Loudness of bass is also affected by frequency. Not all frequencies travel equally within a chamber. If you use a tone of 40hz to do a test like this, you would get different results when using other frequencies. In the end, the placement of the sub will depend on the listener's preference. A position that will not be that loud at 40hz may probably be loud at other frequencies and vice versa.
+Bassotronics yeah bass sounds wayyyyy louderr in a van or truck i mean the long trucks . and once you open that trunk your subs wont be ass loud thats why you need wayyy moree power if your gonna show off subs with an open trunk at a contest .
what they did tho might be a good trick for a sub in a sealed box, where the lower freq's tend to drop off - like around sub 30Hz facing backwards "could" enhance those lower freq's so that's prolly why the 40Hz test was done.
Do whatever suits you but some tips I have learned mounting sub boxes for daily drivers over the years are... Mount the box with metal brackets to the metal on your vehicle not on top of carpet & plastic. Ported boxes are "boomy" (sound louder), sealed boxes give tight clean bass. Aiming to the back typically allows for better sub frequency "loading". If you have speakers in the package shelf and your sub is in the trunk, seal them with small enclosures. Run 1/3 the power for your front speakers and don't overdrive anything this includes using equalization. Use as large as a chamber as you can that the sub calls for. Try not not to pizz off your decent neighbors, go to an isolated area for testing.
I'm pretty sure physics hasn't changed in the roughly 20 years that have passed since I was into car audio. Regarding the hatchback question (trunks, too, as long as there is no firewall behind the back seat) facing subs rearward (often with the box against the rear seats) is almost exclusively better than any other position. So, no, don't face your sub up and port backwards - you shorten the sound path (see below as to why this is generally problematic) and could be asking for phasing problems if the sub, port, and car disagree with one another. The reason rearward-facing subs tend to work best is because frequency is an inverse function of wavelength. In other words, the lower the frequency, the longer the wavelength. Facing them backwards means the distance traveled is that much further, ergo lower frequencies benefit in-cabin. Throw in the the size and shape of the cabin volume, you should notice a significant difference called cabin gain. There are exceptions to the rule (like porting a bandpass - the sound if which I generally don't like because such a box often lacks versatility as to what music plays well - through the rear deck), but this works more often than not. I transformed the sound in Trent Dilfer's system in his Blazer when he came in to buy more and larger subs, doing nothing more than utilizing this principle and all at no charge. A happy Bucs QB is one who ends up ironically coming back to Tampa a few years later and wins a Super Bowl there. :) In case there is any doubt, I have quantitative data - I had a common-cavity double isobaric bass -reflex enclosure with 4 JL Audio 12W1s in a 1993 Mazda MX3 that routinely measured in the 136 dB (C-weighted) neighborhood running off a PPI A300 (75W X 2 - 12V @ 4 Ohms - before all the high-current stuff came out, plus I was going for sound quality) running series-parallel in a box that was 1.5 ft^3 (I think it was no bigger than that - it was a bit ago) interior volume. It was rather pedestrian and was only in the 250W class, but it sounded better and was often louder than cars whose owners spent multiples of what I had. Keeping it simple has its benefits. PS - Placement of the SPL meter in this video is awful, but at least it's consistent. It should have been at ear level in the front seating area - at least that's where I tend to listen to my music. ;) Plus, the windshield is reflecting the sub an additional time, creating an even longer path to the mic and different resonant frequency(ies), which can be good or bad depending on whether a node or antinode (those wondering what the heck I am talking about, turn on a subwoofer and walk around it; the dead spots you notice are antinodes and the louder spots are nodes) is created at that point. More often than not, if you lean forward in your car, you will find that the bass level has increased due to the reflection from the windshield - that's what I'm talking about here.
That last part is so true. I hate the meter placement in competitions (on the dash or windshield). That's not where you will hear the bass as a passenger. The systems that always make me bail tend to not be the ones that meter the highest specifically for this reason.
5 years late but yes I too apply physics to my sub and placement in my trunk of my 4Runner...keep adjusting the distance between the sub and back of the trunk....or even slightly changing the angle trying the find a nice resonant spot. And yea I have noticed the bass has a louder dB if I tilt my head forwards.
All that blah blah when all you have to do is try the different positions and see which sound you prefer. Period. All that technical bs doesn't mean anything if an individual prefers it a certain way over your techical scientific dictionary what's it matter. To each their own and leave em alone !!
Thank you for making this video. I just got two Kenwood 12s in a sealed box and i had them facing my trunk but pushed back towards the back seat. I pulled the box up like 6 inches from the trunk opening and its crazy how much better it sounds. Like different speakers almost. The bass is a lot better overall.
This also works well in home setups as well. I have always corner loaded my powered subwoofers facing the wall and the results are atleast a 3db increase as well as tighter, smoother bass. Also, great test guys, thanks for the info.
this works really well. If you really want to test this you should use a sealed box so people aren't dumb about wich way the port is and that its not a quality box etc. I have 3 10's in a sealed box, usually pressed against the back seat facing the rear. I faced them up at the trunk, it was awful. faced them in to the car. a little better, not as good as normal location. shoved the box to the back like in this video to where the subs almost touch the trunk, and you wouldn't believe the difference. its like I gave them a extra 500 watts on top of the 1300 I already give them. the bass is better and definitely louder.
i personally listen for bass outside of the vehicle, ever noticed when the sub is faced to the back you get bass only at the front when you stand outside the vehicle? and when you face the sub forward you get the bass both front and rear of the vehicle when you are outside? in other words as a pedestrian hearing a bass coming towards you and when it reaches and pass the bass is gone then you knw that sub is faced backward in the trunk, but if you hear a bass coming towards you and when it passes you and you still feel that bassline then its position to the front.i tried that experiment many times in many different vehicles and its all the same results.
So I have a 2004 expedition and I’d like to hear the bass out side the car to grab people attention and it just doesn’t sound out side the car but the expedition has 3 rows and I need the 3rd row where do I face my subs to get the feeling of the bass out side the car
I think this is to do with reflection, the trunk reflects a lot while also a large sum surpasses the trunk doing it one way.. Sorta shows that subs arent omnidirectional I guess
the reason you get better bass that way is because it takes more feet to develop bass waves. the farther away the sub is away from you as well as it reflects off the back of the car developed the full wave. I always have done it this way.
A lot depends on the truck, your available space, the specific subwoofer models, and if you will be using a ported or sealed enclosure. A lot of the pre-fabricated custom boxes we offer will position the subs under the rear seat (assuming ext. or crew/quad cab) with enough clearance to fire them down into the floor with great results. Feel free to call for additional assistance: 800.315.0030--Crutchfield
For example a bass wave in a concrete room would sound way worse than a bass wave being played in a plywood room, because the wave simply bounces around in a concrete setting while in a plywood room the whole room becomes coupled to the wave and the added surface area helps to reproduce the sound waves.
Its called bass reflex! The bass notes are reflecting off the back of the trunk! Bass reflex will always sound better. If you want another test take your system in an open parking lot and turn it up and move back 20 feet, then drive to a street with buildings on both sides or an alley way turn it up and move back 20 feet and its guarantied to be way louder! Bass reflex! This is for smaller systems though of course if you have a monster system with walls of woofers and amps you can aim how ever you want because the sound pressure levels will overwhelm the small space!
Bass reflex is what a ported box is... Bass reflex is the idea of not only using the flex from the outside, but also the reflex from the back of the box. Reflex is not reflect. Bass takes a certain distance to mature (as a good way to describe it), which all depends on subwoofer, cone design, box, area, etc etc.
If you are using a ported enclosure, set the subsonic filter within 10 Hz below the port tuning frequency. If you have a sealed box, you can set the subsonic filter around 20Hz or so. The low pass filter is a matter of preference. Depending on the slope and the high pass settings of other speakers in the system, the low pass frequency setting can vary wildly. HTH!--Crutchfield
Chrysler LHS on Crutchfield's Customer Car Showroom. My name is Ryan Rigg. I wanted to let you know Robert that I got my Charger R/T, upgraded it and just traded it for a 10' Dodge Challenger SRT. I'll submit full write-ups for both. Great video!!
my 2 cents: i tried both and i got to admit facing to the rear is much better on the opposite side when it's facing you the bass tends to "choke" you and hits you in the throat yes literally but if you want clean bass have it facing the rear end of the trunk. thumbs up @Crutchfield
Dude I think that guy in the drivers seat is the same guy who I just watched show me how to install a sub, but he's older now. That's cool that he's still with the company!
The "type" of box is a matter of personal preference. Ideally, you'll use an enclosure that offers the manufacturer's recommended airspace for the specific box type. If you opt for a ported enclosure, be sure the port(s) are of the proper size & length to get the most out of the subs. Feel free to call for additional assistance: 800.315.0030--Crutchfield
I cannot say we have done any testing on this. I would expect about the same as it was when the subwoofer was facing the side of the trunk. However, we have not done any testing with the subwoofer facing up--Crutchfield
Ported boxes are mainly not just louder they allow the subwoofer to "breath" allowing it to push out more sound towards the vehicle, my best tip is to put it right in one of the corners gives more of a surround to bass out but depends on size of box, but its yalls system do it how you like it.
Which placement do you suggest for a hatchback? I am SPL guy need loudest possible bass. Also lemme know if I keep port firing in either left or right side & subs facing back towards boot door am I doing something wrong?
If you have two of the subwoofers, you can wire them in parallel to the Alpine to present the 2 Ohm final load. The amplifier will then produce up to 500 watts RMS with each woofer getting around 250 watts. This will not push the Kenwoods to their full potential (400 watts RMS each), but would be the best way to wire them to that Alpine. HTH!--Crutchfield
all depends on size of trunk or space where sub box sits. I have a 2-door explorer. (small trunk area) with two 15's in a ported box w/ subs facing upward. THEY SLAM. So Midsize to large size SUV's, face them upward. I guarantee you'll notice a huge difference. Coupes and sedans, face box/subs outward towards truck lid (ported or not).**Feel free to agree or disagree**
Now measure the difference between rear seats open and closed. I thought my 12in kicker was at its loudest with the seats down in my Camry (trunk ported into the cabin) and the sub facing back with the box near the back. Seats up was quieter in my opinion or at least less rich. This is why I think a 6th order bandpass ported through the rear deck is probably the best config for a Sedan. The real bonus is that you can have 4 passengers and sound the same. A much more complex build but worth it if you are willing to do extensive fabrication. Another added bonus is that if your rear deck speakers are running open air, the subwoofer won't affect their sound because, in a config such as the one in this video, the mids are acting as bass radiators for the trunk. The difference probably isn't that noticeable in this video's setup but when you start getting into larger drivers and more power, the subs will distort the sound from the rear deck.
Crutchfield my question is i have 2 12 inch type Rs in a slot ported box and i also have 2 jl W3s in a seperate slot ported and i want all four in my trunk but i would like to know the proper position for each box for maximum bass. Thanks
For everyone's questions on the topic it has to do with sound wave length travel!!! Every trunk is different and have you not noticed that when you roll your windows down its louder? Why because sound waves CANCEL each other out! Placement of the subwoofer is important especially if you're running more than 1 which most people into audio do so. Depending on the sub(s) and power supplied sometimes it's better to face them up or to even put them in the back seat depending on the vehicle. Try many applications because you will be surprised how much of a difference this will make! Also tune your hz eq because a larger space for sound to travel will create a lower bass frequency and a smaller area will create a higher bass frequency.
I have two 12 inch subs and 1000 watt amp. I keep my rear seats down and subs facing away from the front of the car. They sound great even in a sealed box, real loud and powerful thump. Idk about the numbers at all but I've played around with the positioning and settings on my amp and on my deck and it sounds solid. Im sure it could be better with a more knowledgable tuning.
I'm going for clarity.... Clean bass tones.... Not too bassy....as it's sounds.....not quality.. So I have 1 -12"sealed .. Facing towards the back.. 1800 W.....amp,cap.. It's not too bad... As I'm going for ...clean bass....it gets the seats...vibing...mirror shaking.....even outside mirrors too... I had a 15 JBL.....thats just bass....can't even hear any words.....so now...after it shat itself...lol....I got a sick 12"....just to show people.. Don't need a big speaker Just ...something enough for a lil back massage... Clean... Thanks guys.. I'm a car audio ....finatic... Muzik ....is my fav.....
Ill be turning mine around ... i have a 600 watt amp with 1 12 inch sub.. ive been getting misfires lately changed out a ton of parts .. have you guys ever expirienced misfires and suspected it was draining of electricity in your car?
Bass waves are omni directional, they sorround the enclosure; not only emitting from the speaker. Off axis bass might be deeper, but it cn often be muddier. That being said there is a reason 99% of sedans, with a sealed trunk, are going to sound loudest facing backwards and in close proximity of the trunk. Bass waves need to be able vibrate materials in order to sound loud and full.
Is it so much the subwoofer cone or the port you think that makes a difference? i have a single 12" running off 1500w rms sub pointed up port pointed back behind rear seat of a 4x4 in a 2 cu ft custom box. im sitting around 140db at the moment give or take 1db with music choice. i still have around 3 foot that i can move it back towards the rear doors that im thinking of trying now after this video. just need more 0 gauge wire to give it the length to move it back more haha
I SERIOSULY need an answer to this so if you know, please answer. Does the ACTUAL size of the box matter? The box I'm looking at has 1.83cuft, but is pretty small in size (about the size in in video). So my question is if I get a larger size box, with the same cubic feet tho, will it sound different?
This is why i prefer to put subs in Hatch backs. When you face them away from you it sounds insane. Used to setup buildings alarms with only 2 x 15inch subs.
Completely depends on the car. In my sedan I get the most bass when tilted slightly to the left. In my hatchback I get much more bass when faced upwards.
I have 2 12" sub woofers running at 1 ohm on amp thats putting out 600 watts split between the two. I have an 02 grand am gt which has seat you can fold down. I've found the loudest/best way to have them is with the rear passenger side seat down and the middle/driver rear seat up, and the sub firing to the rear of the car. I tried firing forward with the seats up and down its nowhere near as good.
I would expect that subs placed on the back seat instead of in the trunk of a vehicle would lead to cleaner sound because if nothing else, you are not having to turn up the bass volume as loud to get the same levels in the cab of the car as you would if they were placed in the trunk. Feel free to contact us for a personal recommendation on a subwoofer system for you. Here's how to reach us: www.crutchfield.com/I-rYTVc000/ContactUs.aspx --Crutchfield
ive got 2 15 inch JL audio subs and matching amp i currently have them facing my seats should i turn them around even tho they kick like a mule anyways
Most subwoofers will require an enclosure (sealed or ported) with the correct airspace to perform properly. In your scenario, you would either need a "Free Air" subwoofer or a custom enclosure on the backside of the mounting plane. Feel free to call for additional assistance: 800.315.0030--Crutchfield
Yea try aiming the sub up towards the rear deck, i know my 10 hardly rattles my trunk aiming up. but it would be great to know if it would be louder facing back
The reason is because, low frequencies are much and longer (refer to a sin wave). As a rule of thumb, for every 7db's the sound seems to sound doubled. With that said, you may feel more ear pressure if the speaker is close or facing you directly but you need to find the position that sounds best! Also the standard ported box produces about 3db's more spl but the down side is the boost is at a very specific frequency. Nice for spl measurements but not great for the person who loves music.
To get the best output from a Bazooka tube, the tube should be mounted facing into a corner, and there should be 2" to 4" between the woofer and the corner into which the woofer is pointing. Hope that helps! --Crutchfield
what would be the best position on a 94 f150 extended cab, I have mine facing the seat and if I turn it around the back seat will press into the sub, should of out on protection brackets and turn it or leave it as is
I've got 2 subs facing forward with a side port. If I want them to face the boot I need to buy longer cables. Is it worth the sound difference? Thanks!
This is a good question! But one that we don't know the answer to as we don't perform any research of this on vehicles. My best recommendation is to try to locate a forum discussing your vehicle and see if anyone has posted information on this. I hope you find something to help! --Crutchfield
What about facing the roof of the trunk? I've tried that and it seemed about the same as facing rear/slid towards the back. I think the bass was deeper but it would be interesting to see the results on a bass meter.
I currently have 1 8 inch 120w subwoofer. At loud volumes the speakers just overcome the sound of bass and it just isn't loud enough. If I got 2 12's on 1200w rms, would that get just as loud as the speakers on full volume? I'm not very experienced with car audio.
i have my subs facing up due to maximizing my trunk space in my jeep and putting the port to the side i wanted where it wouldn't be obstructed. i drive a suv and i have seen many suv installs facing upward. is this as good as facing backward because i already wired and mounted everything so clean
i have 2 alpine s type 12" 4ohm in series bringing each down to 2ohm on a vented bassworx reference series with a large port. its loud but i want to shake other cars because I'm a a-hole like that
Clear and concise video. My subs give my car tons of rattle and I velcro'd them earlier so it would have been a pain in the ass to figure out where to place them. I had my subs hugging the trunk and rear seats and facing away. I'll be moving them closer to the edge of the trunk this time. Thanks!
Yup, I found this to be the case when I did that also. It acts that way because when you face the speaker toward the rear of the car, it horn loads the driver. It is similar to when you take your home speakers and put them in the corner of the room.
i have a 10 inch diamond sub and a db bass 1000 watt amp and it keeps going into protected mode at slightly higher levels is there anything i could do to help it from going into protect
I HAVE THE SAME CAR IN THE VIDEO BUT HAVE TWO 12'S IN MY TRUNK...WOULD I STILL TURN THEM AROUND MY PORT IS ON THE SIDE...DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS WELL...???
Do you mean the port(s) are on a side baffle?...If so, then yes you could face it either way. If your port(s) are on the same baffle as the woofers then NO. Point is to not 'block' the ports, the air needs to escape with no obstruction.
sir have i20 Hyundai in which i installed 2 component of hertz,1 focal amp, 1 pioneer mono amp...after that sound quality is good but i need surround sound or example dolby digital ,dts sound field what can i do tell me
ive got a toyota corolla, seems placing them all the way to the rear to the car, like completely to the back and facing upright is the best for loud bass.
Good test. I had mine facing the back but the rattle was way too loud from the outside so i faced them toward the back of the seat. In my particular case it sounded better that way
i drive a green 97 ford taurus... wich they used a ford taurus around same year in video... and its acoustics are amazing.. i have 2 12" mtx terminator package and 6x9's on my raer deck with kenwood 6x8's on my fron doors... car barely powers it but its grat.. would recomend crutcfield to everybody
I am new here... Actually i hardly understand the technical terms. I want to add subs or basstube and an amp. Can u tell me which are best in India budget is around 12k
When it sounds better to you as the driver in that position. There is no "one-way" they must face in your vehicle so you may want to try them in different positions to see what sounds best to you in the driver's seat. Feel free to call for additional assistance: 800.315.0030--Crutchfield
I have a 2014 nissan altima, just got 2 12" solo baric L7 and a RE audioZTX 3000.1 amp to push it with a ported box. What's your suggestions for positioning my system.
There's really no "correct" way to position subs in a given vehicle; you'll have to play around with the position in your trunk and see what suits your personal preferences and musical tastes the best. Hope that helps! --Crutchfield
nice setup! I had them in my 02 maxima powered by 2k true rms and that shit was loud as Fuck. I miss my setup..... Now I have a 07 charger with the 12" dual compR setup. Upgrading in a couple months back to the L7s. I live loud!!!
I think its gets a higher db cause its using the trunk as a load wall since its so close to it only thing with that you would want to mount the sub down with it being that close so it dosnt move during travel and hit the trunk during excursions
It should always be better with the subs/port further away from the listening position. Either way, the difference won't generally be much for listening to music.
I have a Kenwood 5 way amp, sounds very nice and clear but for some reason my sub won't play the higher low notes. When I play a song with deep lows it plays it with no problem but any high low notes sound very quiet. Any suggestions?
Mario Valdes Check your head unit and/or amp's low pass filter. I like 80 or 120 most of the time, if either LPF is on 60 (or lower idk if that's a setting but check) then you loose those high lows like you are describing.
So I'm new to this and I've been to concerts but I don't get how would you get more bass if it's further away. Like in concerts of course the closer you get and the subwoofer is pointed at you but it seems counterintuitive to make it further away and the opposite side.
You would think that and when there are no side walls, etc.. to reflect the bass then you are right. However, trunks as well as rear cargo areas in vehicles can reflect bass so that an increase in volume levels occurs from that reflection and how it joins together for people to hear.
I'm new to installing subs and I'm buying two 12's from a friend (Kenwood KFC-W3013PS). The RMS is 50-400 per sub and I want to put one in a 98 Mercedes c230 using an Alpine MRP-M500 mono amp. The amp is rated to put out 300 rms at 4ohms. First question: Do I have anything to worry about with this setup? Second question: My cars back seats don't come down, so the trunk is completely 100% sealed off from the cab...will I still get decent bass?
I put my 15" Kicker L7 on my passenger seat with no ported box or anything. It's just the woofer sitting there disconnected. I use it to hold my lunch box from sliding around while I drive to work. It works well.
I have an 02 explore and I need help determining what type of box I should get I have 3 10"s two kenwood pw-1012's with a audio pipe ap2002 1k watt for base and a celestion tf1020 with a Kenwood 350 watt amp for voice along side two pyramid 2" titanium super bullets I'm not going for competition but Im trying to get the most out of what I have
I have a 2000 dodge neon. And I have 2 sony xplode 12s. How do I position them to be louder. I want to be as loud as possible. They are in a sealed box
I want to put a single 8in kicker l7s in ky honda odyssey, would pointing it up and back towards the back window be the best? To reflect the sound better
Each vehicle has its own unique acoustics, so that can be tough to predict. So, it's often a good idea to try a few different placement options to see what sounds best to you.
@crutchfield that is very true, I've found every suv I've had the back glass is what u want to aim the sub at from the middle of the floor for the loudest sound in the front so I figured the van would be fairly close to that as well. Do the l7s 8in come in dual 4ohm and dual 2? I'd like a dual 4 so I can wire it to 2ohm on a 400watts rms or around that area but the only package i can find the 8 in is a dual 2ohm with 400watt rms@1ohm amp , would one of those 8's increase the bass much from a factory system?
Sounds like a good first try since you know you have enjoyed that before. Yes, you'll find the Kicker 44L7S84 Solo-Baric L7S Series 8" subwoofer with dual 4-ohm voice coils here: www.crutchfield.com/I-rYALc921/p_206L7S84/item.html
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This is why I mount my subs outside my car on the back bumper.
Jeff Kollat I always keep my subs in my garage. And just hook it up to miles and miles of speaker wire.
Oh man I'll bet that BASS just pumps your car up dude!! Well done
Rolf
+Jeff Kollat Kinda late to the game but I have this sick set up. Got two 18's on my tricycle. used tape and I was ready to go.
+MrNate2111 man got you beat my shit is still at the store and it's to loud to cut my bass up
Loudness of bass is also affected by frequency.
Not all frequencies travel equally within a chamber.
If you use a tone of 40hz to do a test like this, you would get different results when using other frequencies. In the end, the placement of the sub will depend on the listener's preference. A position that will not be that loud at 40hz may probably be loud at other frequencies and vice versa.
+Bassotronics yeah bass sounds wayyyyy louderr in a van or truck i mean the long trucks . and once you open that trunk your subs wont be ass loud thats why you need wayyy moree power if your gonna show off subs with an open trunk at a contest .
Bassotronics qqqqqq
Ya fr like all they had to do was test a 25 hz and like a 60hz
what they did tho might be a good trick for a sub in a sealed box, where the lower freq's tend to drop off - like around sub 30Hz
facing backwards "could" enhance those lower freq's so that's prolly why the 40Hz test was done.
60-20hz sweep. problem solved
Pair of rad dudes listening to their tunes in a beige Ford
Good ol Taurus's
+lozz0dnb, DEAD
Uncle Paul would not approve.
Lmao. No shit
Gangster ass foos
Wow I didn't know Kevin Spacey and David Hasselhoff were so into car audio.
lol @ 6 yrs ago, that's paul giamatti
Lmao
Do whatever suits you but some tips I have learned mounting sub boxes for daily drivers over the years are... Mount the box with metal brackets to the metal on your vehicle not on top of carpet & plastic. Ported boxes are "boomy" (sound louder), sealed boxes give tight clean bass. Aiming to the back typically allows for better sub frequency "loading". If you have speakers in the package shelf and your sub is in the trunk, seal them with small enclosures. Run 1/3 the power for your front speakers and don't overdrive anything this includes using equalization. Use as large as a chamber as you can that the sub calls for. Try not not to pizz off your decent neighbors, go to an isolated area for testing.
I'm pretty sure physics hasn't changed in the roughly 20 years that have passed since I was into car audio. Regarding the hatchback question (trunks, too, as long as there is no firewall behind the back seat) facing subs rearward (often with the box against the rear seats) is almost exclusively better than any other position. So, no, don't face your sub up and port backwards - you shorten the sound path (see below as to why this is generally problematic) and could be asking for phasing problems if the sub, port, and car disagree with one another.
The reason rearward-facing subs tend to work best is because frequency is an inverse function of wavelength. In other words, the lower the frequency, the longer the wavelength. Facing them backwards means the distance traveled is that much further, ergo lower frequencies benefit in-cabin. Throw in the the size and shape of the cabin volume, you should notice a significant difference called cabin gain. There are exceptions to the rule (like porting a bandpass - the sound if which I generally don't like because such a box often lacks versatility as to what music plays well - through the rear deck), but this works more often than not. I transformed the sound in Trent Dilfer's system in his Blazer when he came in to buy more and larger subs, doing nothing more than utilizing this principle and all at no charge. A happy Bucs QB is one who ends up ironically coming back to Tampa a few years later and wins a Super Bowl there. :)
In case there is any doubt, I have quantitative data - I had a common-cavity double isobaric bass
-reflex enclosure with 4 JL Audio 12W1s in a 1993 Mazda MX3 that routinely measured in the 136 dB (C-weighted) neighborhood running off a PPI A300 (75W X 2 - 12V @ 4 Ohms - before all the high-current stuff came out, plus I was going for sound quality) running series-parallel in a box that was 1.5 ft^3 (I think it was no bigger than that - it was a bit ago) interior volume. It was rather pedestrian and was only in the 250W class, but it sounded better and was often louder than cars whose owners spent multiples of what I had. Keeping it simple has its benefits.
PS - Placement of the SPL meter in this video is awful, but at least it's consistent. It should have been at ear level in the front seating area - at least that's where I tend to listen to my music. ;) Plus, the windshield is reflecting the sub an additional time, creating an even longer path to the mic and different resonant frequency(ies), which can be good or bad depending on whether a node or antinode (those wondering what the heck I am talking about, turn on a subwoofer and walk around it; the dead spots you notice are antinodes and the louder spots are nodes) is created at that point. More often than not, if you lean forward in your car, you will find that the bass level has increased due to the reflection from the windshield - that's what I'm talking about here.
That last part is so true. I hate the meter placement in competitions (on the dash or windshield). That's not where you will hear the bass as a passenger. The systems that always make me bail tend to not be the ones that meter the highest specifically for this reason.
5 years late but yes I too apply physics to my sub and placement in my trunk of my 4Runner...keep adjusting the distance between the sub and back of the trunk....or even slightly changing the angle trying the find a nice resonant spot. And yea I have noticed the bass has a louder dB if I tilt my head forwards.
Man, all of your explanation sounds really convincing, thanks.
All that blah blah when all you have to do is try the different positions and see which sound you prefer. Period. All that technical bs doesn't mean anything if an individual prefers it a certain way over your techical scientific dictionary what's it matter. To each their own and leave em alone !!
@@kimosouthside1929 you getting triggered over a 7 year old comment lmao
Thank you for making this video. I just got two Kenwood 12s in a sealed box and i had them facing my trunk but pushed back towards the back seat. I pulled the box up like 6 inches from the trunk opening and its crazy how much better it sounds. Like different speakers almost. The bass is a lot better overall.
Put them as close as you can with out them touching the hatch.
This also works well in home setups as well. I have always corner loaded my powered subwoofers facing the wall and the results are atleast a 3db increase as well as tighter, smoother bass. Also, great test guys, thanks for the info.
this works really well. If you really want to test this you should use a sealed box so people aren't dumb about wich way the port is and that its not a quality box etc. I have 3 10's in a sealed box, usually pressed against the back seat facing the rear. I faced them up at the trunk, it was awful. faced them in to the car. a little better, not as good as normal location. shoved the box to the back like in this video to where the subs almost touch the trunk, and you wouldn't believe the difference. its like I gave them a extra 500 watts on top of the 1300 I already give them. the bass is better and definitely louder.
darkeyce02 Thank you for this info
been looking for this info for a long time i have a single 12" sealed box THANK U SO MUCH (:
i personally listen for bass outside of the vehicle, ever noticed when the sub is faced to the back you get bass only at the front when you stand outside the vehicle? and when you face the sub forward you get the bass both front and rear of the vehicle when you are outside? in other words as a pedestrian hearing a bass coming towards you and when it reaches and pass the bass is gone then you knw that sub is faced backward in the trunk, but if you hear a bass coming towards you and when it passes you and you still feel that bassline then its position to the front.i tried that experiment many times in many different vehicles and its all the same results.
You sure has a lot of time!!
So I have a 2004 expedition and I’d like to hear the bass out side the car to grab people attention and it just doesn’t sound out side the car but the expedition has 3 rows and I need the 3rd row where do I face my subs to get the feeling of the bass out side the car
is this true
I think this is to do with reflection, the trunk reflects a lot while also a large sum surpasses the trunk doing it one way.. Sorta shows that subs arent omnidirectional I guess
@@yktvale365 why are you just trying to get people's attention
the reason you get better bass that way is because it takes more feet to develop bass waves. the farther away the sub is away from you as well as it reflects off the back of the car developed the full wave. I always have done it this way.
I heard that the speaker driver needs to face a close surface for best bass. I'm going to try this.
Oh man this vid makes me wanna install a sub to my steering wheel so I can bass slam my face!
Lol. Liked it
Jesus thatd be awesome
😂😂😂
fucking lame
🤣
A lot depends on the truck, your available space, the specific subwoofer models, and if you will be using a ported or sealed enclosure. A lot of the pre-fabricated custom boxes we offer will position the subs under the rear seat (assuming ext. or crew/quad cab) with enough clearance to fire them down into the floor with great results. Feel free to call for additional assistance: 800.315.0030--Crutchfield
For example a bass wave in a concrete room would sound way worse than a bass wave being played in a plywood room, because the wave simply bounces around in a concrete setting while in a plywood room the whole room becomes coupled to the wave and the added surface area helps to reproduce the sound waves.
Its called bass reflex! The bass notes are reflecting off the back of the trunk! Bass reflex will always sound better. If you want another test take your system in an open parking lot and turn it up and move back 20 feet, then drive to a street with buildings on both sides or an alley way turn it up and move back 20 feet and its guarantied to be way louder! Bass reflex! This is for smaller systems though of course if you have a monster system with walls of woofers and amps you can aim how ever you want because the sound pressure levels will overwhelm the small space!
Bass reflex is what a ported box is... Bass reflex is the idea of not only using the flex from the outside, but also the reflex from the back of the box. Reflex is not reflect.
Bass takes a certain distance to mature (as a good way to describe it), which all depends on subwoofer, cone design, box, area, etc etc.
If you are using a ported enclosure, set the subsonic filter within 10 Hz below the port tuning frequency. If you have a sealed box, you can set the subsonic filter around 20Hz or so. The low pass filter is a matter of preference. Depending on the slope and the high pass settings of other speakers in the system, the low pass frequency setting can vary wildly. HTH!--Crutchfield
Chrysler LHS on Crutchfield's Customer Car Showroom. My name is Ryan Rigg. I wanted to let you know Robert that I got my Charger R/T, upgraded it and just traded it for a 10' Dodge Challenger SRT. I'll submit full write-ups for both. Great video!!
I will try that later. Thanks 8 years after (:
my 2 cents: i tried both and i got to admit facing to the rear is much better on the opposite side when it's facing you the bass tends to "choke" you and hits you in the throat yes literally but if you want clean bass have it facing the rear end of the trunk.
thumbs up @Crutchfield
Dude I think that guy in the drivers seat is the same guy who I just watched show me how to install a sub, but he's older now. That's cool that he's still with the company!
The "type" of box is a matter of personal preference. Ideally, you'll use an enclosure that offers the manufacturer's recommended airspace for the specific box type. If you opt for a ported enclosure, be sure the port(s) are of the proper size & length to get the most out of the subs. Feel free to call for additional assistance: 800.315.0030--Crutchfield
damn paul giamatti is the man when it comes to sub installs
I cannot say we have done any testing on this. I would expect about the same as it was when the subwoofer was facing the side of the trunk. However, we have not done any testing with the subwoofer facing up--Crutchfield
What about rear seats down forwards facing or rear would make for a great updated video 😊
Ported boxes are mainly not just louder they allow the subwoofer to "breath" allowing it to push out more sound towards the vehicle, my best tip is to put it right in one of the corners gives more of a surround to bass out but depends on size of box, but its yalls system do it how you like it.
This is what my day looks like on the weekends when my girlfriend leaves to spend time at her moms house.
Chad is at her moms house
@@TexasVexes chad is friends with her mom 😂
oil them damn trunk hinges lol
Hahaha that's funny!!!
True story 😎
That's the least of your worries when you own a Taurus!
@@92clintonr yeah the old models
@@92clintonr i had two of em. A '95 and an '05.
Decent cars.
Which placement do you suggest for a hatchback? I am SPL guy need loudest possible bass. Also lemme know if I keep port firing in either left or right side & subs facing back towards boot door am I doing something wrong?
If you have two of the subwoofers, you can wire them in parallel to the Alpine to present the 2 Ohm final load. The amplifier will then produce up to 500 watts RMS with each woofer getting around 250 watts. This will not push the Kenwoods to their full potential (400 watts RMS each), but would be the best way to wire them to that Alpine. HTH!--Crutchfield
all depends on size of trunk or space where sub box sits. I have a 2-door explorer. (small trunk area) with two 15's in a ported box w/ subs facing upward. THEY SLAM. So Midsize to large size SUV's, face them upward. I guarantee you'll notice a huge difference. Coupes and sedans, face box/subs outward towards truck lid (ported or not).**Feel free to agree or disagree**
Altered Carbon my 2 12a face up n can’t tell a big diff than facing em towards trunk
What about facing up?
Did you ever get your answer lol
Im curious as well, what about up.
@@justinhermann9584 Not a good idea
@@willreed9433 figured. Thanks
Now measure the difference between rear seats open and closed. I thought my 12in kicker was at its loudest with the seats down in my Camry (trunk ported into the cabin) and the sub facing back with the box near the back. Seats up was quieter in my opinion or at least less rich. This is why I think a 6th order bandpass ported through the rear deck is probably the best config for a Sedan. The real bonus is that you can have 4 passengers and sound the same. A much more complex build but worth it if you are willing to do extensive fabrication. Another added bonus is that if your rear deck speakers are running open air, the subwoofer won't affect their sound because, in a config such as the one in this video, the mids are acting as bass radiators for the trunk. The difference probably isn't that noticeable in this video's setup but when you start getting into larger drivers and more power, the subs will distort the sound from the rear deck.
Crutchfield my question is i have 2 12 inch type Rs in a slot ported box and i also have 2 jl W3s in a seperate slot ported and i want all four in my trunk but i would like to know the proper position for each box for maximum bass. Thanks
For everyone's questions on the topic it has to do with sound wave length travel!!! Every trunk is different and have you not noticed that when you roll your windows down its louder? Why because sound waves CANCEL each other out! Placement of the subwoofer is important especially if you're running more than 1 which most people into audio do so. Depending on the sub(s) and power supplied sometimes it's better to face them up or to even put them in the back seat depending on the vehicle. Try many applications because you will be surprised how much of a difference this will make! Also tune your hz eq because a larger space for sound to travel will create a lower bass frequency and a smaller area will create a higher bass frequency.
I have two 12 inch subs and 1000 watt amp. I keep my rear seats down and subs facing away from the front of the car. They sound great even in a sealed box, real loud and powerful thump. Idk about the numbers at all but I've played around with the positioning and settings on my amp and on my deck and it sounds solid. Im sure it could be better with a more knowledgable tuning.
I'm going for clarity....
Clean bass tones....
Not too bassy....as it's sounds.....not quality..
So I have 1 -12"sealed ..
Facing towards the back..
1800 W.....amp,cap..
It's not too bad...
As I'm going for ...clean bass....it gets the seats...vibing...mirror shaking.....even outside mirrors too...
I had a 15 JBL.....thats just bass....can't even hear any words.....so now...after it shat itself...lol....I got a sick 12"....just to show people..
Don't need a big speaker
Just ...something enough for a lil back massage...
Clean...
Thanks guys..
I'm a car audio ....finatic...
Muzik ....is my fav.....
@benigo15 the sub is a vibrator more than a speaker, so the waves are more longer in length, and are more pentrating
Ill be turning mine around ... i have a 600 watt amp with 1 12 inch sub.. ive been getting misfires lately changed out a ton of parts .. have you guys ever expirienced misfires and suspected it was draining of electricity in your car?
Just got an infinity basslink for a 2000 celica gts. Should i face rear with a loose mount or do a fixed mount on the side?
Bass waves are omni directional, they sorround the enclosure; not only emitting from the speaker. Off axis bass might be deeper, but it cn often be muddier. That being said there is a reason 99% of sedans, with a sealed trunk, are going to sound loudest facing backwards and in close proximity of the trunk. Bass waves need to be able vibrate materials in order to sound loud and full.
Is it so much the subwoofer cone or the port you think that makes a difference? i have a single 12" running off 1500w rms sub pointed up port pointed back behind rear seat of a 4x4 in a 2 cu ft custom box. im sitting around 140db at the moment give or take 1db with music choice. i still have around 3 foot that i can move it back towards the rear doors that im thinking of trying now after this video. just need more 0 gauge wire to give it the length to move it back more haha
I SERIOSULY need an answer to this so if you know, please answer. Does the ACTUAL size of the box matter? The box I'm looking at has 1.83cuft, but is pretty small in size (about the size in in video). So my question is if I get a larger size box, with the same cubic feet tho, will it sound different?
Same thing with a home theater system subwoofer if u put the speaker facing the wall or a wall corner its when it bumps the most
What do you mean by backward subwoofers? You mean facing the tail lights?
That's correct. Facing away from the driver or backwards.
This is why i prefer to put subs in Hatch backs. When you face them away from you it sounds insane. Used to setup buildings alarms with only 2 x 15inch subs.
Completely depends on the car. In my sedan I get the most bass when tilted slightly to the left. In my hatchback I get much more bass when faced upwards.
I have 2 12" sub woofers running at 1 ohm on amp thats putting out 600 watts split between the two. I have an 02 grand am gt which has seat you can fold down. I've found the loudest/best way to have them is with the rear passenger side seat down and the middle/driver rear seat up, and the sub firing to the rear of the car. I tried firing forward with the seats up and down its nowhere near as good.
Say I have 2 subs in the back seat facing my back. Could it possibly give a nice tone or could the car not absorb as much bass?
I would expect that subs placed on the back seat instead of in the trunk of a vehicle would lead to cleaner sound because if nothing else, you are not having to turn up the bass volume as loud to get the same levels in the cab of the car as you would if they were placed in the trunk. Feel free to contact us for a personal recommendation on a subwoofer system for you. Here's how to reach us: www.crutchfield.com/I-rYTVc000/ContactUs.aspx
--Crutchfield
would it be louder if u faced it toward the seat and put the seat down?
+Ryan Rodgers yes
Thats exactly what im going to do when i get license :D
Just rest it on your lap when you drive.
+tanker9987 go hard or go home right?
ff#rr4 d, :4÷,%awads 1
Also if Dynamat is applied that changes the dynamics as well since metal vibrates.
I have two db 12 subwoofers in an vented box. Will they beat harder if i nail a wood plank over the middle vent?
What about firing it down at the floor of the trunk? Any difference?
ive got 2 15 inch JL audio subs and matching amp i currently have them facing my seats should i turn them around even tho they kick like a mule anyways
I've sound ordnance b24 ,want to put them in another box,what box would you recommend?
How many dudes does it take to move a sub? 😂😂
Most subwoofers will require an enclosure (sealed or ported) with the correct airspace to perform properly. In your scenario, you would either need a "Free Air" subwoofer or a custom enclosure on the backside of the mounting plane. Feel free to call for additional assistance: 800.315.0030--Crutchfield
Is there any difference between mounting a sub in a ported box firing into the box (reverse mounted) verses a traditional front mount?
Yea try aiming the sub up towards the rear deck, i know my 10 hardly rattles my trunk aiming up. but it would be great to know if it would be louder facing back
The reason is because, low frequencies are much and longer (refer to a sin wave). As a rule of thumb, for every 7db's the sound seems to sound doubled. With that said, you may feel more ear pressure if the speaker is close or facing you directly but you need to find the position that sounds best! Also the standard ported box produces about 3db's more spl but the down side is the boost is at a very specific frequency. Nice for spl measurements but not great for the person who loves music.
Would this also apply to a 10" 500 watt bazooka bass tube?
To get the best output from a Bazooka tube, the tube should be mounted facing into a corner, and there should be 2" to 4" between the woofer and the corner into which the woofer is pointing.
Hope that helps!
--Crutchfield
what would be the best position on a 94 f150 extended cab, I have mine facing the seat and if I turn it around the back seat will press into the sub, should of out on protection brackets and turn it or leave it as is
I've got 2 subs facing forward with a side port. If I want them to face the boot I need to buy longer cables. Is it worth the sound difference? Thanks!
This is a good question! But one that we don't know the answer to as we don't perform any research of this on vehicles. My best recommendation is to try to locate a forum discussing your vehicle and see if anyone has posted information on this. I hope you find something to help!
--Crutchfield
Hello sir,
I am wanting to build a bandpass box with 2 Ds18 EXL-XX12.2D going in 99 grand marquis
Which way should the subs be positioned
What about facing the roof of the trunk? I've tried that and it seemed about the same as facing rear/slid towards the back. I think the bass was deeper but it would be interesting to see the results on a bass meter.
works well it suv or wagon . not so much in a sedan
I currently have 1 8 inch 120w subwoofer. At loud volumes the speakers just overcome the sound of bass and it just isn't loud enough. If I got 2 12's on 1200w rms, would that get just as loud as the speakers on full volume? I'm not very experienced with car audio.
get the MTX terminator bass package.
would this be the the same for me? i have a massive audio 15inch in a single slot box and its vented on the side?
i have my subs facing up due to maximizing my trunk space in my jeep and putting the port to the side i wanted where it wouldn't be obstructed. i drive a suv and i have seen many suv installs facing upward. is this as good as facing backward because i already wired and mounted everything so clean
i have 2 alpine s type 12" 4ohm in series bringing each down to 2ohm on a vented bassworx reference series with a large port. its loud but i want to shake other cars because I'm a a-hole like that
Did you have to use a Taurus?
Also what you have in the trunk and car also makes a BIG difference on sound.
Clear and concise video. My subs give my car tons of rattle and I velcro'd them earlier so it would have been a pain in the ass to figure out where to place them. I had my subs hugging the trunk and rear seats and facing away. I'll be moving them closer to the edge of the trunk this time. Thanks!
i found this out few years back and it works really good, its like you just upgraded your amp or sub lol
Yup, I found this to be the case when I did that also. It acts that way because when you face the speaker toward the rear of the car, it horn loads the driver. It is similar to when you take your home speakers and put them in the corner of the room.
i have a 10 inch diamond sub and a db bass 1000 watt amp and it keeps going into protected mode at slightly higher levels is there anything i could do to help it from going into protect
I HAVE THE SAME CAR IN THE VIDEO BUT HAVE TWO 12'S IN MY TRUNK...WOULD I STILL TURN THEM AROUND MY PORT IS ON THE SIDE...DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS WELL...???
Do you mean the port(s) are on a side baffle?...If so, then yes you could face it either way. If your port(s) are on the same baffle as the woofers then NO. Point is to not 'block' the ports, the air needs to escape with no obstruction.
sir have i20 Hyundai in which i installed 2 component of hertz,1 focal amp, 1 pioneer mono amp...after that sound quality is good but i need surround sound or example dolby digital ,dts sound field what can i do tell me
But what about the difference between scooting the speaker to the front of the trunk vs scooting it as far back
ive got a toyota corolla, seems placing them all the way to the rear to the car, like completely to the back and facing upright is the best for loud bass.
Good test. I had mine facing the back but the rattle was way too loud from the outside so i faced them toward the back of the seat. In my particular case it sounded better that way
i drive a green 97 ford taurus... wich they used a ford taurus around same year in video... and its acoustics are amazing.. i have 2 12" mtx terminator package and 6x9's on my raer deck with kenwood 6x8's on my fron doors... car barely powers it but its grat.. would recomend crutcfield to everybody
I am new here... Actually i hardly understand the technical terms. I want to add subs or basstube and an amp. Can u tell me which are best in India budget is around 12k
Had two 12's ported box against the backseat facing the rear in a grand Cherokee (all kenwood) sounded awesome
Are you still using this setup in another vehicle?
When it sounds better to you as the driver in that position. There is no "one-way" they must face in your vehicle so you may want to try them in different positions to see what sounds best to you in the driver's seat. Feel free to call for additional assistance: 800.315.0030--Crutchfield
I have a 2014 nissan altima, just got 2 12" solo baric L7 and a RE audioZTX 3000.1 amp to push it with a ported box. What's your suggestions for positioning my system.
There's really no "correct" way to position subs in a given vehicle; you'll have to play around with the position in your trunk and see what suits your personal preferences and musical tastes the best.
Hope that helps!
--Crutchfield
Yo buddy I got the same ones. They fucking pound hey? I'm running a 1500 watt kendwood amp too
nice setup! I had them in my 02 maxima powered by 2k true rms and that shit was loud as Fuck. I miss my setup..... Now I have a 07 charger with the 12" dual compR setup. Upgrading in a couple months back to the L7s. I live loud!!!
I think its gets a higher db cause its using the trunk as a load wall since its so close to it only thing with that you would want to mount the sub down with it being that close so it dosnt move during travel and hit the trunk during excursions
Bass under 100hz tends to be omnidirectional and hence the ability to change its firing directions and get diff results.
I have a 2003 Honda Accord LX 2 Door...My 2 JL 12s And JX1000/1D ported/Sealed...Where Is The Best Box Positoning For Firing??
Facing the sub towards the seats got rid of the rattle for me but it's slightly less booming now.
so will an 18in woofer be louder facing up or away from the back seats?
What about on a Wagon? or Hatch? Such as a 2006 Subaru Impreza Wagon?
It should always be better with the subs/port further away from the listening position. Either way, the difference won't generally be much for listening to music.
subs up port back in a vented enclosure
I have a Kenwood 5 way amp, sounds very nice and clear but for some reason my sub won't play the higher low notes. When I play a song with deep lows it plays it with no problem but any high low notes sound very quiet. Any suggestions?
Mario Valdes Check your head unit and/or amp's low pass filter. I like 80 or 120 most of the time, if either LPF is on 60 (or lower idk if that's a setting but check) then you loose those high lows like you are describing.
1:29, you have to C weight your SPL meter. A weighting is for vocals and sounds over 120Hz.
So I'm new to this and I've been to concerts but I don't get how would you get more bass if it's further away. Like in concerts of course the closer you get and the subwoofer is pointed at you but it seems counterintuitive to make it further away and the opposite side.
You would think that and when there are no side walls, etc.. to reflect the bass then you are right. However, trunks as well as rear cargo areas in vehicles can reflect bass so that an increase in volume levels occurs from that reflection and how it joins together for people to hear.
I'm new to installing subs and I'm buying two 12's from a friend (Kenwood KFC-W3013PS). The RMS is 50-400 per sub and I want to put one in a 98 Mercedes c230 using an Alpine MRP-M500 mono amp. The amp is rated to put out 300 rms at 4ohms. First question: Do I have anything to worry about with this setup? Second question: My cars back seats don't come down, so the trunk is completely 100% sealed off from the cab...will I still get decent bass?
I have a mono sub,with 2 8's facing up .is that ok ?
How does it sound? Can you also test your dual 8"s with them facing rearward to see if there is a noticeable difference?
I put my 15" Kicker L7 on my passenger seat with no ported box or anything. It's just the woofer sitting there disconnected. I use it to hold my lunch box from sliding around while I drive to work. It works well.
I have a 93 civic with 2 10' kicker CVR in a sealed box how should I position them?
I have an 02 explore and I need help determining what type of box I should get I have 3 10"s two kenwood pw-1012's with a audio pipe ap2002 1k watt for base and a celestion tf1020 with a Kenwood 350 watt amp for voice along side two pyramid 2" titanium super bullets I'm not going for competition but Im trying to get the most out of what I have
I have a 2000 dodge neon. And I have 2 sony xplode 12s. How do I position them to be louder. I want to be as loud as possible. They are in a sealed box
Just a question, what is to the right of the subwoofer that looks like a a/c unit
Wow! That does look like an AC unit! It's actually an amp mounted to a box though.
@@crutchfield nice
Hold my beer going to my car ...
Too late, I'm in there already, watching this 😉😄
You took too long bro , I drank it tf up
I want to put a single 8in kicker l7s in ky honda odyssey, would pointing it up and back towards the back window be the best? To reflect the sound better
Each vehicle has its own unique acoustics, so that can be tough to predict. So, it's often a good idea to try a few different placement options to see what sounds best to you.
@crutchfield that is very true, I've found every suv I've had the back glass is what u want to aim the sub at from the middle of the floor for the loudest sound in the front so I figured the van would be fairly close to that as well. Do the l7s 8in come in dual 4ohm and dual 2? I'd like a dual 4 so I can wire it to 2ohm on a 400watts rms or around that area but the only package i can find the 8 in is a dual 2ohm with 400watt rms@1ohm amp , would one of those 8's increase the bass much from a factory system?
Sounds like a good first try since you know you have enjoyed that before. Yes, you'll find the Kicker 44L7S84
Solo-Baric L7S Series 8" subwoofer with dual 4-ohm voice coils here: www.crutchfield.com/I-rYALc921/p_206L7S84/item.html
@crutchfield what amp options do u have for 2ohm rating on that sub? Should I look for a 400watt rms at 2ohm or 500watt at 2ohm?
400-500 RMS will be ideal. Do you have a brand preference? Will you be using an aftermarket radio with pre outs?