Upcoming Volvo V70, small SQ system

[buggsson 10+ year member]

First post on this forum. I am a total newbie to car audio and plan to install a smallish SQ system in my V70. As I have just started to dip my toes into this field of audio, my knowledge is scarce, and the questions many.

I like to read a lot, so I have ordered two books about car audio. I hope I will learn something useful, to get me a starting platform so to say.

I have started to collect car audio driver manufacturer URLs, there are quite a few. However, many has landed in my NO NO list due to arrogance. They do not respond to "not too stupid" questions when their scant information on their home pages is not enough.

I have also been searching for what I believe to be suitable car sub drivers, as a start. Even though I have heard you are better off starting with the front system. I plan on going sealed. I do not know what to think. In the HiFi world, a sub driver for a sealed application should have an EBP of 50 or lower, I can't see that it would be different for a car application, is it? So far I have only found 4 that have an EBP under 60, what gives? One was the SoundSplinter RLs-12 at 27, but they said something about the T/S values of that driver not being comparable to a "normal" subs values. I am looking for 12" drivers by the way, large enough I reckon.

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[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

EBP is only ballpark. Just like saying that you need a high Qts driver for infinite baffle use. There's a lot more to it than the EBP. Also because of the small room acoustics of the car environment, a lot of what applies in home audio doesn't translate well to the car. If you want an SQ designed, sealed box 12, look at the Stereo Integrity Mag D2. The newest version is designed to work in 1 cf sealed and doesn't need much power at all to really perform well. They should be available for order in the nex week or so. http://www.stereointegrity.com

 

[buggsson 10+ year member]

EBP is only ballpark. Just like saying that you need a high Qts driver for infinite baffle use. There's a lot more to it than the EBP.
If you want an SQ designed, sealed box 12, look at the Stereo Integrity Mag D2. The newest version is designed to work in 1 cf sealed and doesn't need much power at all to really perform well. They should be available for order in the nex week or so. http://www.stereointegrity.com

Yes, I know it is only ball park figures, but as I am a newbie, I don't know the selection criteria, and I do not know the procedures you have to take when the EBP is between 50 and 100, I feel more comfortable, using drivers not so much over 50, because this guidance is for a reason, the way the driver is built. What is the procedure for when EBP is bestween 50 and 100?

I checked out Sereo Integrity, and the driver is using the XBL^2 motor, but they had no data at all, not that I could find anyway.

As I am trying to learn the basics here, what signifies a high compliance subwoofer, where does it start to be in the "high" part of whatever, what do I look for?

It was suggested to me that one 12" sub would be enough for my V70, would that be a general suggestion by this forum?

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Ignore the EBP. You're getting too wrapped up in the numbers which don't tell even most of the story. In the case of the Mag, Nick (owner of SI) has not released the T/S parameters for just this reason. The sub is meant to work best in a 1cf sealed box. Not bigger, not smaller not ported. He wants people to use that box.

Your question about "what signifiesa high compliance driver?" makes my point perfectly. The answer is "it depends."

If you're asking about SQ systems, you're probably on the wrong forum. Most of the people on here would not consider 1 12 enough because their only measure for a stereo is 'how loud.". For me, it's more than enough, but I'm an exception on here, far from the rule. Whattype car is the V70? Not sure they are imported to the States. Sedan, hatchback, wagon, SUV? In any case a single 12 will be plenty provided that you have an adequate path for air to move between where the sub is and the main cabin of the vehicle.

 

[buggsson 10+ year member]

Ignore the EBP. You're getting too wrapped up in the numbers which don't tell even most of the story.
If you're asking about SQ systems, you're probably on the wrong forum.

Whattype car is the V70? Not sure they are imported to the States. In any case a single 12 will be plenty provided that you have an adequate path for air to move between where the sub is and the main cabin of the vehicle.

Yes, I guess I am, numbers feel fine when you are out in uncharted land (my inexperience).

Is there any SQ car audio forums, I had not expected to find one, most seems to be SPL geared.

The V70 is a wagon, and I saw quite a few when I lived your side of the atlantid a few years back. It looks like this: http://www.volvocars.com/us/models/V70/Pages/default.aspx

Mine is soon a decade older though, but there is plenty of air path from the back to the front, that will not be a problem.

So if I am to ignore EBP and the numbers, you mean I can just take any woofer put it into my software, and off I go? Choosing a sealed box?

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Pretty much any driver with any kind of SQ bent is going to be great in a sealed setup. How much are you willing to spend and how much space are you willing to dedicate to the sub enclosure?

As far as more SQ oriented forums http://www.soundsolutionsaudio.com is where I hang out . Some really smart guys over there including several SQ World Champions. http://www.diymobileaudio.com has some smart people on it, too but they tend to come off as pricks a lot. There are also some total morons on there so you have to sort the good from the bad, much like here.

 

[buggsson 10+ year member]

Pretty much any driver with any kind of SQ bent is going to be great in a sealed setup. How much are you willing to spend and how much space are you willing to dedicate to the sub enclosure?

I was thinking of spending approx. 2500 USD in total, and to let the subs take around 1000 of those, but then that might be too large a chunk of the total for a balanced system?

Space, I have the whole space between the back seats and the rear, so I guess I could do at least up to 150 liters whithout coming too close the rear, or closing the area off from the rest of the car. I've been adviced to direct the woofers rearwards. I have also been thinking about all those prefab boxes you see. Why do so many of them have slanted baffles?I can't see that it will have any practical reasons, with those low frequencis. The box will be simi-stationary, I will fasten it tight when playing, but it has to come off once in a while.

And thanks for the URLs, I will check them out.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Yes, one 12 is plenty for a SQ system. Chose a driver with alot of linear displacement potential, xmax, stick it in an enclosure that gives the alignment you prefer (as it sound like you know about such things) and away you go.

Im being superficial here, but that's a good start towards a solid SQ setup.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

I'd personally dedicate less of your budget to the sub setup. The fronts are much more important. You should be able to do the sub and amp for less than $500. Also for a single sealed 12 you won't use even 25% of that space. As far as firing toward the rear, not as important since you're not after a lot of output. You may actually find that firing it toward the side sounds better; my point being don't be afraid to experiment a bit with the placement and aiming of the sub.

 

[buggsson 10+ year member]

Good to hear that one 12" will be sufficient, then I will have a wider choice as I do not have to get two. And yes, good point, experimenting with placement, I hadn't thought of that since I was first advised otherwise.