ok, first off, based on the suggestion of another forum member here, I called the store I bought my subs from to exhange them for 8 ohm versions, they're refunding me altogether because apparently they don't have those in stock

so went back online a bit and I noticed alot of prebuilt boxes with loaded enclosures from big companies like JL Audio, MTX , and Fosgate, many more actually

the guy at the store will sell me a lower end JL Audio version at a good price

alot of these prebuilt boxes house the same versions of a particular companies high end drivers and alot of these boxes seem better built than some of the so called "custom" boxes

so what is so great about custom boxes? I don't get it, I asked this one guy at work and he said they're all cheap but I don't get it because some look built real well and the JL w6 box I originally wanted costs over $1000 just for a single 13"

what gives? the store owner himself said these things are a better value and he sell and installs high end stuff

 

it all depends on who makes the custom enclosure
there is not really much comparison to a well designed/made
custom enclosure..better port area...custom tuning and custom
built to fit and unload in the enviroment

 

It does indeed reflect on the abilities of the person building the box. The box will make or break the performance of any sub put into it. A prefab box is a good performing cross section of what most people want, is it however what you want? What if you do not have the space for example? Custom building would allow you to use a single high output sub that chances are would beat the snot out of a pair of basic drivers (ask Basstoy about that, only took me 4 months to convince him). Bass response is all about the box, screw up on it and you are taking home fat chicks from the bar, pissing in the wind, eating yellow snow..... you get the drift. A bad box can make a good sub sound like a wet fart, a good box can make even a crappy sub come to life.

That 4 channel I talked about my installer using, he drives a set of Hybrid Audio Clarus components on it + a single Digital Designs 1512 in a custom box and it sounds amazing. He is using the Lightning Audio S4.600.4 amp in his system. It is a staggered design giving 60w x 2 for the front and 100w x 2 (or in his case of bridged on the rears), 400w x 1. This would be a ideal amp for your application and is inside of your budget as well. Throw in a custom box build by Jalat or Sikk Nation and a single DD sub in 10" or 12" and you are done.

http://www.lightningaudio.com/products/product_details.asp?cat_id=2&series_id=17&family_i d=22&item_id=104669&locale=en_US&p_status=

 

Just don't go to a shop and ask for a custom box without giving them an extremely specific blueprint, you won't like what they'll build and charge you for. Don't pay over $200.

 

to give an exampe, in home audio as most of you know, the whole diy approach is a pretty tiny part of the scene where powered subs are the norm

i own a jl audio fathom, I've seen home diy builds from some pretty good craftsmen and they don't compare to the build quality of the jl unit

most of the car audio boxes I've seen seem to be mdf from home depot put together pretty quickly and I have yet to see one that compares to the JL w6 unit at that price point

so what am i missing here?

how does a box maker compet against the likes of multimillion dollar companies who use their best or close to their best drivers, cnc machines, etc......

i can understand where an extreme custon job is needed, but if you just want some good bass in the trunk, for the same money, can you really beat something like an entry level JL Audio unit or competing product?

 

Ill give you my example.
I have a factory Kicker box with dual 12" cvr comps and the single port is huge, 7" diameter 15" long.
It does ok for the money I spent. Gets pretty low, with nice output level over a fairly wide range between 35-120Hz. However it doesnt hit with a good punch, more of a rumble, not as musical or defined as I would like. Yet it doesnt have the level of a custom SPL setup either.
So my impression of factory boxes is that they are decent all round performance for the money and offer easy setup, but if you have an idea of exactly what you want and a good builder, a custom box will make you happier.

 

get a better box if it doesnt hit man cause i just have 1 10" cvr and it hammers