Need opinions on current box and whether I should make a new one

[hatrix 2]

So I used to run my Fi SSD 18 in a 9cuft box tuned to 32hz (or close, it was my first box build and I had some hard times with it). I liked how it sounded, though it was on the high end as far as box recommendations go for an SSD 18. The thing with the box was that it suffered slight water damage and aesthetically wasn't as pleasing as I preferred. I was looking to either paint it or put some sort of vinyl or something over it to improve its looks, but never got around to it. Another thing that was annoying about the box was how LARGE it was lol. It was initially designed for my room, but was moved out to my Jeep Cherokee. I wanted to keep the back seats up, so the only way to position the box was sub up and port up. So the box was very close to the ceiling of my car and made it impossible to see out my back window. I got used to it but I still didn't like how it looked. Picture of the box below in spoiler. Port was very large. I really liked how loud the lows were with the box, but upper range was lacking.

 

 

So a friend of mine who also does system builds came across someone selling his box that he build for a Sundown SA-18. He traded the guy something for the box and then ended up giving me the box, as it was a MUCH more visually pleasing box, and fit in my car almost perfectly level with my box seats. I also loved the flush mount, and it even has the sundown audio logo on the front side of the box in the carpet. I've been running this box ever since. Not to sure of the specs, I really can't remember. Judging by size I'd say anywhere from 6-7cuft. But the build quality seems good and once I got used to the sound of it, I liked it a lot better than my old box. It has a better overall frequency response, much more responsive on the higher notes, with a little loss in the really low frequencies. I'm curious what it's tuned to.... because it actually has a zig zag type of port inside with flared edges and also angled peices of MDF at the corners to help with air flow. I'm afraid the box might be to small though for my sub. Opinions ? Picture in spoiler.

 

 

 

I'm warried that because of the zig zag port design it's actually more around 5.5-6cuft. I don't know. Obviously you can't see the insides and I don't have a picture with the sub out to show.

 

I was considering building a completely new box. I recently upgraded my amps and went from only giving my SSD 200 watts to 1200 watts, I switched to an SAX-1200D. My sub is MUCH louder now that it has good power going to it. It does have high excursion though. Gains are set properly, yadda yadda. Nothing is distorting and it doesn't have any clipping, none that's doing any damage at least as far as I know.

 

Now that it's seeing proper power I really want to build the perfect box for it, one that has a lower profile like my current box, and not like my old box where it almost touches the ceiling. I want it to be just about level with my back seat just as this box, but you can see from the picture theres a lot more room left to play with on the sides of the box.

 

Is it worth building a new box ? I don't like not knowing my boxes specs. It's not a prefab but I didn't do the trade for it and forgot the info on it. I know this question might be hard to answer.

 

Edited March 15, 2013 by hatrix