Unsatisfying output from a 12" FI Q.

[LinxuS 10+ year member]

Well I asked for it to be tuned to about 30, and he told me it was about 31. Maybe I need to remeasure the ports, and hope that they're actually 3".. That would put it fairly close to the right tuning.

The sub does pretty good on Soul Survivor, but does nothing on Late Night Tip on the lower notes.. that's what I don't understand. I have both CDs, so it's not the quality of the CD.

I'll try resetting the gain to what you said Dom. I was just a little confused on your wording..

Sub Level to +2 (should I do +6?)

EQ Low to +2

And then 75% of head unit volume? I actually set my head unit around 52/62, because I couldn't get enough voltage out of my amp for the speakers.

 

[LinxuS 10+ year member]

If you listen to it ouside in front of your vehicle, is it loud?

The only thing I hear is the component speakers. And I can hear those quite loudly.

 

[SlickCMRick 10+ year member]

try +6 on the sub control when u set your gains, because otherwise the sub control is useless.

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

Even if it is tuned at 38hz, it should beat hard given what you've told us.

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

A lot of posts while I was asleep, so I'll try to cover everyones questions..
My headunit has three bass features, but only two affect the actual sub.

Bass is set at -4, but that has no effect on the sub itself. I turned the speakers, put it to +6, and it did nothing for the sub, so I'm pretty sure of that.

There is a subwoofer seeting.

The Sub out is on.

The Phase is normal (yes i've tried reversing it, but to no audible difference.)

The level is at 0. I tried experimenting, and put the output to +2, and noticed a HUGE increase, but I'm sure it was because the amp was clipping...

Bass boost on the amp is 0. Changing the phase on the amp did nothing to audible difference.

There is an EQ on the headunit, called a Parametric EQ I believe?

For the Low setting, it DOES affect the subs output. I have it set on 0, and the Q Factor set at 40 hz, on 2 wide.

Also, what does this say for me being a bass head: I used to think my Type-R 5x7s had a decent amount of bass, and I just wanted a little more. I also thought my logitech subwoofer was pretty loud on my computer.

My rearview mirror does not even move. I'm really starting to think that I might need a more powerful amp. With my stock set up, I had just about no dimming, with only the Big 3. My alt is only about 70 amps. Once I upgraded to the Yellow Top, my voltage stayed at a constant 13.8-13.9, even with the sub on full tilt on music. Does that say anything at all, or is this just a decent eletrical system? I also have a 240 amp alt on the way from Thunder.

I'm going to go measure the aero ports and see exactly what it's tuned to.

The problem is bolded.

The subwoofer pre-out being set to Zero. This means your HU is putting out little to no pre-out voltage. Especially since Pioneers are known to not start meeting specs until high in the volume range.

Set your gains @ about 52-56 out of 62. Set your sub-out on at least 4/6, I recommend +6. (pioneers go up to +6 at increments of 2 right?). Keep the bass 0, and the EQ @ 0.

Re-do your gains. Do them with a DMM using a -3dB test tone @50hz.

If not, just do them by ear... and listen for stress/clipping.

My buddy has a Q15 with an RE 12.1 installed now, it a 2002 Buick Century, it's a trunk car with a sealed off trunk (metal/insulation behind the rear seats)... and it still sounds great.

That box should be excellent for your needs, in a truck that's one of the best style as far as sub and port arrangement are concerned.

Your truck should pressurize with one window down, other one up.

nG

 

[Duke 10+ year member]

Make sure you measure the diameter of the cylinder, and not the flare on the ports.

 

[dB Dom 10+ year member]

Yes, set the level on the sub to max +6 or whatever it is.

Then set the bass to about +2.

Then have the volume at about 50out of 62 and turn up your gain slowly.

Oh and I just checked your port length and with that length you should be tuned to 27 hz around. Cutting out the flares that should leave your tuning at about 30-31 hz. The length is total not for each port.

 

[LinxuS 10+ year member]

Downloading the -3 db tones right now. Also I tuned it on 60 hz at 0 db before, could that be the problem too?

I will retune it to this:

50 hz @ -3 db.

~ 36 volts.

Sub Level on +6

EQ Low on +2

 

[dB Dom 10+ year member]

No it doesnt matter. Just use the 0 db tone.

 

[slikrider20 10+ year member]

One thing noone even asked is......does the sub flex pretty well, and your still not happy with the output? Or does it hardly move at all, check out matt_martin87's vid of it, that will show you how much it moves.....

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=203764

My guess is that if its movin alot, it's either a box issue or your expectations are too high...but if the sub isn't flexin that much, probably in your headunit with the sub setting..i always left mine all the way up and set my gains from there.

edit: i noticed that you even responded in that thread with this problem.

 

[dB Dom 10+ year member]

Its obviously not flexing much, or he would be happy. lol

 

[slikrider20 10+ year member]

I wouldn't say that, my mag moved a butt load and it didn't really impress me.

But then again i heard my mag on a hifonics bx1505d, a shitty alt, and 4gauge wire..(8gauge into amp LOL)..

 

[dB Dom 10+ year member]

Try a Q LOL

 

[mazdakid 5,000+ posts]

Yes, set the level on the sub to max +6 or whatever it is.
Then set the bass to about +2.

Then have the volume at about 50out of 62 and turn up your gain slowly.

Oh and I just checked your port length and with that length you should be tuned to 27 hz around. Cutting out the flares that should leave your tuning at about 30-31 hz. The length is total not for each port.

the length is for each port, not total

 

[slikrider20 10+ year member]

I'm thinkin about gettin a Q actually...since...

Ctminime has a similar setup to matt_martin87 on here.

Ctminime is running i believe 2.0cf box with like 36 sq inch port or so...

Matt martin is running 2.5cf with i believe around the same amount of port area... (both tuned in low 30's)

both runnin 1/0 wire from batt, stock alt's...

Matt has a 9853, while ctminime runs a 9855...

And the biggest factor, the car....98 lumina vs 97 grand am...much more cabin area in the lumina...

the Q own's it in output, seriously...not even close. at least in this application

however i'd venture to say i like the sound of the mag better...sounds much "cleaner" and just more pleasant to the ear than the Q...