Big noob question about how they sound

[Mathman 0]

Me and my friend are about to hook his car up with some Fi subs. We are unsure of what really seperates ported from sealed and how power makes a big difference. Right now we are lookin at 3 Q 10's sealed, 2 Q 12's ported, or a 12" BTL ported. Q's will get 1k watts each, the BTL 3k to 4k watts. We listen to everything from heavy metal to rap. What we are lookin for is a rough idea of how each of these setups will differ in every aspect. I know it sounds like a lot and we are grateful for it. He says he may wanna compete in something with it later, so that is something we need to keep in mind. Any help or suggestions would be great.

[Erotomania 0]

Me and my friend are about to hook his car up with some Fi subs. We are unsure of what really seperates ported from sealed and how power makes a big difference. Right now we are lookin at 3 Q 10's sealed, 2 Q 12's ported, or a 12" BTL ported. Q's will get 1k watts each, the BTL 3k to 4k watts. We listen to everything from heavy metal to rap. What we are lookin for is a rough idea of how each of these setups will differ in every aspect. I know it sounds like a lot and we are grateful for it. He says he may wanna compete in something with it later, so that is something we need to keep in mind. Any help or suggestions would be great.

I really like my 3 10" set up for metal, its a kicker CVR 3x10" in a partitioned 4 square foot sealed box. It does well for rap too. Not like a set of 12s will.

I'm no pro on Fi stuff, but the Q's seem to fit your needs. Depending on the car and set up the Q's should lay down some SPL for you to be competitive in. In all reality the Q being aimed for a SQ sub is one very powerful SQ sub, and with that in mind, it should be well capable of laying down a lot of SPL.

[///M5 2,833]

Q for you, but I don't understand why you are comparing 3 10's sealed with 2 12's ported? Why not port both enclosures? Or run both sealed?

Considering you at all mentioned the word compete, I would port either setup.

[Mathman 0]

Looks like 2 12's ported. We are trying to keep it to where he can still have room to put some stuff back there if he has to run out on a business trip. I am sure 2 12's will fit ported in the big back part of the trunk. Chrysler 300.....I just found out he listens to nothing but rap when I am not around, so two 12's I am sure will do better unless you think a 15" Q or BL ported will fit better and work better for him?

Edited September 19, 2007 by Mathman

[///M5 2,833]

3 10's and 2 12's have nearly the same cone area, both more than a single 15.

[Mathman 0]

Thanks for the help, I will have to take measurements again and see if we can't fit 2 12's in there ported without taking up to much room. How big of a box is needed for 2 12's? Is it 1.8 cu ft per sub, so 3.6 cu ft total then 12" port area per cu ft of box?

Edited September 19, 2007 by Mathman

[///M5 2,833]

Copied right from the sticky at the top of the Fi Technical section:

Ported box we recommend using 1.8-2.5 cubic feet @ 28-33Hz (I personally think that a 32hz tuning is optimal, and has the most output and is still the most musical daily driving). Use 12-16 square inches of vent area per cubic foot of volume.

So for 2, you should be in the realm of 4 cubic feet net with 48-64 sq inches of port. The port alone will take another 1.5cuft or so then you need to add bracing and some room for the drivers. This means you need near 6cuft of internal volume. (external this will be more like 7.5cuft and that is without a double baffle). Generically speaking assume you need 8cuft of space to run 2 12" Q's ported.

[Mathman 0]

Whew, no way that will work. Unfort. he does not have nearly enough room for that and still have room for storage. He also gave up on the idea of competition and just wants it to be loud. SO, we are on our last debate of 2 10's ported or 1 12. It will probably be the 2 10's due to cone area. Thanks for the help, we almost jumped in over our heads thinkin we had enough room.

I am just happy I talked him out of 2 10" RF T1's to go with Fi.

Edited September 19, 2007 by Mathman

[///M5 2,833]

Or 2 12's sealed...

[Mathman 0]

How much SPL can 2 12's sealed produce? I know that is an almost impossible question to answer, lol. He wants more vibrations than my 2 P3's ported produce, I do know that. I will have to sit down with him and ask some questions of what exactly he wants, i know he loves lots of vibrations.

[///M5 2,833]

The real question is space. There is no escaping Physics, it will all be his choice.

[Mathman 0]

Sadly enough, space sucks. We are only lookin at about 3cu ft before port, this way he can still get to his spare easily if need be. After a heated arguement tonight, I got him to think hard about it all. He still wants his space so he is gonna go with 2 12's sealed and hope for the best.

[///M5 2,833]

Tell him its his choice on the compromise. Space or bass. Not that a pair of 12's can get down, but from the tone of the thread it is my impression that he is asking for the impossible and I wouldn't want any part of it if I were you.

[Mathman 0]

lol, seriously. I am about to post another thread for advice for my girls car. Thanks for the help with his vehicle. I will try and get some pics of it once we settle this crap. I get stuck with this cause of my carpentry skills, that is about all I am good for when it comes to subs, lol.