getting myself into. That was the idea behind going to 4 8's or 2 10's... gain more cone area to get a bit of the SPL back.

Strangely enough, the subwoofer I liked the most in my sealed setups was a Soundstream VGW-10 in a stealth install. Bought it off the forum here for a temporary solution, but ended up sounding better than the Fi Q I replaced it with. Wish I hadn't sold that thing. Was fairly loud and sounded very, very good. Hell of a subwoofer for the ~$60 I paid for it.

EDIT: The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of a 4th order since I want that punchy bass from a sealed enclosure but still love to get low/loud with rap sometimes... The real problem here is space. Guess I have more to contemplate than I thought! lol