I have a 8 inch sub in a tube with an amp! Nothing spectacular but when I hook it up should it face forward or back. I have seen both and how would you know???
2006-06-20 08:18:56 · 14 answers · asked by acura595 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Audio
Well, I don't care
but in the interest of helping you with a life skill:
It's only two different ways, hook it up and dry run it both ways and leave it the way you like best.
You may find while trying to put it in one of the ways that it is easier or it won't go properly.
What I mean by 'dry run' is: Put it in but don't make it permanent. Leave slack in the wires, don't bolt it in or drill holes, until after you decide which way you want it.
AND, Don't drive through my neighborhood!
2006-06-20 08:21:03 · answer #1 · answered by Ken C. 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The bottom line is that it's really up to what you like.
However, as a certified audio engineer, I can tell you that it really doesn't matter, because bass is omnidirectional- that is, you cannot tell the direction from which the bass frequency is eminating.
That said, you should be aware of the following:
If your speaker cabinet has a closed back, you should face the speaker forward. A closed back provides a "thumpier" sound, and helps to keep the wavelength going in one direction. Therefore, if you face a closed back cabinet backwards, most of the wavelength will go away from you.
If you have an open back speaker, your bass will sound a lot "mellower", and it doesn't matter which way you face the speaker.
Other factors to consider: The size of the enclosure (your trunk) and whether or not you keep any other junk in it, as other materials will absorb frequency, which will effect your overall tone. A larger trunk will "reflect" the wavelength, and could end up muddying your sound. You don't want that. It may sound "echo-like", but you're actually cancelling out frequencies, and lowering the overall quality of your sound.
You don't want to bounce the wavelength all over the place, because you could experience phase distortion.
Don't worry about not hearing vocals or highs, because if you have a sub, you should have a crossover which separates the highs and directs them to your tweeters.
Best bet is to face them forward, but don't pump your volume up. The mistake is to turn your volume up high- good bass doesn't need volume, it needs power. That comes from your amp.
2006-06-20 15:24:24 · answer #2 · answered by the_dude 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Facing the sub forward will allow the rear seats of your car to absorb and communicate more bass frequency into the cabin. Much the same way the ground will rumble if you flip your home stereo speakers face down.
Facing it away you will lose some bass, but this can make the mid-range sound clearer and give you better quality music overall. You will always get bass through the floor of car or the rear seats if it's in contact with them, it just depends on whether you want to maximise the doof doof.
In saying that, always allow at least an inch between any absorbent surface and the speaker cone, more if it's a hard surface which will restrict air flow and muffle your sub.
ALWAYS make sure if your box is ported you have lots of room for it to draw air.
I have a JD10 inch tube myself, I faced it sideways up against the back seats in the boot and it works a treat. I strapped it with velcro belts so I can remove it quickly if I need the space.
2006-06-20 20:47:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it should face the rear of the car so that when it hits all the sound hits the back of the trunk and reflects back at the same time if you face it forward you will get cancelation cause some of the sound waves will come into the cab while some of it will hit the back of the seat bounce back hit the trunk and then come into the cab which will mess up the sound that the speaker is trying to put out after the amount of time it took for the sound to hit the seat bounce back to the trunk and the back into the cab
2006-06-20 15:24:45 · answer #4 · answered by puresplprix 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That depends on the type of car, box and sub. Try both, which ever way sounds better go with it. There is not a right or wrong way to face a sub, but be sure to listen to both sounds from inside and outside the car when making your decision.
2006-06-20 15:22:34 · answer #5 · answered by thecup420 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it depends on what you like i guess, its a sub, so the actual sound comes from the vibrations, (well, all sound does..) but, since it does not need alot of clarity to sound great, you can face them either way. i would prefer forwards, so that you are surrounded by sound. but if you like to open your doors and blast music while you are outside of the car, then maybe a rear-facing set up, with access to the trunk is better.
2006-06-20 15:22:32 · answer #6 · answered by sobrien 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
jut depends on what you like if you got good mids and highs i would face it towards the inside of the car that way you can hear the bass though out the car and not have your trunk raddling like you got can in it
2006-06-21 03:13:17 · answer #7 · answered by see_me_now22000 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
faceing it in the rear will diffinitely give it more bass...facing it in the front you will hear the words more better....but if you have good enough speakers in the front,for the words,then face it in the back so you can have that echo effect which sounds like better bass!!!
i know cause thats what i did before my stereo stuff got stolen
2006-06-20 15:22:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lay it on it's back so the sound bounces al through the trunk.
2006-06-20 15:23:08 · answer #9 · answered by David W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
face the sub vertically
2006-06-20 15:26:39 · answer #10 · answered by Nick D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋