[cdgatti]

Wondering about doing an experiment?

I just replaced my stock underseats with a pair of SSMB8 woofers. And am noticing that I lost a lot of the lower bass range. I knew going in that these were mid bass drivers, but didn't have the appreciation for what that would really mean in real world listening. Not sure I like it.

I was sending the stock underseats 75 watts, and since the Kickers are 4 ohm, my amp is sending them 50 watts. But I don't think power is the problem, I think it is just the frequency range these speakers produce.

Ok - now the experimental idea. First off I would give up stereo separation of the underseats, not sure how important that is? Thinking about putting a EQ SWS-8 in one spot and the SSMB under the other seat. Tune these for something like 30-100 Hz from the EQ and 100-200 from the kicker both playing both L/R channels. Is this crazy?

If we can determine this to be worthwhile experiment AND someone else who has the SWS8 would like to try it. We could swap a SWS8 for a SSMB8 and both give it whirl. If it doesn't work out just switch back.

[ctuna]

75 watts peak or 75 watts rms?

[bmw325i]

Only problem I'd see is the midbass coming from only one side. Also you wouldn't have as much bass or midbass as you would with 2 speakers. I'd say your better off getting a trunk sub or getting sws8's and giving them some more power.

[cdgatti]

Originally Posted by ctuna

75 watts peak or 75 watts rms?

RMS in both cases.

I am not worried about losing the stereo in the 30-100 Hz range, but wondering how much I would be giving up in the 100-200 range.

[kmarei]

Or add a trunk sub and have the best of both worlds

[kaigoss69]

Do this...disconnect the passenger side midbass driver. Drive around with it for a day or two. Then decide if you can live with that little midbass. I think the answer will be no.

Also consider the fact that you will be pushing those drivers to their max. to get acceptable volume levels, and that usually never ends well.

[cdgatti]

Originally Posted by kmarei

Or add a trunk sub and have the best of both worlds

I know I know... but at 46 yo, feel weird putting a boom box in my trunk.

[cdgatti]

Originally Posted by kaigoss69

Do this...disconnect the passenger side midbass driver. Drive around with it for a day or two. Then decide if you can live with that little midbass. I think the answer will be no.

Also consider the fact that you will be pushing those drivers to their max. to get acceptable volume levels, and that usually never ends well.

Yea you make a good argument against. Maybe next week when I have some time I'll try running on 1 ssmb and see how much difference it makes.

[taibanl]

Originally Posted by cdgatti

I know I know... but at 46 yo, feel weird putting a boom box in my trunk.

a vp electricity stealth enclosure is not a boombox

Would you skip a sub in your home theater?

[fdriller9]

Yea you need an actual sub to balance your system out.

I have my stock L7 underseat woofers externally amped and bandpassed with an Alpine M500....it's a mono amp. You won't be able to tell the difference of stereo separation.

I have a Alpine 1242D in the trunk powered by a JL 500/1.

[ZZZZ]

Originally Posted by cdgatti

I know I know... but at 46 yo, feel weird putting a boom box in my trunk.

don't need an actual boom box. there are those small 8" corner loading woofers that go over the battery, covered in gray to be nice and secretative.



This particular one is from www.musicarnw.com

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by ZZZZ

don't need an actual boom box. there are those small 8" corner loading woofers that go over the battery, covered in gray to be nice and secretative.



This particular one is from www.musicarnw.com

Theyre 10"

[ZZZZ]

Originally Posted by *********

Theyre 10"

My mistake. Yes 10" for sedan, 12" for coupe.
According to the website they managed to fit a 12" in the coupe properly tuned by removing the battery door cover as well.

Still think I'd rather put it in the storage compartment on the floor. I have 3 10" JL 10W6V3's in my e36 spare tire well and it provides good clean bass response (with the seats folded down). With the seats up it gets a bit boomy to get the sound to travel into the cabin.

[F30Mo16]

I've been wanting to upgrade my sound system for a while now. Although it sounds real good, us modders find things to change lol..

I really want to get the earthquakes but I am confused if I'm going to need an aftermarket amp or not. The above 10" enclosure sub looks really neat, does that require an aftermarket amp as well?

Also, if I change the door speakers would it be just plug and play?

[MKR_DmD]

Originally Posted by 620BMW325i

I've been wanting to upgrade my sound system for a while now. Although it sounds real good, us modders find things to change lol..

I really want to get the earthquakes but I am confused if I'm going to need an aftermarket amp or not. The above 10" enclosure sub looks really neat, does that require an aftermarket amp as well?

Also, if I change the door speakers would it be just plug and play?

If you go to earthquake subs you will need a amp. Any aftermarket sub would need an amp. The stock equipment is not capable of pushing those types of power.

I think only one company makes plug and play speakers, cannot think of them, but it is expenisve. You can get with Technic, i think that is his name, I know he makes connectors for plug and play. He might have something so you can use any speaker you want.

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by cdgatti

I know I know... but at 46 yo, feel weird putting a boom box in my trunk.

ain't no replacement for displacement
if you want bass
you need to sacrifice some space
how much and where is the issue

[cdgatti]

Originally Posted by kmarei

ain't no replacement for displacement
if you want bass
you need to sacrifice some space
how much and where is the issue

Cheap iphone rta app shows I am severely deficient below ~60Hz. To be expected with the ssmb woofers. Experimenting I put my home subwoofer in my tunk (300 watt 12" Mirage) plugged in to the wall and pre-amp outputs on my amp - but could hardly hear/feel the bass in the car? Maybe because the trunk was open? Anyway - not a realistic test I am sure. I am intrigued by the BSW sub solution in the under trunk storage area, that seems to give up very little - although I would have to find a new spot for my flat fix kit.

[taibanl]

I wouldnt trust iphone RTA's in the LF range, up high they are decent but even the built in mic filters can't compensate for information that the mic isn't sending to the app.