Total newb needs advice - thanks in advance

[a/v HD fan]

Hi all,

Longtime lurker, but just joined to ask for help/opinions. Background: I have not bothered with any car audio upgrades since the early 2000's, in cars from the early 90's, and even before that, my experience was limited to swapping in direct-fit aftermarket head units and direct-fit aftermarket speakers in factory locations. Pretty simple stuff.

My current situation, is that I have a 2008 Audi A8L with the factory Bose stereo (not the B&O option). The factory stereo sounds good but I would like to see what adding an additional sub and some deadener will do to improve things. I am not interested in replacing the factory speakers at this time, or amping them, as I've read the Bose system is finicky to mess with. But I've also read it's not too hard to add an amp and a sub in the trunk (as a bonus, the car battery is in the truck too).

I really just want to reinforce/enhance the factory Bose subwoofer, without overpowering everything else. I don't need (or particularly want) to be "heard from blocks away" and don't envision getting into the SPL competition game. I also don't have a specific budget in mind, but have always felt paying a little more for quality usually pays off versus buying cheap crap that breaks and needs replaced soon anyway. The car's trunk is truly cavernous but I'd prefer to take up as little space as needed for a good sounding option.

From my reading/research, I'm currently thinking a moderate amp size and a single 10 or 12 should do the trick...? Smallish sealed or smallish (but slightly larger) slot ported box?

I'm open to anyone's opinions - some of the stuff I've seen on this site is truly amazing. But I realize I probably don't need THAT level of upgrade. Thanks in advance for your thoughts/replies!

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[venoxcide]

A single 12 is most likely what you're looking for. They will add some nice bass to your setup, while keeping your trunk space for the most part. You'll get loud, clean bass as long as it's properly powered by the right amplifier that you can adjust to your liking.

As for the box, ported or sealed depends a bit on what music you listen too.

Good luck with your setup!

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

A dayton ho 12 on 600 watts should be good enough. The enclosure requirement jis minimal and the sound is good.

 

[a/v HD fan]

A single 12 is most likely what you're looking for. They will add some nice bass to your setup, while keeping your trunk space for the most part. You'll get loud, clean bass as long as it's properly powered by the right amplifier that you can adjust to your liking.
As for the box, ported or sealed depends a bit on what music you listen too.

Good luck with your setup!

Thanks! I listen to pretty much everything. Rock, alternative, rap, pop, etc.

I thought sealed vs ported depended more on the driver specs...? Still learning, though, and I have been seeing a lot that says the box is REALLY important?

What brands are good? I know of JL obviously, but am intrigued by other stuff like Soundqubed, FI, etc.

 

[venoxcide]

Yeah the box depends on specs bit sealed and ported give you different types of bass, thats why part of it depends on what music you like.

If you want a nice, tight and punchy bass, then sealed, if you want a louder bass with more boom, then ported.

 

[a/v HD fan]

Yeah the box depends on specs bit sealed and ported give you different types of bass, thats why part of it depends on what music you like.
If you want a nice, tight and punchy bass, then sealed, if you want a louder bass with more boom, then ported.

SQ HDC3 12" with a SQ 1200 amp, in an Atrend box (maybe sealed)?

 

[blazian87 10+ year member]

You can still sound flat and SQ with a ported box you know. If you're looking for a SQ sub that can work in small ported boxes, then look into the Dayton HO. The 10" version works best in .6-.7 cubes ported. 12" version can work in 1.2-1.7 cubes ported.

Here's a model graph of the dayton HO 12 sealed vs ported.

Here's the links to the subs..

Dayton Audio RSS265HO-44 10" Reference HO DVC Subwoofer

Dayton Audio RSS315HO-44 12" Reference HO DVC Subwoofer

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Thanks! I listen to pretty much everything. Rock, alternative, rap, pop, etc.
I thought sealed vs ported depended more on the driver specs...? Still learning, though, and I have been seeing a lot that says the box is REALLY important?

What brands are good? I know of JL obviously, but am intrigued by other stuff like Soundqubed, FI, etc.

What a lot of people here will recommend will be mainly for lows. The dayton HO i mentioned will have a wide range of frequencies compared to a lot of these subs. Hits both upper and lower bass for equal sound

 

[blazian87 10+ year member]

SQ HDC3 12" with a SQ 1200 amp, in an Atrend box (maybe sealed)?

HDC3 12" doesn't like sealed boxes and they need to be in a fairly large enclosure to sound good.

 

[a/v HD fan]

HDC3 12" doesn't like sealed boxes and they need to be in a fairly large enclosure to sound good.

Cool, thanks so much. This is exactly the type of help I need.

Is the Dayton Ultimax a better driver?

And totally switching gears, what is the consensus on the slot ported JL bass wedges?

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

Cool, thanks so much. This is exactly the type of help I need.
Is the Dayton Ultimax a better driver?

And totally switching gears, what is the consensus on the slot ported JL bass wedges?

You would do better with the Dayton. I forget who, but someone on here had a JL bass wedge. They were not impressed, for what they paid.

 

[CSCStang]

Cool, thanks so much. This is exactly the type of help I need.
Is the Dayton Ultimax a better driver?

And totally switching gears, what is the consensus on the slot ported JL bass wedges?

Go with a custom ported......

 

[blazian87 10+ year member]

Cool, thanks so much. This is exactly the type of help I need.
Is the Dayton Ultimax a better driver?

And totally switching gears, what is the consensus on the slot ported JL bass wedges?

Whatever sub you get, just make sure you get a custom box built for the specific driver. Even the JL bass wedges are too small IMO and not very optimal. Even if you go with JL subs, I would still consider a custom enclosure for it.

There's many great reviews on the dayton Ultimax, the only thing is it requires a large enclosure. It's more emphasized on the lows from what I hear too. Dayton HO works great in small enclosures and will be pretty even up top and down low even when tuned low.

Alot of drivers out there are very low biased or bottom heavy. For example, I have a 12" Fi Q and it just kills the lows but is lacking up top because I tuned it low. Great for rap and dubstep type of music but everything else it doesn't really keep up that well. Even when I tuned it high, it was very peaky and narrower range than I wanted. It still sounds great with certain genres but doesn't have a very wide spectrum at all.

 

[a/v HD fan]

Whatever sub you get, just make sure you get a custom box built for the specific driver. Even the JL bass wedges are too small IMO and not very optimal. Even if you go with JL subs, I would still consider a custom enclosure for it.
There's many great reviews on the dayton Ultimax, the only thing is it requires a large enclosure. It's more emphasized on the lows from what I hear too. Dayton HO works great in small enclosures and will be pretty even up top and down low even when tuned low.

Alot of drivers out there are very low biased or bottom heavy. For example, I have a 12" Fi Q and it just kills the lows but is lacking up top because I tuned it low. Great for rap and dubstep type of music but everything else it doesn't really keep up that well. Even when I tuned it high, it was very peaky and narrower range than I wanted. It still sounds great with certain genres but doesn't have a very wide spectrum at all.

Thanks. Last question (for now anyway): good custom sub box builder?

Appreciate your time, thanks.

 

[CSCStang]

[quote name='a/v HD fan']Thanks. Last question (for now anyway): good custom sub box builder?

Appreciate your time, thanks.[/QUOTE] @Boomsday ;