Unhappy with my Type X performance. Please advise.

[Zaytser 10+ year member]

Need some serious help people. Please and thank you.

Anyways I have a Type X 12 running off an Earthquake DHC 200 amp because the PDX 1.1000 was DOA on arrival. So the sub should be getting plenty of power as it is jumpered for 2 ohm load. The music is sent from a Mac mini through a PXE-H650 imprint processor with the aux gain set at 3/4 and the Earthquake crossover is in the 9 o'clock position with the gain up 3/4.

The sub us in a 1.0 cube sealed box. The output blows and barley hits any harder than the 6" Bose subs that are under the dash. My Type X components overpower the subs. The gains on my PDX 4.150 are lower than the Earthquakes. Now I should also note that I have had the Earthquake amp running two magmas in a home theatre set up from time to time off of a battery and charger just to make use of them cause they were collecting dust, so maybe the amp is worn out from using it this way?

I am considering any different box set up, but really I would like to get away fro the typical giant box that you always see in a SUV. I really wish I could get my hands on those JL slim line woofers so I could do a stealth install but that would cost an arm and a leg and not sure what they sound like. If a big box is my only hope, what other brands should I look into? Back when I was reading the forums a lot the big thing was RE XXX and I waited three years for them to bring out there new models and now they are twice as exspensive and need so much power.

Now it seems Sound Splinter, FI, DC Audio, RD Audio, Incriminator Audio etc seem to have the best bang for the buck, but I am not sure as I have been out of the loop for so long. Any help is greatly appreciated as I really want to get some big sound in thus SUV. Of course not just boomy sound. More an SQL set up. Thanks for taking the time to read my post. Sorry it is so long.

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[Blinkrazy 10+ year member]

new box for sure i did a type x 12 off an alpine m1000 in 2.4 cubic feet tuned at 32 hz and it gets quite loud and retains good sq

have you seen the recomended box size for that woofer, i dont believe that it would sound anywhere near peak preformance in that small of a sealed box

 

[Blinkrazy 10+ year member]

i like my fi q alot but my box is huge, you could look to do a pair or fi ssd's in a sealed box and probably still have alot of trunk left

 

[Haunz 10+ year member]

The music is sent from a Mac mini through a PXE-H650 imprint processor with the aux gain set at 3/4

I have no idea what that equipment consists of.. but I'm sure your problem is related to not having enough preamp signal..

 

[Zaytser 10+ year member]

The Mac Mini is a carputer set up and the Imprint processor is from Alpine. It was supposed to be a factory integration processor but the way they advised to hook it into the factory system was a poor set up so I just have the Mac Mini hooked into the aux input of the processor.

The type X is the first batch of Type X's, the SWX-1242D. The link to the optimal enclosure is here at alpines website via the owners manual - http://vault.alpine-usa.com/products/documents/OM_SWX-1242D.PDF

The enclosures recommendations all seem very small, but back when I first asked for advice from a few of the members on this forum that were using this sub said to go sealed at 1.0 cube. I would build a bigger box, but if I do that I would just assume buy a couple more of these subs and use the entire floor space in the hatch. By the way this is going in the back of an H2.

1st choice is to go with mulitiple shallow mount subs or multiple 8'' subs if I want to do a stealth install but still have decent bass. Not sure what would be a good brand for an 8 inch sub except for the W7 or RLP 8" and I don't think they exist anymore.

2nd choice is to just build a big box with multiple 12's or 15's inch subs (sql) and use the entire rear hatch, but build the box so cargo can be placed on top of the box. If I go this rout I really want to make the box look like it belongs some what.

I know this sounds picky but I would like to take my vehicle to show and shines and what not when it is completed and I am just tired of the Unique Whips sub box that you see in most H2 installs.

 

[massivespl]

change your box size to around 2.5 cubic feet and port it and it will be prolly twice as loud that way then in a 1 cubic foot sealed box.

 

[Zaytser 10+ year member]

This is going into an H2 Hummer. So if I build a bigger box I may as well use the whole back end floor and use multiple drivers. I would probably building the box like a false floor with the subs protected. I don't want or need to show them off. Im not into the flash of reverse mounting and what not. I would think maybe 3 type X's total would fill the floor space, maybe 4.

But they each need about a 1000 watts and dedicating an Alpine PDX 1.1000 for each one will run me at least $1500 for three type X's or a different amp, but I am so out of the loop on amplifiers that put out that much power and how much they cost. I already have large welding cable for power and grounds, and an extra optima batter in the Hummer. But the alternator is stock at 140 amps.

I just keep thinking that going with more 12'' subs won't quench my thirst for the bass I am looking for unless I get more batteries and a bigger alternator. I heard some Soundstream 170 spls years ago, and all the 12'' subs I have run, have never sounded like that, but for some stupid reason I keep buying 12'' subs. What would be a good multiple 15'' sub set up to look into that doesn't require a hydro electric power plant to run. I am trying to be as efficient as possible, but I know that it may not be.

 

[NightDrifter05 10+ year member]

If you want to do 3-4 sub's look into AudioQue SDC's 2.5's and a AQ2200. It would be a clean setup and wouldn't require a massive electrical.

 

[Zaytser 10+ year member]

Ok thanks I will research them out.

 

[snfsh79077 10+ year member]

unless you dont care about money I would try building a 2 cuft ported or sealed enclosure and see how it satisfies you. and 2 cubes shouldnt take up to much more room than that 1 cube. Maybe make it as wide as the back area with the sub in the middle if sealed or port and sub on one side if ported.

 

[Zaytser 10+ year member]

That is the thing. I want to try to integrate the sub box into the interior look of the vehicle as much as possible, most likely wrapping it in vinyl or vinyl/suede combo. If it is going to get as big as 2 cubes, I may as well go with more drivers, as I would have to try to cover the rest of the floor right from the hatch to the seats to make it level, like a false floor in a trunk. I just cannot stand having a box sitting in the middle of the back of a vehicle, it just looks half assed, no matter how you dress it up. At least if the whole floor is covered I can still have the subs covered by a type of screen material that matches teh interior and use the entire box as the floor for the rear end for anything I may need to haul. I don't mind spending some money, but I want a clean install, but I also want a great sounding system.

I once got caught up in trying to build a system with lots of power with big subs and big amps to show off, but I finally realised that it probably wouldn't sound any better or louder than something half the price. Not sure if I am making any sense.

PS. The subs, 3 or 4 12's or 2 or 3 15's would either be about an inch from the rear hatch or firing upward and covered by something. I am not sure how down firing would sound, as that would be the best solution when it comes to not wanting people to see them when looking through the window as well as protection from being banged into.