<![CDATA[new car stereo help!]]>i just bought a 2006 vw beetle tdi and i need some help deciding what to use for good bass (sounds good and can go loud). with very little trunk-space, i'm leaning toward something small, probably a jl 8w7 or a solobaric l7 8".

chuck, i know you're reading this.

jason at tintmasters has suggested a diamond 10 or 12, and jojo at site on sound insists the 8w7 would be perfect. as it stands, i have an old audiobahn 1251 sitting around that i will probably throw into a box and use until i find something worthwhile.

i was thinking about a stealth-box to utilize the spare tire cavity, but i imagine the down-firing speaker ( http://www.crutchfield.com/p_13694090/JL-Audio-Stealthbox.html?tp=113 ) would be just something for rumble rather than good sound, too. can anyone confirm or refute this?

power is no problem, i have a circa 2000 rockford fosgate 1000bd that is just waiting to see action again.

i'm unsure if i feel the need to upgrade the rest of the system, the monsoon stuff is pretty spiffy.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/topic/16589/new-car-stereo-helpRSS for NodeThu, 28 May 2026 18:10:10 GMTThu, 12 Mar 2009 05:47:54 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:50:37 GMT]]>great. i will try to get up early this afternoon and call you before work. if not, you'll hear from me tomorrow

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/255573https://fargostreet.com/post/255573Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:50:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:32:42 GMT]]>Sure, I'd be glad to give you an idea on what can be done and give you a few different options.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/255569https://fargostreet.com/post/255569Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:32:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:46:24 GMT]]>chuck, i recall from other threads that you have experience with fiberglass. would you be interested in looking at the space where i want the box to see if you'd be willing to build something?

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/255555https://fargostreet.com/post/255555Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:46:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:16:21 GMT]]>chuck, based on what you have said about the 8w7 and what i've heard come out of them, i think that is going to be my choice. however, i do like what some of the 10" woofers show for specifications and i'm curious if you have any of them on hand and in an enclosure? i put together a disc that i am going to use to test a couple of speakers to see how low they play, one track slowly rises from zero to 100hz :D. how well every contender performs there will play a large part in my decision.
lastly, since space is an issue, would you want to take a look at my car's spare compartment to see what i have to work with to still maintain a minimal impact on trunk space (and keep the whole system pretty stealth)?

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/255415https://fargostreet.com/post/255415Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:16:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:35:07 GMT]]>BOX.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/255177https://fargostreet.com/post/255177Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:35:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:24:00 GMT]]>All three are excellent subs. Of them, the JL is (IMHO) the best of the group, followed by the Pioneer and then Kicker (I'm still not a fan of square subs from Kicker...)

If 10's are acceptable (based on the Pioneer) look into SE series from RE Audio (ask Scott Blodgett aka Bomex-E what he thinks of his) or if you want a square sub, look into http://www.mtx.com/caraudio/products/subwoofers/TS75_sub.cfm, of all the square subs I've ever heard, these are (IMHO) heads and shoulders above the rest.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/255111https://fargostreet.com/post/255111Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:24:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:55:00 GMT]]>so far, based just on the specs and prices that i've seen, the most serious contenders are: jl 8w7, kicker 8" l7, and pioneer 10" w258d4.

after i have wiring in my car, i'll be able to do some real-world testing with stuff i have sitting around and get a better idea of just how much it will take to make the kind of rumble that i want. i'm hoping to get that done by friday

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/255110https://fargostreet.com/post/255110Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:55:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:18:53 GMT]]>Which sub is it that you are using? I can run it through a couple loudspeaker design programs and get back to you.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/255108https://fargostreet.com/post/255108Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:18:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 06:06:42 GMT]]>when building the box to woofer specs, if an 8" woofer calls for a sealed box that is .8 cubic foot at most, how much larger would you suggest building it to play deeper?
any filling in the larger box?
what about filling the smaller box?
if the box is going to be fiber-glass, how would that change the resonance?

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/255087https://fargostreet.com/post/255087Mon, 16 Mar 2009 06:06:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:19:16 GMT]]>

slow90gsx;266578 wrote:
Like cardboard box or an enclosure for your sub? Old school installer joke.

Cardboard...duh!

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/255003https://fargostreet.com/post/255003Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:19:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:18:50 GMT]]>tuning a sealed enclosure is done 99% by building it to the spec of the woofer. Generally larger boxes produce deeper more natural bass, whereas smaller enclosures are tighter/snappier but don't go near as deep.

In the past 5 years my attitudes on vented enclosures has changed 100%, right now they are my preferred setup (if done right) and tuning them is done by a combination of box size, vent width/length and vent location.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/255002https://fargostreet.com/post/255002Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:18:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:15:14 GMT]]>Like cardboard box or an enclosure for your sub? Old school installer joke.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/255001https://fargostreet.com/post/255001Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:15:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Sun, 15 Mar 2009 04:51:12 GMT]]>i have not bothered acquiring a book on the acoustic analysis of speaker-box design, so i'm kind of in the dark on this point. how does one tune a sealed box?

i'm planning to grab a pre-fab box to use with my audiobahn 12" for a while, probably with some stuffing. when i do buy a better woofer, i will not skimp on the box.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/254986https://fargostreet.com/post/254986Sun, 15 Mar 2009 04:51:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Sat, 14 Mar 2009 03:14:28 GMT]]>off topic: dont listen to Faber

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/254736https://fargostreet.com/post/254736Sat, 14 Mar 2009 03:14:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:51:05 GMT]]>Correct...box construction will be HUGE in determining the ability of the sub to play low. Also, vehicle cabin is another huge determining factor. I would suspect a beetle would do very well as it is pretty round which helps minimize reflections.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/254643https://fargostreet.com/post/254643Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:51:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:33:10 GMT]]>If you are concerned about hitting the lows right, you should also be concerned about what your box is tuned to. A prefab box probably will not get you the lows you are gonna be looking for..you will probably have to go custom

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/254640https://fargostreet.com/post/254640Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:33:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:23:08 GMT]]>i forgot to mention one important factor: how low can the woofer play? i listen to a lot of techno with really low sounds that my headphones reproduce, but my stereo can't match. one big factor in leaning toward the 8w7 is that it can play very low stuff.

i have been considering a 10" pioneer because they are rated for 20hz and seem to be a pretty safe bet.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/254559https://fargostreet.com/post/254559Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:23:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:10:35 GMT]]>RE 8 or 10 in a fiberglass tub enclosure in spare tire well would work great (or a stealthbox or other custom fit aftermarket box...they are pretty decent actually)

Other subs that I offer that I think would sound great:

Zapco I-Force 10; Treo TSX 10 or (given your power capabilities) an RE Audio SE 10.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/254429https://fargostreet.com/post/254429Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:10:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:54:38 GMT]]>For sound quality, personally, i love the Fi Audio Q...

LINK

It can handle A LOT of power, and still sound great, and it is much much cheaper than the w7...the L7 will get pretty decently loud, but isnt much for SQ

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/254351https://fargostreet.com/post/254351Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:54:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 06:25:22 GMT]]>thanks nick, i will keep that in mind.

as to the diesel... i wanted an automatic so i don't have to do all of the driving on roadtrips. as a downside, with a/t i will probably not be looking to make power with this thing; as an upside, mileage and lifespan.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/254346https://fargostreet.com/post/254346Thu, 12 Mar 2009 06:25:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 06:06:50 GMT]]>stealthboxes are the shit. they sound great.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/254345https://fargostreet.com/post/254345Thu, 12 Mar 2009 06:06:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to new car stereo help! on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 06:02:24 GMT]]>Off topic:
Good choice on your engine! If you ever need any diesel help/advice/questions, feel free to PM me.

On topic:
I would for sure wait and see what chuck has available for you. I have been doing some talking to him about a sub in my new WRX.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/254344https://fargostreet.com/post/254344Thu, 12 Mar 2009 06:02:24 GMT