Subwoofer questions!

[Deekay]

Hello, I'm brand new here and I have some questions about adding a subwoofer to my boat's sound system. I understand that adding a subwoofer in a free-air application is much different than indoors or in a car, but what does that mean I should do?

My questions are:

1. Most marine subs are 10 and 12 inches. I'm trying to get as loud as possible on a $200 budget. If two woofers are the same size, what makes one better than the other?

2. Where should the sub go? I have a basic mid 90's Larson boat with hollow seats. I've seen boats online that have subs mounted in the seat using the storage space as an enclosure. Is that a good option, or should I buy a bazooka bass tube?

2b. does it matter where the sub is aimed? I've read that you should aim the sub at something that the bass can bounce off of, but I don't see many setups like that online.

Thanks for your input!!

 

[RustyShackleford]

Re: Subwoofer questions!

If two subs are the same size, the throw and magnet strength are the things that make the most difference. You can even go with a smaller sub if it has more throw than a larger one in the same price range. In my experience, the subs that are in tubes are the best for open air. I am, by no means, an audio expert though. That's just my experience. I have never heard anything about aiming the sub at a surface to reflect, but it wouldn't take much effort to try it out. I'd recommend a side-firing tube sub. See the link below.


http://www.crutchfield.com/fg_217950_FFBrand|Bazooka/Bazooka-Marine-Subwoofers.html?tp=972

 

[Deekay]

Re: Subwoofer questions!

Thanks a lot for your advice, I've never heard of throw before. Looking at crutchfield, I didn't see and mention of throw or magnet specs. Do you know where I can look them up? Thanks again!

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Subwoofer questions!

It's called cone or diaphragm excursion, and magnet weight. That info is provided on the hard sheet sold with brand name speakers. They don't typically publish hard data on the box, because most low end audio consumers purchase based on pretty colors, flashy pictures and exaggerated nonsensical numbers...not the actual data that would be useful. On anything below say, $300 per speaker, the info is irrelevant. Additionally, you are not listening in an anechoic chamber or a discreet studio environment; therefore your ears will be unable to discern the difference. Low frequencies are felt, not "heard".

I could wax technical about this subject for pages and pages, but a place better spent educating yourself would be any of the dozen or more professional audio and system building forums on the net. The two most difficult places to reproduce quality (notice I didn't say loud) musical spectrum audio is outdoors, and on an open watercraft.

 

[Deekay]

Re: Subwoofer questions!

Hey, thanks for the advice. I'm still kinda in a rough spot because when shopping online I have no way of determining the better woofer. Also, I should be clear in the fact that I'm a younger guy who wants loud bass, not crisp, clear, quality sound. If I really wanted quality speakers, I'd be spending more that $200. I'm just trying to find out how to get the most out of my $200 in this challenging listening environment. Thanks again!

 

[Hawkeye79]

Re: Subwoofer questions!

If you want loud then buy cheap 15" subs. They require little power and the larger area of the cone will produce more sound for less money. Now when you turn them up until the distort they won't last long. Loud costs money. In the stereo world you get what you pay for. Matching amp output to speaker rms is what counts for dependability. $200 will not do anything for you. Also correct air space for the speaker is critical. The larger the box the deeper the note. And the louder the note. However the deeper the note the more the cone travels the more you over extend a cheap speaker and the faster you blow it. A blown speaker can kill an amp. It can ground out and fry the amp. So for $200 you aren't going to get much.

 

[doyall]

Re: Subwoofer questions!

Look at the JBL Marine MPS1000, 10" speaker in an enclosure with built-in amplifier. Should be able to find one for ~$200 on that auction site. May not be the loudest one out there but it should provide quality sonics as it is engineered as a unit. No guessing as to what size enclosure or amp to use.

 

[Deekay]

Re: Subwoofer questions!

Look at the JBL Marine MPS1000, 10" speaker in an enclosure with built-in amplifier. Should be able to find one for ~$200 on that auction site. May not be the loudest one out there but it should provide quality sonics as it is engineered as a unit. No guessing as to what size enclosure or amp to use.

This think looks perfect, covers all the bases. Thanks very much for this recommendation. So when I'm installing it, where should I ground the amp?

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Subwoofer questions!

...where should I ground the amp?

Where you would ground any electrical component...at the negative battery post, or the engine block!

 

[Hawkeye79]

Re: Subwoofer questions!

​

I would take it back to the battery. As far away from fuel and oil as possible. Also not near the accessory drive of the engine.