ICE for My Alto LX 2007 Model

[Vaib2707]

Yes you will need an amplifier to feed the oower requirements of the subwoofer (usually 300w continuously, while your HU can provide just 50w usually). Without amplifier, either your subwoofer will not perform to the fullest (not even 25%) or internal circuitry of your HU will give up (due to 4 or 5 times increased power demand).

And I meant sealed enclosure (box) for the subwoofer, not sealed amp. Sealed enclosure means you fit the subwoofer in an air-tight box, which gives resistance to the woofer cone and makes its movement (when playing music) controlled, thereby giving you tighter bass.

Vaib2707 - These inbuilt amplifier system are not good according to me. Unless you want the wiring to be really neat, I don't understand the reason for going for subwoofers with inbuilt amps. Their power output is low (150-200w max), if one thing goes kaput (inbuilt amp or sub) you will have to replace both, if you want a show-off kinda setup this one is not for you, and lastly it costs way above than a decent subwoofer and 4 channel amp combined (which gives you a better looking boot, almost equal space as amplifier hardly requures any space, 2-3 times better output, 2 extra channels to run speakers, all at lesser price than inbuilt amp one). If you are really thinking of plonking money in these, get one from the 10k+ range like JBL Basspro12. These 8" ones from Blaupunkt are too less for quality sound output. If you had factory speakers (weak), then these 8" ones would have been good, but not when you have better equipment.

Underseat woofers will never be able to perform as good as conventional 12" woofers (enclosure ones). If you get 6" of 8" ones, then it is average but if you get 10" or 12" one under the boot, you will see that they start giving up at medium-higher volumes where their elder counterparts shine! An amplifier can be mounted under the front seats, and you can get a 10/12" subwoofer in the boot with a compact 1 cubic feet box. This arrangement would work better and will cost you less. In case you need the boot space, there is an option of removing the subwoofer anytime (disconnect 2 wires). If one of your rear seat is empty when you are using the boot, then the subwoofer can be placed there also.

And you will not like a subwoofer booming under your a** either.

Thanks for differentiating between the 8" and 12" subwoofers. This will help. On the contrary, i don't want anyone show off kinda of a setup. My taste is more of a personal and relaxed acoustics in the car. I rarely reach the higher side of the volume in a small space. Though i enjoy listening to high volume big bass on my sony home theatre system which is off-course installed in a bigger space (15x15 ft room).

This is the logic i go by with (most of it is subjective to personal taste & technical stuff i still need to learn about).

What i feel is that the acoustics should compliment the space (size) they come from. Any good sound system in any place (be it a car or a room) will sound good only if its output suits the size it is placed in.

Any music (sound waves) to sound like music to ears should travel a minimum distance to loose sufficient power before hitting anywhere or anything or even other sound waves.

In a small space (like car cabins), if we put a high powered system, it will sound good at upto 25-30% of the HU volume. But after that, it start shifting towards more noise than music (generally preferred by the ones who like to show it off). Even with the different amplifier settings this issue cannot be resolved without under powering the various audio components. Such systems are good for bigger cars (SUV, MUV and maybe crossovers).

I feel some similar logic like this is behind having a specific volume of enclosure for a specific size of woofer. What intrigues me what if i use a bigger or undersize enclosure, what kind of bass will be produce?

Yes, the enclosed amp & woofer systems are way costlier than a separate woofer and amp installation is. Also the risk of blowing any one the component is involved.

And i am an organized freak too. Just can't tolerate any kind of clutter anywhere in the car. So maybe that is an another reason i have an inclination towards active subwoofer.

As for placement, having the thump just under my a** doesn't sounds (or should is say feel []) good at all. I may try to put in the boot.

I still haven't heard to any active subwoofer in any of my friends car. All will be decided after auditioning only.

Thanks for all the knowledge you shared ICE_WISE. Just felt like sharing my logic too (which i feel is way too different from most of automobile audiophiles).

 

[ice_wise]

Thanks for differentiating between the 8" and 12" subwoofers. This will help. On the contrary, i don't want anyone show off kinda of a setup. My taste is more of a personal and relaxed acoustics in the car. I rarely reach the higher side of the volume in a small space. Though i enjoy listening to high volume big bass on my sony home theatre system which is off-course installed in a bigger space (15x15 ft room).

This is the logic i go by with (most of it is subjective to personal taste & technical stuff i still need to learn about).

What i feel is that the acoustics should compliment the space (size) they come from. Any good sound system in any place (be it a car or a room) will sound good only if its output suits the size it is placed in.

Any music (sound waves) to sound like music to ears should travel a minimum distance to loose sufficient power before hitting anywhere or anything or even other sound waves.

In a small space (like car cabins), if we put a high powered system, it will sound good at upto 25-30% of the HU volume. But after that, it start shifting towards more noise than music (generally preferred by the ones who like to show it off). Even with the different amplifier settings this issue cannot be resolved without under powering the various audio components. Such systems are good for bigger cars (SUV, MUV and maybe crossovers).

I feel some similar logic like this is behind having a specific volume of enclosure for a specific size of woofer. What intrigues me what if i use a bigger or undersize enclosure, what kind of bass will be produce?

Yes, the enclosed amp & woofer systems are way costlier than a separate woofer and amp installation is. Also the risk of blowing any one the component is involved.

And i am an organized freak too. Just can't tolerate any kind of clutter anywhere in the car. So maybe that is an another reason i have an inclination towards active subwoofer.

As for placement, having the thump just under my a** doesn't sounds (or should is say feel []) good at all. I may try to put in the boot.

I still haven't heard to any active subwoofer in any of my friends car. All will be decided after auditioning only.

Thanks for all the knowledge you shared ICE_WISE. Just felt like sharing my logic too (which i feel is way too different from most of automobile audiophiles).

Your logic is correct Vaib2707. Music quality depends on space available for the sound waves to travel before hitting the ears. But it is a matter of perception. You can get a 100w speaker and use it at 70w most of the time, and you can get a 70w speaker and use it at it full capacity (70w). The difference is in the way the speaker will handle the current, and the 100w speaker will handle it more easily and happily than a 70w. Some have Jaguars and some have Maruti 800s, but all cruise at 100 kmph on the highway most of the time. It is a fact that the expensive and capable equipment will be relaxed or handle a thing better than an inexpensive or less capable one.

Bass, unlike sound (mid-hi frequency) does not need to have a medium or path. You can put a subwoofer in the boot, 80% of the bass will be heard in the car. If you put a speaker in the boot, hardly 50% will reach your ears.

Volume of the box (VaS) is specified in T/S parameters in owner's manual of a subwoofer. For regular 12" 300w RMS subwoofers, volume is around 0.8-1.3 Cu Ft. The bigger the box, the louder the bass (boomier). A small box will give tighter hard-hitting bass as travel of woofer cone is restricted and well controlled.