yeah no way sealed goes lower. Sorry

 

^^agree totally with DUKK and AAAAAAA. In real life I know sealed does not compare to ported in terms of output even at sub 30hz levels. Even on paper it does not...winisd mock up of the same sub in the same size box, vented tuned to 30 hz. Not until 18 hz or lower does the sealed deliver more bass. Driver is a jbl w12 gti in 2.5 cube box..both with 700 watts. Even the excursion of the sealed exceeds xmax earlier.

 

As we give are two cents back and forth, this is the problem as I see it. We are trying to show that we know our stuff and most of us do (by the way I learn something everyday in this industry)...but the question is "Is there a SQ sub out there or are they all mostly SPL types??? This guy wants SQ not bass, he is saying that the subs create a huge amount of pressure in his ears, indeed he needs bass for SQ but he is asking a question that none of us have answered. The truth is as a consumer looks around all he sees is big and bad subs, Sorry W6 and W7 subs are nice but to a guy who doesn't like sound pressure we are pushing the wrong product. A pair of really nice Focal, Hertz, Audison, Mids and tweets, with almost any 10" sub will probably be a nice fit. Find a guy who can tune a box to the frequecy he enjoys hearing and "Bobs your Uncle"....

 

That or he could do like mentioned before and simply turn it down to an acceptable level. That's what everyone else does when there is to much base hehe.

 

Tuning a woofer box that low quite often has a negative tradeoff in upper bass and with sub bass to mid bass transition and not worth it, it's easier to force a woofer to play low in a sealed box than to force a woofer to play below its tuning frequency and f3 in a ported box, tune a ported box to 25 hz and now were talking but in real world applications this is unusual to say the least. Both boxes are good and have their benefits for sure but with the right woofer in the right box, I prefer a larger sealed box for sure

 

While we are off the topic

My own favorite install was a Orion XTR10 (yes the original from '92) ported and tuned to 30Hz. The only reason I ever use sealed is lack of space, but that is a very good reason. That Orion was in a 2.75 cube box that consumed a unfortunate percentage of the trunk in my '94 Sunbird. Trying to shoehorn a ported solution into my Rav4 (stealth install) or my standard cab Silverado isn't realistic.
What's gets me is people that hold forth that sealed is inferior to ported (or vise versa) ... if the space is available go ported, if things are tight go sealed ... it's really not that complicated. Oh, and a ported box is just slightly more effort to design/build, but that shouldn't really matter.

 

^ Now you get into the decision of a sealed 12 vs. a vented 10 in the same space. Or do you look for a different 12 (size is merely an example) that will work vented in that space???

Overall people spend too much time worrying about their subwoofer. I guess it's because it's the 'fun' part of the system. Reality is there is no real SQ sub. There are subs that sound bad, but overall any midlevel or better woofer is a good choice, whether it be a W3, Rockford P2, MTX TR55, Orion XTR, Alpine TypeR, Hertz, etc. If you truly want better sounding bass you should be looking at your midbass drivers.

 

You would be hard pressed to even get a 10 into a Rav4 stealthed. There are a lot of obstacles if you aren't willing to cut metal or use up cargo space. I have considered putting in the effort to bulid a vented enclosure for my truck, but it will be a crapload of work compared to the simplicity of the sealed solution I am using now. Stripped down there is still only 7" of depth at floor level and 5" about half way up. Could definately make something sweet with glass ... but that's a lot of extra effort. Plus I can't have it off the road for a stretch of time, it's my work truck.

 

Sounds like you should have bought something other than a Rav4.

And FWIW I run a single vented 8" in my car. It's surprisingly satisfying.

 

ROFL ... it's my wife's and she absolutely loves it, what's a guy to do?