Subwoofer Direction
 

I have 2 12's in my trunk. When I went to my local audio shop, the salesman kept saying it's best to have the subs "back firing" or "firing back", referencing them facing the back of your car and being as far back as they can.

My question is, does this matter? My personal preference would be to have the subs facing the back of my rear seats and as close to them as possible (about a foot and a half maybe, my trunk slims up). Just so I have more trunk space and don't have to worry about things touching the subs and harming them.

Does the direction or distance from any object effect the sound of anything? As I said, I'd like to have them facing my back seat about a foot away, is there a problem with this? But, I also want the loudest and best sounding setup I can do.

Thanks.

Which one sounds better to you?

Subwoofers should always point north, whatever you do never let them point west. Seriously the salesman was correct that it would be best to have them at the rear facing the rear, minus a few inches breathing room. The problem with having them against the seat is then you will get partial cancellation from the reflection from the rear of the trunk. This is less of a problem the lower the frequency. If your trunk gets used a lot and there is potential for damage I'd face them forward. Nothing ruins bass like a woofer with a hole in it.

Yeah, I ruined an Insignia sub by putting an amp in my trunk without paying attention, ripped right through it. Although, I probably did myself a favor with that one.

Anyways, I'll go see how each sounds. I just didn't know if there was a solid reason why one or the other would or wouldn't work. Thanks guys.

I know in my car they are best facing back 2" from the trunk lid. Will your subs sound the best like this in your car is the first question. The best way to find out is to move them around and see where they sound best. Face them forward close to the seats, listen to your favorite bass track. Face them forward, but move box to the very rear and listen to the same track. Face them back and almost at the rear, listen again. Face them back and push against seats, listen. You can even face sideways with the same combos as above, change rear and forward with left and right. Then when you find where they sound the best, switch between there and where you really want them. Then decide if it is worth the trunk space. :smilie_da
HTH
Nick

What happens with loading when the box is rear firing and near the trunk? I always have heard that rear firing and having the box as far against the rear seats because it allows the wave the most travel before reaching the driver.

Correct....this allows the quarter-wave of lower frequencies to develop more before they hit the windshield and your ears.....:smilie_da

sorry to thread steal but it does pertain to the OP's question
After my post I just went and shifted my box to about 8 inches from the back (moved from right against the back seat)
sounds much better, (back to the way it was when I had my sealed box in) and seems to be quite a bit louder too if possible.
So Harris I do suggest you play around regardless of what physics laws are being broke lol

So rear firing and against the back seats is the way to go?

*edit*
Okay, I'll go give it a shot. :)

firing into the vehicle is typically louder as well but typically wont let you hear the lows as much for the reason explained by BRG, I tried it with another box and different subs along time ago and didn't like the sound it gave, I later realized that sub and box sucked... lol