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Free air subwoofer suggestions

Old Feb 13, 2007 | 09:37 PM
  #1  
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Free air subwoofer suggestions

I'm looking for a 15" freeair subwoofer for my car. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Old Feb 16, 2007 | 12:12 AM
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I'm slightly biased, but for the money elemental designs are hard to beat:

http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/product_info.php?t=0&products_id=36

just make sure you have plenty of power! I bought an older 12 O a few years ago, in a larg-ish sealed box with 400wrms it plays ridiculously low without ever sounding sloppy or boomy. It made my old skool JL 12W6 sound pathetic, but things change quickly and there are plenty of great little companies these days, I just can't think of any off the top of my head that are IB capable.
Old Feb 16, 2007 | 12:29 AM
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Plan on building your trunk into a box.... and look for a Q that will work the way you want in 10-20 cubes depending on your trunk... doy...
Old Feb 16, 2007 | 07:51 AM
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Originally Posted by sleepr
I'm slightly biased, but for the money elemental designs are hard to beat:

http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/product_info.php?t=0&products_id=36

just make sure you have plenty of power! I bought an older 12 O a few years ago, in a larg-ish sealed box with 400wrms it plays ridiculously low without ever sounding sloppy or boomy. It made my old skool JL 12W6 sound pathetic, but things change quickly and there are plenty of great little companies these days, I just can't think of any off the top of my head that are IB capable.
That ED woofer is specified for Extremly small sealed or ported. I wouldn't recommend it for free air.

I have 2 CVR 15's free air. I used 2 because it's a fairly large trunk. Kicker doesn't recommend free-air, they're afraid of people overpowering them. But their spec sheet shows the flatter responce curve for free-air applications.
Since they are made for large boxes, the trunk becomes the box. The trick is to have the trunk Completely (really, really completely) sealed from the car.

Unless you have a sub that is specifically designed only for free air, you can't run more power than the rating. Usually the recommended power is less if it's not in a box. my subs are rated 500 wrms each and I run 380 wrms on each and it get fairly loud.

Edit: I did some searching, couldn't find any 15's (within reason) built only for free air.

Last edited by Tom.F.1; Feb 16, 2007 at 10:25 AM.
Old Feb 16, 2007 | 09:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Tom.F.1
That ED woofer is specified for Extremly small sealed or ported. I wouldn't recommend it for free air.

I have 2 CVR 15's free air. I used 2 because it's a fairly large trunk. Kicker doesn't recommend free-air, they're afraid of people overpowering them. But their spec sheet shows the flatter responce curve for free-air applications.
Since they are made for large boxes, the trunk becomes the box. The trick is to have the trunk Completely (really, really completely) sealed from the car.

Unless you have a sub that is specifically designed only for free air, you can't run more power than the rating. Usually the recommended power is less if it's not in a box. my subs are rated 500 wrms each and I run 380 wrms on each and it get fairly loud.

Edit: I did some searching, could find any 15's (within reason) built only for free air.
On their spec sheet they list it as infinite-baffle capable. I agree that running IB a sub will not handle as much power as it could in a box, personally in a car I still prefer sealed enclosures.
Old Feb 16, 2007 | 11:14 AM
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Not to hijack the op but would jl audio 12w0 subs be capable of sounding ok in a free air set up? its a small trunk(sunfire) and i have 2 of these subs.
Old Feb 19, 2007 | 10:24 PM
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Thanks for the responses. I'm not sure what Haunz meant by "doy" in his response, but I'll assume it wasn't an insult.
Anyway I decided to go a different route. I installed my 2 Phoenix Gold Cyclones freeair in my trunk. Both running off a Blade Se Series 3 1175 amp. Holy Guacamole!! Drops down low like a ****! Best sub setup I've ever had. Fast, precise, deep and transparent. Yummy!!
Old Feb 20, 2007 | 11:19 AM
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Any sub will work I.B. You will just get different results for each. When I choose my subs I looked at two main things. The "Q" of the woofer (which will help tell me what the roll off of the woofer will be like) and the actual design of the woofer. The last thing I want is the VC of the sub to hit the cack plate (this is just one physical characteristic I look for).
Old Feb 21, 2007 | 04:04 PM
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dont do it it is alot of work and u will not be satisfied i promise
Old Feb 21, 2007 | 06:07 PM
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I guess I'm too late...but heres a 15 made for IB http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=295-455

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