whats better for a compact sedan, a 15'' or 12''?
 

i originally wanted to get a 15'' in my 03 nissan sentra but im hearing now that there isnt enough space for the 15'' to work properly in my trunk and that a 12 would suit it better. is this true?

Measure the trunk and let us know. If you have 3.5+ cubes than get a 15. If you have around 3+ get 2 10"s, you might have to if you can't fit a 15". If you have about 2.5 cubes than get a 12", put it in 2.25-2.5 cubes. Use the RE BOX CALCULATOR and see how many cubes you can get. Don't go less than 2" for port width. Stay between 12-16 square inches of port area per cubic foot. 2 cubic feet = 24-32 square inches. Don't forget the subwoofers displacement. What subs were you looking at? What amp? What's your budget?

Not necessarily, it all depends on what you want. If you want max bass and have the space and electrical system to support it, a larger sub will deliver more bass. If you want good overall, balanced sound, then two 8's, a 10 or two, or a 12 will do the trick...and can get plenty loud!

well im bed bound for a bit i just had knee surgery so i cant measure it but im gonna get a 15'' xcon, sundown 2000. budget... as much as it takes i learned how to save after my knee injury. id imagine the cars trunk is basically the same size as a 4 door civic cavalier or anything in that range of cars. i used to have two 10'' infinity's and now i just want deeper low hitting base

Are you prepared to throw lots of power to the other speakers in the car so that they can keep up? There is a huge gap in speaker size from a 15" to the next largest in your car, going to presume that it is a 6.75".... I would do a slot port 12" and power the snot out of it. Basstoy has a particularily nasty little setup in the trunk of his car that delivers big bad bottom end. Take the time to consider how the balance of the system is going to perform and what the electrical upgrades are going to take in order to get a large system like that running properly in your car. If the upgrades are not an option, how is the system expected to deliver the results that you are seeking. Stay off the knee, you have the rest of your life that is far more important to deal with that putting pressure on it too soon.

if steve meade can have two 18s in a civic trunk i cant see why one 15 wouldnt work

by the way good choice for sub amp combo

keep us update when you start the build

4 cube box @ 30hz should rattle the car loose!! You're going to feel most of the really deep stuff, and your neigbours a block away will hear it!

Steve has a wall in that civic, the trunk is just to hold his amps.

he had them in the trunk before the civic was broken into and all the stereo gear was stolen right in his driveway

check his site out

well i have alpine type r's that were originally going to in the front but after comparing them to a pair of old infinity speakers i had the aplines didnt sound better they just got louder so im going to put them in the back, and im most likely going to get some morel dotech's for the front i think there around 140 watts rms? u think that would keep up with a 15'' sub? and im looking to get another sundown for the comps too. the speaker size is 6.5 but i think 6.75's fit in too. and yah ill post up once everything heals and i get a nice little camera and learn to post pics

Are you wanting to listen to your music or just be loud and annoying? I would still run a 12" or dual 12" system and Morel on the front end is a great start. I have a hell of a deal on a high end 4 channel amp right now that would be a nice addition to the system.

i want to be able to listen and enjoy my music and be loud and annoying when i feel the need. i just feel one 12 wouldnt be enough but i dont have any experience with a single sub only 2 10's so i dont know. another question would be, would a 12 in a 3.5 - 4 cu ft box be louder than a 15 in a 3.5-4 cu ft box?

There are many factors that will make one sub louder than the other so a blanket statement of fact I will not make about that. Choose the items carefully. Any sub in the right custom box, with the right amp is going to deliver it's full potential. I think you would be quite surprised at what some of the even basic subs properly set up can deliver for results when done properly. I can tell you that for me personally, if I had your vehicle and your speakers, there is no way that I would be doing a 15" sub for my personal use of listening to music. A 12" or dual 12" is going to be far more than ample.

so a 15 is just going to drown out my music? i just dont want dual 12 cause of the weight, a 15 is the heaviest i wanna go but i want some brain rattling base thats why i want the 15

Send Basstoy a PM, his 12" rattles every vehicle around his....

what do u think about a class d amp. and basstoy has a digital designs sub im pretty sure its a spl sub unlike the xcon so its definatly going to get louder

Don't put a 12" sub in 3.5-4 cubes.

Because a 15" will be too loud ??

If you set the gain appropriately it shouldn't be an issue, and there is something to be said for having extra headroom...



Many 12's require more air space then many 15's.. so you can't make a direct comparison... you'll have to pick some subs to choose from and decide how much box space you have and if you want to go sealed or ported.. then winisd the respose curves..

What model of sentra do you have? GXE,SE,Spec V?
Any pictures? I own one aswell.

Try four 8" subs at .5 cu.ft. each. Same cone space as a 15". :)

i have a black 03 spec v. no pictures and the motors awaiting a rebuild since it shat on me. which one do u have? i have a couple things done to it not much though

Mine is a GXE (1.8L version) There are alot of known problems with the spec v's. I hope on your new engine your not using the stock header as the pre cat will destroy the engine (as what probably happened to your last engine) Or the butterfly screws in the intake manifold (need lock tight).

read here if you haven't already.
QR25DE Precat and Butterfly Screw FAQ - B15sentra.net - Nissan Sentra Forum

Other then the engine, your car is completely the same as mine. I run 1 10" Type-R and its all the bass I need. Then again my music is almost all mid bass (metal/rock). My friend has 2 12" type r's in his spec and it goes really loud. A 15" is not necessary IMO.
Best tip I can give is ditch the rear speakers completely and get the best 6.5" Component set you can(Morel Ovations is what I use) Also, lots of sound deadener in the front doors to bring the mid bass to life.

What mods have you done to your spec?

ya im aware about the problems with the spec definatly gonna do everything right away when i get my motor. i just have an intake short shifter motor mounts and tein basic coilovers. i have an safc2 but im waiting for a couple things before i put it on. i have an onderground lip but i might sell it im not sure. still dont know if i want to boost the car or not, forged internals are expensive