Where to place my subs?
 

Just picked up a 12" L7 with a box, wondering where, and which way you guys would have it facing. My ride is a convertible so the trunk is very small, and with the top down inbetween the trunk and the back seat is where the top goes. Would I get good acoustics just placing it in the back seat? I take it I should also have it facing backwards or top up?

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hey i'm not too sure if facing of the sub will matter as your sub is alreading pushing alot of power providing u have the right amp. But dont quote me on this. and by the way nice sub:smilie_da

Thanks GT, i'm using some MTX Thunder 450w rms so there should be enough power. I asked this question at work today and it sparked a whole debate on the subject. Turns out it will most likely sound best with the sub in the trunk facing forwards, but when the top comes down the sub should be facing up. Its too cold right now to go top down anyways so i'll just have it facing the front. Oh and thanks for the compliment, its nothing hardcore but these subs do hit damn hard. Cant wait to hear how it sounds :smokin:

the L7 is 750 watts rms so you are under powering that sub you'll need a bigger amp to run that sub properly.

ya and underpowering a sub that much will not only affect its performance, but it may cause other problems like seized voice coils etc...

if i;m not mistaken...underpowering is worst than overpowering??:dunno:

in many cases it is. u should always be within 50 watts higher or lower of the subs maximum nominal power handling.

Thanks for the responses, I'll be getting a bigger amp in the next few weeks, right now I got a timing belt issue thats eating my cash flow :smilie_d0

subs dont really matter as bass is undirectional, meaning sound quality isnt affected by the position of the sub.

You best bet as far as loudest possible is subs port up in a "hatch back" that may be different in a vertbut yes bass is undirectional so i say move it around get the best mix of bass & clarity adn let it go from there test and tune................

-CMAC

well i notice a big difference in how i face my subs i have the faces of the subs directed to the license plate of my car so the sound waves echo in my trunk before coming to the front of the car i find its at least twice as loud like this...yours should work the same way its even better with the smaller the trunk

Not entirely true. Sub bass is not directional (frequencies below 150hz.) This is a fact, but sound quality can be extremely affected by placement of the sub. A sub placed facing the back seats of a car will often create what is called "standing waves". This is when the sound pressure builds in front of the sub causing it to bounce off and distort off the cone of the sub. This results in poor sound, and higher demands on your amp. A sub placed in a back corner of the trunk facing foreward will produce more bass if there is room. If room doesn't permit, try to place the sub with as much space to the front as possible. Also, facing a sub upwards often causes cooling issues with the voice coil. Many subs are designed to only work vertically, and some manufacturers will include a footnote in the install book telling this. That may sound weird, but its true. An example are Morel subs and some Dynaudio subs. These manufacturers will actually void your warranty if installed horizontally.
Third, try to avoid placing the sub in the car with you. This usually overpowers the rest of your system, and unless it is somehow bolted to your seats or floor, it becomes an 80 pound missile in an accident (not to mention it becomes visible to thieves)

nicely put Mjr.Rage.
face them to the front of your car.
See how that goes.
My subs have always faced the front firing into the rear back seats.
Always worked for me.
Good luck man.