Which one of RE's reccomended XXX enclosure should I go with?

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Also, did RE change their box size rec for their old sub at some point? When i go to http://www.reaudio.com/David (the guy at RE told me to go there for older XXX box specs) it recomends either 2.5 @ 30 or 2.5 @35, but there is another part of the site that is archived , and that one says 2.1 @28hz for the same year XXX's . So what is with that? It also says tune to 35hz for SQL, but that sounds kind of high honestly. I would rather do that because SQL is what im after, but i don't want to tell someone to make me a 35Hz box, only to not like it because it doesn't have good sound quality.

2 to 2-1/2 cubes is always what RE has recommended for that model sub and 4-5 for the 15, so far as Ive seen. And 28-30 for SQ, mid to upper 30's for SQL.

I guess the question is do you want the sub to play a bit lower with a bit smoother frequency response, or do you want it to be louder but with less low end extension and a bit peakier response? A 35hz tuning isn't gonna sound 'bad', it just wont sound as good as a lower tuning will. Its not like we're talking about a mid 50's tuning point for SPL burps here. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif If you are worried about it not having enough output, go 35. If you are more concerned about the sound quality, go 30.

 

[ls1pimp 10+ year member]

2 to 2-1/2 cubes is always what RE has recommended for that model sub and 4-5 for the 15, so far as Ive seen. And 28-30 for SQ, mid to upper 30's for SQL.
I guess the question is do you want the sub to play a bit lower with a bit smoother frequency response, or do you want it to be louder but with less low end extension and a bit peakier response? A 35hz tuning isn't gonna sound 'bad', it just wont sound as good as a lower tuning will. Its not like we're talking about a mid 50's tuning point for SPL burps here. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif If you are worried about it not having enough output, go 35. If you are more concerned about the sound quality, go 30.

the problem is, SQ and SQL don't really convey much meaning to me because i have no idea what each setup would sound like. What does "peaky response" mean? The only thing I care abotu with sound quality is that it's not sloppy and it can keep up with the music. I don't care how balanced it is though, i wouldn't have bought a 1000 watt subwoofer if i needed it perfectly balanced. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif If 35 would still sound decent but be much louder, i may go for that even. ****, this is so freaking confusing.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

the problem is, SQ and SQL don't really convey much meaning to me because i have no idea what each setup would sound like. What does "peaky response" mean? The only thing I care abotu with sound quality is that it's not sloppy and it can keep up with the music. I don't care how balanced it is though, i wouldn't have bought a 1000 watt subwoofer if i needed it perfectly balanced. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif If 35 would still sound decent but be much louder, i may go for that even. ****, this is so freaking confusing.

First off, I doubt even at a 35hz tuning Id call it 'peaky', for the record I said a bit peakier. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif Even 35hz is considered a relatively low tuning point, and a XXX wont sound bad with that design.

The higher you tune the box, the closer it comes to matching the tuning freq of your vehicle. The closer each are, the more they work together. At some point, if you were to tune your box to mate with your vehicle's tuning freq, like SPL competitors do, it will have a very 'peaky' response. This means when the frequency response of the system is graphed out, there will be a large spike, or peak, in the response at or around tuning. This will cause an exagerrated output at or near that frequency. In common terms, it will lead to overly abundant bass in certain freqs while lacking that high output at other freqs. Loud for some songs/notes, not nearly so for others. A higher tuning freq lends itself to a monotonal bass line like is usually found in rap/hip-hop, but other music genres that use a wider bass frequency spectrum wont sound as good.

Will you notice the output increase between 30 and 35hz? Will you notice the SQ difference? Who knows. First off, we dont know your experience or exactly what you are wanting here. Second, each install/system/vehicle will respond slightly different. So all you can really do is knuckle down and decide which is more important to you, better SQ or more output. It wont be a night and day difference between the two setups in either case, just one leans more towards one while the other leans the other way. You are making this too complicated. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[ls1pimp 10+ year member]

First off, I doubt even at a 35hz tuning Id call it 'peaky', for the record I said a bit peakier. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif Even 35hz is considered a relatively low tuning point, and a XXX wont sound bad with that design.
The higher you tune the box, the closer it comes to matching the tuning freq of your vehicle. The closer each are, the more they work together. At some point, if you were to tune your box to mate with your vehicle's tuning freq, like SPL competitors do, it will have a very 'peaky' response. This means when the frequency response of the system is graphed out, there will be a large spike, or peak, in the response at or around tuning. This will cause an exagerrated output at or near that frequency. In common terms, it will lead to overly abundant bass in certain freqs while lacking that high output at other freqs. Loud for some songs/notes, not nearly so for others. A higher tuning freq lends itself to a monotonal bass line like is usually found in rap/hip-hop, but other music genres that use a wider bass frequency spectrum wont sound as good.

Will you notice the output increase between 30 and 35hz? Will you notice the SQ difference? Who knows. First off, we dont know your experience or exactly what you are wanting here. Second, each install/system/vehicle will respond slightly different. So all you can really do is knuckle down and decide which is more important to you, better SQ or more output. It wont be a night and day difference between the two setups in either case, just one leans more towards one while the other leans the other way. You are making this too complicated. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

yea i probably am. SPL is more imporant for me then.