single vs. multi subwoofers

**GoHybrid** · 11-08-2006, 12:49 AM

it certainly does. I have 6.5"s in the doors and 6x9s on the rear deck so my setup as is kind of surprised me as to how deep it could hit. The biggest problem with them (and one reason for installing a sub) is to divide the deep heavy bass from the main speakers and let the sub do it's job. Right now at higher volumes the bass seems to modulate the treble frequencies which makes vocals sound warbly at times... and of course that effect goes away as soon as i take some heat off the volume knob.

I've given some consideration to the sound I want, and I find invariably that I prefer a predictable and smooth response curve to the sort of liver-repositioning I get listening to retail store boxes.

I think i could be very happy with a pair of Sound Splinter RL-i8s. In a 2-ohm configuration they'd receive about 200w RMS each which is somewhat in the middle of their prescribed optimal range, and surface area-wise i'm in the neighborhood of a 12" driver. Those subs will handle the peaks without breaking a sweat. Plus the sealed enclosure size for those is positively tiny.

So... thanks for your input Turbocad6, insightful as always

**turbocad6** · 11-08-2006, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by GoHybrid

Right now at higher volumes the bass seems to modulate the treble frequencies which makes vocals sound warbly at times... and of course that effect goes away as soon as i take some heat off the volume knob.

that, what you are discribing... is more than likely distortion... a clipping of the signal.... warbly vocals are the easiest way to detect distortion...

**GoHybrid** · 11-08-2006, 01:59 PM

Some things I'll try though to prove or disprove clipping:

1. I'll raise the gain on my amp (currently at zero) and run the source(s) at a lower volume
2. See if i can determine the exact power output to my speakers. (being factory speakers I think they will reach their limits well before the amp reaches it's own) and determine if i'm exceeding the capabilities of my speakers
3. I'll try to find some sound-deadening foam or batting to place behind the speakers to absorb energy from the back of the speaker in case the reflections from the door panel are causing undesirable modulation of the sound.

Anything else you can think of or suggest?

**jnorion** · 11-08-2006, 02:04 PM

How much power would you expect you're putting to the speakers? I mean, what's your amp rated at? My stock speakers are pretty old so they have probably gotten better in the meantime, but mine were rated to take something like 20W RMS. I hooked them to an amp putting out something like 60W RMS. They actually sounded better at low volumes, but it didn't take much to distort the hell out of them. Most stock stereos output less than 20W per channel and so the speakers are not designed to take a whole lot more than that.

**GoHybrid** · 11-08-2006, 02:30 PM

well my stock speakers have "17W" stamped on the back of them. I don't know if that's peak or RMS. My amp is rated at 50w RMS into 4 ohms. I think my rear speakers are 6 ohm, but i could be mistaken. They sound very good right up until just before max volume.

According to the Eclipse manual, it recommends turning the source unit to full power and adjusting the gain at the amp to the point where there is a safe level (if any) of audible clipping. That's what I did, but I decided that that level was just too loud for my tastes, and the gain wasn't all that high anyway, so i just have the amp gain set to zero.

**furball69** · 11-08-2006, 04:05 PM

YOu can save yourself the guessing if you tune the system properly... http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Tutor...plifier_Tuning

**GoHybrid** · 11-08-2006, 04:49 PM

those are some pretty cool files to have! My radio can produce safely 90% volume without clipping (With the amp gain set to zero). The next step is to use a DMM to determine the wattage going to my speakers and see if i've got any room to play or if i just need to upgrade to a speaker with better power handling.

**RedGTiVR6** · 11-08-2006, 04:54 PM

gawd that link comes in handy all the time.

I have rewritten some of that to make it a bit more friendly for this forum...I'll see if I can't find it somewhere and add it to the new mp3car wiki.

**GoHybrid** · 11-08-2006, 05:14 PM

Hey Red, not sure if you caught my other semi-related post, but what is your opinion on the smaller Focal subwoofers? I have a friend who might be able to get me a good deal on those.