improving bass? I have some money to improve it, any suggestions?
 

Hi,

I have...

Alpine Type S 5.25inch in the front
Alpine Type R 6.5inch in the rear
Deck is Alpine 9851
Sub is an older JL W3 // 300rms // wired for 2 ohms
Amp is a RF p3002 // 2 channel // Bridged RMS Power @ 4 Ohms: 300W x 1 //RMS Power @ 4 Ohms: 75W x 2
Box is ported, not sure of the dimensions but I bought it as a combo.

When I am driving my tercel I would like a bit more bass. I have the sub turned up to the max subwoofer volume my HU will give me. I don't usually like to overwhelm my 4 coaxial speakers by turning up the bass levels because I am worried they are not going to be given sufficient power and I love the clean highs coming from them.

I basically have a $500 gift certificate to a local audio shop. I can spend it on anything in the shop for the MSRP price. He sells eclipse, alpine and RF. Any installation work is not charged.

Should I amp my 4 coaxials?
Buy more subs?

Thanks and will consider any advice.

I would use that RF amp to power your front stage. Sell your current sub. Hit the audio shop and get a new amp around 600-700Wrms and a pair of 12" in a ported box to match within the same power handling of the amp of 10% lower. Be sure to make sure your wiring will support both. In this case 4 gauge and then that should fix your problem :)

I agree, your best option would be to use your current amp for you front sound stage and buy a new amp and subs.. Without upgrading those two there isn't too much you can do to gain bass. You will notice a definate improvment with somthing in the 400-500watts RMS range.

Thanks I figured this was going to be my only choice.

my car is already wired in 4 gauge so I should be good to go.

What do you guys think I can get for my 3-month old JL10W3D3 (back when W4 was the best sub JL made)?

I think I can probably grab $200 for my sub and box. So I have $700 to spend on the sub, amp and box.

Anyone have any suggested setups for a Eclipse/Alpine/RF Amp and 2 12inch subs?

Not sure, but $200 around these parts for a single 12 might be pretty optimistic. Good luck though...

I'd even consider a pair of 10's rather than 2-12's just because they're already going to give you way more bass than the 12 is giving you and they're a little cheaper than 12's and the box should be smaller as well.

Another option would be to try and find another 12 like the one you've got in used but nice shape for $80 or so and double the size of your amp with a new sub box. That would probably be the most economical rout leaving you the most money left over for the amp.

I don't think you're going to buy 2-12's, a box and an amp worth speaking of for $500 retail but I might be mistaken.

Spend a $150 on the sub and box used, add your current sub and then spend $350 on a really nice amp would be my approach.

I just hate to see my JL sub go. I got it for $250 (and that is the at cost price, that includes the box). It is a 10 inch.

I was looking over some of the prices and I think you are right. $500 or even $700 at MSRP prices is going to be difficult for 2 12s and and a decent amp.

Here is another thought: What if I mounted my sub sitting on my backseats?
The sub would be pushing air towards the windshield? I would assume I would lose a bit of loudness, but because the sub is right next to me it should be more than enough. Of course I would have to come up with something crafty to avoid theft.

When I tested my sub against 2 12" Audiobahns and 2 12" JL W0 my little 10 was certainly not louder, but it was in their league.

I'd look for another 10 to match yours. THere are tons of sub boxes available for cheap cheap. Or just build one yourself :smilie_da I've got 2 boxes for 10's I need to dump but shipping will be pricey :)

THEN go and get a 500-600 watt amp from that shop and youll have money left over OR you should be able to get a pre fabbed box and amp from the guy for $500 in my opinion.

I'd stay away from the whole "mounting on my seat" idea for wayyyyy too many reasons.

Unfortunatly my sub has been discontinued for a number of years.

I cannot find it online, nor would I want to think about the shipping prices/customz/not the right sub, etc.

What about purchasing a bigger amp and better suited amp (class d) and control the bass level of the sub from there?

Any more power than you're currently giving the sub is likely to cook it. I'd be patient and keep an eye out for a used one on the classifieds or eBay or even pawn shops. 10W-3's are pretty common, you should run into one without too much trouble.

Just my $0.02

Again sell your box for $150 and you should be able to find a 600-700wrms amp and box with 2 10's or 12's ported for about $650. That sub will not handle to much more power and if you just buy an amp and its not much difference you will be kicking your self later.

tonez735,

My sub looks different then most w3s up for sale. My cone is visible and in the majority of w3s they are different...I am not sure if this matters too much. I also do not like the idea that I do not know where the subs come from...if they abused them or underpowered them, etc. I am pretty sure if I accidently buy the wrong sub (despite it being a W3) and put it into the same box it damage them.

SmartAss,

I think your right about the whole "if you going to do it once, do it right" message. Plus, the subs/amp are something I can always move around to my next car.

I think I am going to start looking around for prices and subs.

General questions: why would you buy a 4 ohm sub over a 2 ohm sub?

THere's nothing wrong with Smartass's approach either if you're not sure of getting the right sub.

:smilie_da

I think I am going to stick with the JL. The prices for a decent sub, powerful amp, to upgrade my alternator (tercel alt will not like another sub), buy another box is just not worth after thinking about it.

Instead I am going to dynamat my car and probably buy an external amp for my Type S and Type R (maybe the type Rs will give me a bit of extra base when amped). Then just save the rest of the money to put it towards when something breaks.

Personnal opinion, I'd go with a single 12" sub, but of higher quality. You're better off getting one good sub than two cheaper ones. My friend has a single CDT EF-120 in his dodge neon, hooked up to a 300W amp, and it plays pretty darn loud. His entire setup only cost him around 300$ + wiring and, it's kicking pretty good. More than my old Type R with a 450W amp.

Nobody caught this? .....are you sure its wired to 2 ohms? Not having any amp issues?

by the way if 300 wrms running a 12" in a tercel isn't enough bass i would think look into phase issues or xover etc, or theres a problem somewere with you're gear.

Or you're in the beginning stages of bassheadism and will never have enough lol

I am pretty sure its 2 ohms...I remember the installer's meter saying 1.9.

I will ask next time I am there, it could also be 3 ohms (says in the online pdf)...would that make more sense?

i would think you would have issues with 2 ohms on a "normal" fosgate amp bridged to 2 ohms.
Pull the sub outta the box and see how its wired,do you know wiring schemes?

If its dual vc and you have low output that sub may be burnt too, try another 4 ohm sub on that amp if you can and see if theres a difference.

:tip: lol go to xs cargo and ask if you can try that sub/box in youre car b4 purchase. Ya they can be usefull haha.

Yeah it is dual coil.

I am not exactly sure of the wiring patterns. I had it professionally done, I am not to great with electronics yet.

How can I tell if I have burnt the coils?

A little off topic but my 2ch fosgate amp is 450x1 at 4ohms. Does that mean it cant run at 2ohm?

Oh and if you want a good subs buy my 2 12" Alpine Type R or just one if you want lol.

Just for youre sake,take it to a good dealer and have it checked,make sure there reading right

I might if you didn't live so far away. And I have that gift certificate anyways.

I was also reading some of the "playing speakers in the cold thread". I bet I am losing some power because its been -20 to -25 here and my car is parked outside.

I wouldnt say it couldn't ,hell im game for trial and error if itss newer fosgate its not gonna last long. if its prime time rf it may be fine.