Bass is disappointing

[90blacknight]

Alright, so I managed to install a set of 12's in my 1990 notch. I wanted to keep my trunk space so I'm running them free air, had to custom make a board just behind the back seat. The speakers are pretty cheap (Pyle's, I know, I know). I running an old school PPI amp from the early nineties. These things were powerhouses so I know it's sufficient. I installed a soundstream eq with built in crossover. I don't have a good seal around the board that holds the speakers. There's some space on each side. Could this be a culprit? What could I seal the gaps with? Will styrofoam work? Could the speakers just be garbage? They're new and I thought they would put out something at least, but the sound is disappointing. The amp is two channel and the speakers are Two 4-ohm dual voice coil subs wired in a way that supposedly puts a 4 ohm load on the amp. Thanks for the help.

 

[ChingonStang]

I had a free air sub setup once in a mini-truck. It sucked too.

 

[iskwezm]

very few speakers on the market are still "free air" and when i used to install them about 10 years ago, they were decent.

You way of mounting the speakers as well as the enclosure type will never work for you and what you want.

trying buying a cheap sealed box with about .8-1.1 cu. ft and see what happens

 

[turbogt]

If you want to run "free air",, you need a sub designed to run free air..Otherwise, they will move alot but won't really make any "boom"..

 

[ChingonStang]

If you want to run "free air",, you need a sub designed to run free air..Otherwise, they will move alot but won't really make any "boom"..

 

[90blacknight]

very few speakers on the market are still "free air" and when i used to install them about 10 years ago, they were decent.

You way of mounting the speakers as well as the enclosure type will never work for you and what you want.

trying buying a cheap sealed box with about .8-1.1 cu. ft and see what happens

Yes, I remember free air speakers back in the day putting out some great sound. It's the reason why I chose the setup. My brother has a similar setup with some old school 10's and it sounds pretty good. Guess these speakers nowadays aren't up to the task. I'll definitely have to rethink the setup and maybe go with a box afterall. The dimensions you mentioned for the box are for both speakers?

 

[iskwezm]

Yes, I remember free air speakers back in the day putting out some great sound. It's the reason why I chose the setup. My brother has a similar setup with some old school 10's and it sounds pretty good. Guess these speakers nowadays aren't up to the task. I'll definitely have to rethink the setup and maybe go with a box afterall. The dimensions you mentioned for the box are for both speakers?

no, youll need almost 1 cu ft(probably less) for each speaker.

 

[92Patrol5.0]

It's going to be hard finding a box that will fit in the trunk of a notch unless it's a custom box.

 

[90blacknight]

Are there really no good free air speakers on the market? I love the free air look and it saves a ton of space. I practically have all my trunk space still. Could I insulate the trunk with something?