Lets say there are 0.65ft^3 space. Is it smarter to run smaller sub(JL's 8"s which runs around ~0.6ft^3) with normal amp(~600Watt) or larger sub (JL's 10"s or 12"s which requires 1.0ft^3 or larger) with larger amp(~1000/2000Watt). I always tried to get as close as I can to the factory spec on air space, but I don't have too much space. What would you guys recommend? I want to get the best sound our of small available space.

Where are you mounting this that there is only that much space? I would think at 8" sub, with the correct amount of airspace and power would sound better than a larger sub that had the incorrect amount of space. I heard an 8" W6 and it was one of the cleanest sounding subs I have ever heard. Of course it was in the JL factory box and those things are built to the EXACT dimnesions and are sturdy as hell. I don't know if you could find a better built box from any manufactor. Good luck man.

0.65^3 ft air space with our without the displacement of the sub basket and magnet? That's the exact enclosure size for an Alpine Type R 10" sub if you're subtracting for sub displacement.

that 0.65ft^3 is without. I'm just trying to compare less volume big amp vs. correct volume correct amp sound quality. Because the JL 8" are around 125W RMS (8w3v2) with 0.3~0.5ft^3. I just want enough bass to sound good with limited space.

Well I had 2 Rockford Fosgate Power DVC 8" subs running at 250 watts a piece in my truck (can't remember the cubic feet) and most guys thought I had 10's or 12's. But that's in a small cab S-10 truck. In an Eclipse however a lot is gonna be lost because of cabin size.

It's ALWAYS better sound quality wise to have: A. Correct enclosure B. Correct wattage from a strong high quality amplifier C. Correct enclosure volume.

If you put it in a bigger box with a higher wattage crappier amplifier then it will sound like shit.

And just because a Jensen amp says 1000 Watts doesn't mean shit. Get a good amp and you'll hear a world of difference.

Copper- You could go either way, If you want to go with the bigger
subs but dont have enough room, just fill each sealed chamber with polyfill(pillow stuffing)it basically makes the subs think there is more airspace then there is. It does work, i had 4 12" aura comps. running off 1 600 watt JBl bridged to 1 channel, i had to pollyfill my chambers due to limited space. I was hitting 151dbs at the windshield and one my class in all SPL competitions i enetered. That was in my Tiburon not my 2G but they have similar air space and hatch designs.

im not sure how old you are but imo and anyone on here that had bumpin systems back in the early 90's can tell you the best amp you will ever purchase is the 2nd gen rockford amps, the black ones with the orange and white lettering, to this day im still running only 1 amp thats been in the back of a mustang, camaro, and now my eclipse, its a punch 200ix only 100 w per channel and ill tell you what im pushing 2 10's harder than most people with 12's and a 1000 w amp of today. unfortunitly your not gonna find a punch amp unless you get lucky on ebay or something... my 2 cents also dont buy the new rockford shit its crap!!!

Originally posted by joeck76
im not sure how old you are but imo and anyone on here that had bumpin systems back in the early 90's can tell you the best amp you will ever purchase is the 2nd gen rockford amps, the black ones with the orange and white lettering, to this day im still running only 1 amp thats been in the back of a mustang, camaro, and now my eclipse, its a punch 200ix only 100 w per channel and ill tell you what im pushing 2 10's harder than most people with 12's and a 1000 w amp of today. unfortunitly your not gonna find a punch amp unless you get lucky on ebay or something... my 2 cents also dont buy the new rockford shit its crap!!!

Yup, too bad they stopped making those amps. The ones that came out right after those with the brushed aluminum heat sinks were okay but not as good, but the new new stuff is just pure shit.

Originally posted by CustomGS
Copper- You could go either way, If you want to go with the bigger subs but dont have enough room, just fill each sealed chamber with polyfill(pillow stuffing)it basically makes the subs think there is more airspace then there is.

Does this really work? So how much polyfill will I need?

No that does not work. Thats a common missconception. Your air displacement is basically the same as the shocks on your car. The displacement isn't some arbitrary number that someone comes up with. The volume of air, the box design, the shape, and the port/sealed values of the enclosure you create are all going to determine what your sub sounds like and factory spec is what you should be going for. If you make it a smaller box with poly fill in it it's just going to make your sub lose all of it's low end response because it has the incorrect suspensitory ft^3 behind it. All poly fill does is slow down the sound waves in the box and create less inner box interferance which cuts down on some of the sub distortion. A better way to solve that is to place a low height pyramid at the back of the box or to baffle it (depending on how much space you have). 90 degree angles are sound killers.


In short, don't do that.

Originally posted by a_miller_76
No that does not work. Thats a common missconception. Your air displacement is basically the same as the shocks on your car. The displacement isn't some arbitrary number that someone comes up with. The volume of air, the box design, the shape, and the port/sealed values of the enclosure you create are all going to determine what your sub sounds like and factory spec is what you should be going for. If you make it a smaller box with poly fill in it it's just going to make your sub lose all of it's low end response because it has the incorrect suspensitory ft^3 behind it. All poly fill does is slow down the sound waves in the box and create less inner box interferance which cuts down on some of the sub distortion. A better way to solve that is to place a low height pyramid at the back of the box or to baffle it (depending on how much space you have). 90 degree angles are sound killers. In short, don't do that.

It does work, Sound wise. It's not some magical substance that expands MDF . The air movement from one end of the chamber to the other is slowed and helps to not stress the sub like a chamber that is to small would.If your worried about them sounding the way they are supposed to because of air space being less then spec, Then this will help. And it is cheap as shit and a hell of a lot easier then building a low height pyramid. I'm not an air space tech head but i have experimented with a lot of systems and this has worked. Keep in mind i didnt say it would create more airspace. I said it would basically trick the subs. It is very cheap, so i suggest you try it with and w/out and let us know what you think. Totally fill the chamber but dont pack it in. leave it loose.good luck