What is Your Definition of a SQ Sub?

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

Dont let the idea of an 18" fool you... I've heard so many people say that 18s can't do fast or high bass. I ask them if they've ever heard an 18" //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[shimmyz 10+ year member]

I didn't read the original post, 'cause i dont' give a shit.
I think SQ should be used in terms of a whole system and not just a portion of it. You can have the highest praised "SQ" w/ a weak frontstage, and it'll still sound like shit. Would that "SQ" sub still be SQ?

I would say yes. For example I plug my bass guitar into my bass amp at home and play it. I can hear myself playing through the speaker (my bass guitar only). I then put a mic infront of my amp and record myself playing. I then play my recording in the car with only the sub turned on. I think a sound quality sub should sound very close to how it sounded coming from my fender bass amp.

 

[shimmyz 10+ year member]

Dont let the idea of an 18" fool you... I've heard so many people say that 18s can't do fast or high bass. I ask them if they've ever heard an 18" //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

I know they will play high. I'm just affraid to buy one without hearing one.

 

[BringDaBoom 10+ year member]

Well lets see here.
First of all box and installation is more important than the sub. Just about any sub can sound good or like shit.

Second, sq, by definition, the accurate reproduction of music. This does not always sound good, so keep that in mind.

Third, we will need more information as to what you are trying to accomplish such as vehicle, budget, size constraints, sealed or ported, music you listen to, power you will have available and the rest of the equipment you will be using.

Bingo. The more accurate the subwoofer produces the signal, with the least ammount of distortion, blooming and coloration added.

 

[MmatsDude 10+ year member]

if you want true SQ find you a pair of Funky Pup subs and a Turbo amp //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

Turbo amp? LOL wtf

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

I'll have to respectfully disagree with you on this one and I realize it's your opinion, so there's no right or wrong. Same with my opinion...
I run into the "accurately reproduce as the artist/producer intended" a lot on the HT forums I frequent. There's nothing wrong with that, but I prefer to design/tune a system to please my ears vs the holy grail of staying true to how it was recorded. Probably why I run my subs a few dB's hot as it adds to my viewing/listening pleasure.

I ran RL-P's for about a year and while they were very accurate sounding I didn't care for the dryness of the bass. They had punch, but seemed to lack impact. Others probably love/prefer that sound.

To the OP: There's plenty of modern day subs that can play relatively flat in sealed or ported enclosures. Add in some solid midbass/midrange and your favorite flavor of tweeters and a very nice daily SQ system can be achieved. Comp SQ is a whole different breed of course.

You are describing personal preference, not sound quality. If we were define sound quality as what each person find pleasing to their own ear, their truly is no such thing as sound quality. Might as well say it sounds 'yellow' or 'asparagus'. If we use your definition of SQ, every kid out there pimping RoadMaster or Pyle and thinks his system is this shiznit, has a SQ setup. By your definition, everyone who is pleased with how their stereo sounds, no matter the actual sound, owns a sound quality setup.
Whether you want the bass to stand out more than the original artist did, for example, has nothing to do with SQ. I certainly agree that for a daily listener, I prefer to tune to what my ears what to hear (that's why I have a bass knob for example), but I dont fool myself into thinking that because I enjoy my music bass heavy sometimes does not make it 'sound quality'.

No disrespect intended. We are saying the same thing, just using different terms.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

To the OP, if your sub wont make it up to 65hz, there is something drastically wrong. Even the subs with notoriously lacking 'top end' (midbass) can hit 65hz. That would simply be a tuning/alignment issue.

 

[shimmyz 10+ year member]

To the OP, if your sub wont make it up to 65hz, there is something drastically wrong. Even the subs with notoriously lacking 'top end' (midbass) can hit 65hz. That would simply be a tuning/alignment issue.

My sub will with ease. But it is old and I only have one left. I'm looking for a replacement. And its not about hitting 65Hz. Any sub will. But all new fat surround, high watt subs that I have heard don't do it smoothly. At 45Hz they are waking the neighbors and @65hz in the same song with same volume setting they are as loud as a mouse fart. At higher volume the front highs overpower the upper bass.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

My sub will with ease. But it is old and I only have one left. I'm looking for a replacement. And its not about hitting 65Hz. Any sub will. But all new fat surround, high watt subs that I have heard don't do it smoothly. At 45Hz they are waking the neighbors and 65hz in the same song with same volume setting they are as loud as a mouse fart. At higher volume the front highs overpower the upper bass.

Im not sure how else to tell you that you are describing a situation where the midbass is lacking, not the subbass. Ideally you dont want anything over 65hz coming from behind you anyway, if we are talking SQ.

 

[James Bang 5,000+ posts]

I would say yes. For example I plug my bass guitar into my bass amp at home and play it. I can hear myself playing through the speaker (my bass guitar only). I then put a mic infront of my amp and record myself playing. I then play my recording in the car with only the sub turned on. I think a sound quality sub should sound very close to how it sounded coming from my fender bass amp.

Well, I listen to music, not just a bass guitar.

 

[shimmyz 10+ year member]

Well, I listen to music, not just a bass guitar.

So if my sub sounds like a blender its cool just as long as the rest of my speakers sound like other kitchen appliences?

And remember this thread is in the subwoofer section.

 

[shimmyz 10+ year member]

Im not sure how else to tell you that you are describing a situation where the midbass is lacking, not the subbass. Ideally you dont want anything over 65hz coming from behind you anyway, if we are talking SQ.

Maybe your right. I like to feel some upper bass though. I do now. I just want to find something new that can do what I have now. Maybe more has changed in car audio than I thought.

 

[James Bang 5,000+ posts]

So if my sub sounds like a blender its cool just as long as the rest of my speakers sound like other kitchen appliences?

WTF are you smoking?

So if you have an so-called SQ sub, would your call your setup an SQ setup if your frontstage consisted of stock speakers?

 

[shimmyz 10+ year member]

WTF are you smoking?
So if you have an so-called SQ sub, would your call your setup an SQ setup if your frontstage consisted of stock speakers?

This is the subwoofer section. I'm not talking about tuning a system. I want to know what people consider a SQ sub. I dont give a shit what other speakers your running. Even if your front stage is playing the sweetest music in the the history of car audio. If your sub hits and it sounds like your running over a bunch of dead cats that is not SQ to me.

 

[Grinder1989 5,000+ posts]

An SQ sub to me is a high quality sub that can reproduce the signal that is given to it (as accurately and as clean as possible). Everyone can say that their sub stage sounds the best but who is to judge this? Everyone has different tastes in sounds. My uncle for example loves lots of bass and lots of tweeter. So you can imagine how his setup sounds. No midrange/midbass in sight. This is contradicting because he likes rock which has lots of midbass. I've frustrated myself too many times trying to get him to change his settings but he doesn't listen. That's what he likes.

If your concerned with SQ, I suggest a Stereo Integrity Mag. The owner spent a lot of time on those subs and I've heard nothing but great things about him and his company.