Free-Air Subs?
03-03-2006 | 08:21 AM
#1
Free-Air Subs?
I'm thinking of buying new subs and it seems free-air aren't in style anymore.
I know, everybody wants a box for max SPL, but that's not what i'm looking for.
I'm looking for max SQ and Free-Air have a very flat response, if done right. The trick is to have the trunk completely sealed from the interior of the car. I like Hard Rock mostly but I have a wide variety, jazz, classical, etc.
Anyway, I'm currently running 2 x 12" Pioneer 303F (they've lasted 8 years), Each running off a bridged 5100T amp (380w real RMS).
I'm looking for new Subs for new car (blue & silver). Any suggestions?
I know, everybody wants a box for max SPL, but that's not what i'm looking for.
I'm looking for max SQ and Free-Air have a very flat response, if done right. The trick is to have the trunk completely sealed from the interior of the car. I like Hard Rock mostly but I have a wide variety, jazz, classical, etc.
Anyway, I'm currently running 2 x 12" Pioneer 303F (they've lasted 8 years), Each running off a bridged 5100T amp (380w real RMS).
I'm looking for new Subs for new car (blue & silver). Any suggestions?
03-03-2006 | 08:29 AM
#2
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,649
I actually like free-air setups. I have two kids and saved my trunk space in a substantial way. There's a lot of subs that "can" work that are not IB subs. But over time as they loosen up with use, it's risky. I'd strongly recommend that you definitely go with a sub that is designed for IB. Anyways, I ran a DLS OLA 12" and was quite pleased with how it sounds and how easy to install. It's a true IB sub.
03-03-2006 | 08:34 AM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
i have had great sucess doing freeair with alot of different woofers. like you said preparation is the key to good freeair performance. woofers that i have used lately with ghreat rusluts are the kicker cvr 15" and 12" woofers and the alpine type x 10" and 12". i use 3 of the typex 10" woofers in my own car and am quite happy with the results. one this to keep in mind with free air is the need for a good crossover that gives you a subsonic filter. lots of woofers will work great in infinite baffle/freeair just dont ecpect to ba able to warp level listen to 50 cent and you should be good to go,generally speaking
03-03-2006 | 09:29 PM
#4
50 Watt CAFz'r
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 94
Originally Posted by defro13
i have had great sucess doing freeair with alot of different woofers. like you said preparation is the key to good freeair performance. woofers that i have used lately with ghreat rusluts are the kicker cvr 15" and 12" woofers and the alpine type x 10" and 12". i use 3 of the typex 10" woofers in my own car and am quite happy with the results. one this to keep in mind with free air is the need for a good crossover that gives you a subsonic filter. lots of woofers will work great in infinite baffle/freeair just dont ecpect to ba able to warp level listen to 50 cent and you should be good to go,generally speaking
03-04-2006 | 06:08 AM
#7
The image dynamics IDmax is a great woofer for IB, a very flexible and efficient driver that can hammer the lows if you want with very little power. and it's available with a chromed basket as well as the powder coated one.
03-04-2006 | 06:37 AM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by salty
Defro, would the trunk of a BMW 3 series sedan be more suitable than the average for IB? If you sealed the ski pass thru up with a Kicker CVR, how would you describe the characteristics vs. sealed?
free air will give you a more linear impedence response adn not have a large peak that is generally associated with sealed and vented boxes and in my experience better deep bass extension over a selaed box. imo the best box is no box fo sq oriented bass. i am a big fan or free air, its just not for everyone. the preparation to do it correctly is time consuming and most people whould just prefer blasting 6 pieces of mdf together or buying a prefab
03-04-2006 | 12:10 PM
#9
Thank you all for the suggestions. I'm happy to see there are others who like the SQ of IB subs. Almost all shops or installers who've seen my car tried to sell me boxes.
So far, the suggestions are DLS, Alpine, Kicker or Image Dynamics. The specs look best on the IDmax, they even have a graph showing IB freq response. I really liked the ImageDynamics 6.5 mid-bass i used to have in my doors, but replced them with JL 6W0 last year. (don't know if i can fit them in the new car yet, but the fronts are another story)
I'm not a big fan of the Alpines I've heard, DLS has great reviews, but looks expense, hard to find and won't take 380w rms.
2 Kicker 15" are half the price of 2 IDmax 12".
I've e-mailed Kicker asking if they have any suggestions for the CVR15 in free-air use. Do you think they'll answer?
Still open to suggestions. Thanx, Tom
So far, the suggestions are DLS, Alpine, Kicker or Image Dynamics. The specs look best on the IDmax, they even have a graph showing IB freq response. I really liked the ImageDynamics 6.5 mid-bass i used to have in my doors, but replced them with JL 6W0 last year. (don't know if i can fit them in the new car yet, but the fronts are another story)
I'm not a big fan of the Alpines I've heard, DLS has great reviews, but looks expense, hard to find and won't take 380w rms.
2 Kicker 15" are half the price of 2 IDmax 12".
I've e-mailed Kicker asking if they have any suggestions for the CVR15 in free-air use. Do you think they'll answer?
Still open to suggestions. Thanx, Tom
