Hmm, I liked my brahma 10 in a sealed enclosure in a trunk well enough. Wasn't amazing for rap, but it was enough to get a visceral bass feeling out of most music. As far as ears bleeding from loud music, I think that's the $200 components. I personally, more than once, have listening to high end HT setups WAYYY to loud, not realizing it, just becuase it still wasnt' really hurting my ears too much, it didnt' sound that much louder than some cars I had been in, it just sounded nicer with a lot more "full" sound to it. Without distortion, things dont tend to hurt as much apparently. Drums beating me in my chest, trumpets sounding totally lifelike, suddenly the come into the demo room and tell me that's at least 120db full range, and I should probably turn it down now.
I agree, a perfectly flat responce rarely sounds natural, especially in a car. I do disagree however, that it takes a 12 inch sub with over 20mm of excursion in a PORTED enclosure no less to have a decent amount of bass, let alone enough to keep up with 6.5 inch speakers running IB and a 1"tweet.
