Big bass in a small-car world

Charlie — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:52:00 GMT

Gas mileage is a big issue with an ever-increasing number of people. Most recently, the "Cash for Clunkers" program has resulted in a lot of people driving more compact vehicles. A smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicle is great news for your wallet, but it can really create problems if you like maximum bass in your car. And, fuel efficiency aside, there are some vehicles (Jeep Wrangler, for example) that make it tough for the bass enthusiast just by virtue of their design.

So, how do you get decent bass in one of these problem vehicles without taking up most of your precious cargo space? Two solutions have become increasingly popular in the last few years: vehicle-specific enclosures and shallow-mount subs.

Custom-fit sub enclosures for your car
Vehicle-specific enclosures are molded sub enclosures that are designed to fit into your particular car without taking up much space. The manufacturer looks at each vehicle, finds the best spot for the sub, then creates the molded enclosure that allows you to get strong bass in your car while maintaining a factory look.

JL Audio, for example, makes a Stealthbox® enclosure for the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited that fits up against the passenger-side wheel well, housing a high-performance 13" sub that handles up to 600 watts. MTX has created a ThunderForm enclosure for the VW Beetle that puts a 10" sub up against the wall on the passenger side of the trunk.

Some vehicle-specific enclosures even come with a built-in amp, so you get space-saving, all-in-one bass solution. You'll find these enclosures available for a wide range of vehicles, including some unexpected rides, like the Smart fortwo, Mini Cooper, and Scion xB.

Shallow-mount subwoofers
For bass heads who are handy with tools, the shallow-mount sub opens up a whole new world of possibilities. For instance, the Pioneer Premier TS-SW1201S2 12" sub handles up to 400 watts RMS, yet its unusual design keeps its top-mount depth to less than 3-1/4" inches. That means an inventive box builder could construct an enclosure that would house this sub under the rear seat of many compact automobiles, and get monster bass with no loss of cargo area.

Sony's XS-L12S 12" subwoofer and Rockford Fosgate's P3SD210 10" sub both offer an equally low profile and similar power handling.

Subs in your car, not in the trunk
Another cool option: you may be able to fit two smaller shallow-mount subs in your rear speaker openings if you're willing to make some small modifications, like cutting a little bit of metal or building some brackets. For example, you might be able to fit 8" subs in the 6-1/2" openings in the rear of your vehicle.

The Pioneer Premier TS-SW841D 8" sub is only a little over 2-1/2" deep, handles up to 120 watts, and works in "free-air" applications, which means it doesn't need an enclosure. You'll have to make a couple of adapters out of wood or plastic that allow the 8" sub to fit into the 6-1/2" hole by lifting it up a little, and you'll want to use a lot of Dynamat on the relatively thin metal around the speaker openings. You won't get the earth-moving low-end boom that you'd get from a couple of 12" subs, but you will get strong, powerful bass and you won't take up any cargo space in your car. If you don't want to modify your 6-1/2" speaker openings, Kicker's CompVT 08CVT654 6-1/2" subwoofer will drop right in most cars; it handles up to 150 watts, it's only 2-3/4" deep, and it's also suitable for free-air use.

Mighty mite
One last option for the creative bass addict: Focal offers the Utopia Be® 5" subwoofer for the ultimate in "tight" bass. This unique sub handles 75 watts RMS, and it's only 2-5/8" deep. Imagine a couple of these little giants installed on your rear deck, or in a custom enclosure in your interior.

So, don't worry: you can downsize your vehicle and still satisfy your jones for great bass.

Having my Alpine 9887 Imprinted (KTX 100EQ)

justjarv — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:04:23 GMT

I have been anxiously awaiting this final step to my setup. Currently have in my Ford Explorer (2 door) the following:

HU: Alpine 9887

Speakers: 5x7 Alpine R's (front and back)

Subwoofer: JL audio 10w7 in custom ported box

Amps: 1 Alpine MRP-F450 (running the speakers) and 1 JL audio 500/1 (for the sub)

I am very happy with my choices so far and the sound is good.......but from reading the reviews on the Imprint option, I know that I have one last step (Imprint). Presently, I almost never have the volume up halfway, and my sub is typically never louder than 1/3 of the way up (i.e., turned up to a 5 out of a possible 15.... through the HU). Let me clarify by stating that this is not because I don't like to hear my music loud.......however, turning either the volume and/or the bass up causes the overall sound to be compromised (gets distorted and I'm afraid I'm going to wreck the amps, speakers, and/or sub). Most frustrating is the fact that without Imprint I can't even control the bass or treble. Granted, I knew this before I actually bought the HU, thanks to other people's reviews of the 9887. Long story short......I had most of the install on my setup down around X-mas and have been waiting for my local audio store to be able to install the Imprint. Initially, they had problems with getting the program to run (had Vista but needed Windows) and they finally have it "figured out"......or so they tell me. I am aware that the system will become more "directed" (to borrow a phrase from another reviewer) and the volume will be much lower. This is fine for me because as I've said, right now, I can't even turn it up more than halfway because the sound starts to get distorted. However, my biggest concern is the reviews I've read in relation to the bass being significantly decreased. I have read several different recommendations regarding where to set the subwoofer gain prior to Imprint. As best as I can see....setting the sub to 1/4 gain (instead of the alpine recommended 3/4) is the best way to go to ensure that afterwards you'll still be able to turn up the bass. Finally, my audio store admits that I will be their first formal install (and for this reason I've waited as long as I have for them to learn the process and become comfortable). I've also read several disgruntled consumers who complained that they had to have their setup done multiple times and it's still not right. I really want to avoid this so any advice that anyone has would be greatly appreciated. And thank you to CF staff and all the regulars on the forums as you've all been extremely helpful. Wish me luck!!

PS---- I get my car Imprinted on Thursday 2/21..........so the sooner the advice the better! Thanks again,

Justin

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Big bass in a small-car world

Having my Alpine 9887 Imprinted (KTX 100EQ)