Overall I've been very happy with my 12W6s. But they have never sounded as loud or as good as when they were in the GN.

I like the natural sound with a nice punch and in the GN I was very impressed. There are some frequencies that are overexaggerated, especially in the low notes in rap and high frequencies right under the crossover cutoff point. I have the bass boost on the amp at 0 yet it sounded artificially boomy in the lower frequencies.

Today I was reading up about cancellation issues and decided to move the box all the way toward the license plate with it still facing the rear of the car. This was one of the best improvements so far in my sub tuning. The low end is even better but the other frequencies right up to the crossover cutoff now match the lowest freq. Response is very flat now. I've turned the subwoofer control on the nav down 3 notches to match the old output and even though it sounds just as loud, for some reason it's not as fatiguing on the ears when turned up.

I'm pretty sure I was getting some nasty cancellation because when I popped the trunk the bass would get louder. Now when I pop it, the bass goes away a little.

Unfotunately trunk space is now 0. I'm going to have to figure out an easy way to change positions of the subs when I want to carry something but for the weekends when I want to drive and hear good sound quality it makes it totally worth it.

 

I'm sorry, but what is GN stand for?

 

GN = Grand National?

Do you have Dynamat in your trunk? I have a single 12w6v2 pushed all the way towards the back seat and firing up and toward the back on a 60 degree angle and it sounds hella good.

Only difference I can think of is my sub fires somewhat toward the open hole where the factory sub came out of, and I dynamatted my entire trunk.

Edit: Also what's the inside volume of your box? Those 12w6's demand correct enclusure sizes before they sound good.

 

Think of the 1980s Regals, add all black paint with no chrome and a big turbo.

 

I figured it up one time but I don't have the dimensions in front of me but I think each one gets about 1.1 cu ft and it's a sealed box.

 

open the elbox rest and itll sound a lot better. the air needs to come out from the trunk. I have 3 10inch w6's in a vent fiberglass enclosure. the bass is insane. in this car sound dampening material is a must. I had a sealed box for the subs at one point but it wasnt what i wanted...so i made a vent box and its like 3 totally diff subs.

 

Yeah i figured the only place i could put my 15' in the enclosed box all the way toward the seat. Keep trunk space, bass is louder and trunk vibration is minimal.

I had 2 15's in my 93 SHO and it was alot louder, like your GN. I'm thinking the TL's trunk is well insulated in compared to my other car.

I've seen others integrate boxes in corners of the rear of the trunk, maybe that would work for you?

 

Honestly it sounds so much better, I went down to the car and sat there listening to it for almost an hour. There were certain songs the bass never really sounded right on. Lincoln Park In the end, Michael Buble Home, Korn Coming Undone, were all hard songs. Pure rap sounded good. Now it's so incredibly natural sounding and the songs they had a hard time with before sound perfect.

It sounds like a reference speaker but with a lot of punch. Bass is much, much tighter, drums sound more like a 10" sub rather than a 12" which is a good thing, and rap has a very effortless deep sound.

I have now turned the sub control in the nav down 4 notches to balance out the bass. The subs are working way less to make the same amount of sound. Even though it sounds louder now, it's not as fatiguing on the ears. I think that with all the cancellation that was going on, the sound pressure was still pressing on the eardrums, but was not registering.

Another benefit is I think the subs were cancelling out some of the midbass from the Infinities up front. Mid bass and deep vocals are slightly improved.

I'm thinking of making up a track for the subs to slide on with a locking bolt. I'll have them in the very back of the trunk most of the time and when I have to carry something I can easily slide them to the rear.

Also, armrest is open. Before it didn't make much difference because the box had a nearly airtight fit when pushed toward the front of the trunk. It now makes a nice difference when open.

Sorry for the long post but this made a huge difference for a free mod.

 

Glad you're happy. That's too much money to spend to not be happy with the result IMO.

Just one thing, however.

Your 12w6's require a min 1.25sf per driver in a sealed box to sound their best. I would bet this is the reason you had to move your box back, as the cancellation was thrown off due to the size of the box. Essentially what you did was shorten the distance the bass has to travel to get back into the car. That coincides with the smaller box.

If you were willing (and have the space) to rebuild the box to about 3sf inside volume, it would sound MUCH better and you would be able to keep it pushed back under the rear deck. The displacement of the drivers will bring the volume back down to about 2.5sf, which is ideal for those speakers. Also, dynamatting will help tremendously with SPL.

 

That's good to know. I would definately do whatever I need to make it sound right. I'll get exact dimensions today just to make sure.

 

I came up with 3.08 ft. This is based on external dimensions so it's not taking into account the thickness of the material or displacement of the subs. I'm thinking it should be really close to the correct size box when all is said and done. The box is divided, subs do not share airspace FWIW. I wonder if I'm just stuck with leaving the box in the rear of the truck for best quality.

Also, stock sub is long gone. Deck is dynamatted as are the doors and under the rear seat. Trunk is next.

 

What's worked the best for me in all my cars is pushing the box all the way back against the trunklid and facing the front of the car. I leave my armrest and ski-pass open. The bass sounds a lot better. It's as if the trunk is acting as a secondary box.

 

something odd a friend told me with sub placement is to place the sub where you sit and listen to it from, then you move around and try to find the best place where you get sound, where you get the best sound put the sub and then you sit in your seat and enjoy

 

Reason is that the sound waves are closer in their sin pattern phases when they are reflected at a close range off the rear of the trunk. Anywere else the waves can cross at undesireable points causing variable levels of cancellation. With the trunk popped or open some of the cancellation wave escapes the trunk therefore loweing the amount of audible cancellation and increasing the bass response that is heard. I used to design stereo systems before getting into turbo and nitrous lol. Thats the only reason I know that. (PS> My ID MAX is in a sealed enclosure facing.......you know where lol!!)

 

Want an example of a GN huh? Here ya go.

http://supraforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=496154

 

Wow, a twin turbo Gallardo, 1000hp Supra, and a low 10 second GN with cold AC. That guy is my hero... and he has a great attitude to boot.

 

blah - you have to be a member to view the thread.

 

Here's what he had to say about his cars. I hope I'm allowed to post this on here.

Originally Posted by VegasSE
Ironically enough, I don't think anyone has ever asked me that. Not kidding. I can give you a little breakdown of the cars, but I'm not sure I can give you a FAVORITE.

The Supra is loud, buzzy compared to the bigger engined cars, and revs to the moon. All of those things give it personality in my opinion. Down low in the rev range it doesn't have a ton of power, but it's respectable and drivable, but when you hit 5000rpm, it turns into a different car. Jeckle and Hyde really. Once the boost comes on it really feels like no other car you will ever feel, and I mean that because the power is so abrupt and comes on so strong. I've given no less than a dozen people what I'd consider to be a REAL ride in the car, and every single one of them has said it is, without question, the fastest street car they have ever ridden in. Nobody yet has had the courage to attempt to drive it. The power comes on like a freight train, the rear squats, and the car takes off like a jet. I've honestly never driven a car that goes from 50-180 as fast as this car does. A TRUE 1000+ whp Supra is a car that every true enthusiast should drive at least once. Other cars may turn faster 1/4 mile times, but that range of 50-180 is like nothing else you will ever feel. I've loved these cars since I first laid eyes on them in 1993, and I can still vividly recall a dream I had about a decade ago where I was driving a turbo Supra and how wonderful it felt to drive the car. I woke up from that dream, reached for my keys to take it for a spin before I had even fully woken up. Then I realized that in reality I did NOT actually own one. The feeling of gutting disappointment I can still remember to this day, and it feels pretty damn good to be able to have the same dream now, magnified by 10, and be able to go drive the type of Supra that just about anyone who likes the cars would be proud to own.

The Range Rover is a perfect everyday car, except of course, the gas mileage. The car is sedate, very quiet, but still handles terrific for a heavy SUV. The 500hp Overfinch package gives it plenty of guts, and honestly, almost everywhere I go people tell me how it's the best looking Range Rover they have ever seen. I hear that at least 5 times a week with this car. It's roomy, decently quick, quiet, looks great, and handles well. What more could you really ask for in a daily driver.

The Gallardo is a whole different beast. It's so easy to drive it's almost boring. With awd and e-gear you pretty much just mash the gas and pull the lever just shy of 8000. It's really that simple. The car handles as well as anything on the road, applies power with ease, and with the V10 and small turbos, the curve is so linear it almost feels like a 600 cube all engine car. It is so much more refined than the Supra it's comical. It's truly a piece of automotive artwork both in refinement and appearance. I call it the rolling tourist attraction because everywhere I drive it I see people taking camera phone pics and snapping photos of it. I can't really express what it feels like to drive a 1000whp, Verde Ithaca, Lamborghini until you really experience it for yourself. People take pictures, drop their jaws, point, chase you down just to honk and give you thumbs up, etc.....I even had a group of hardcore bikers pull up to the car just to tell me how bad ass it was and ask me about 30 questions about it. When it ran on pump gas, I could literally pull into a completely empty gas station with it and within 5 min there would be 10 cars in the lot with people coming up to see the car and ask questions about it. Everyone loves this car that encounter, and it's truly a pleasure to drive on all levels. If you want to meet new people, just drive around in this thing. When I bought it, it was really the physical manifestation of a childhood fantasy. I went out in the garage for a week straight just to LOOK at it and make sure I really did own one.

The Grand National is, in short, the car I always wanted as a kid that I actually knew I'd own one day. Back in Chicago the turbo Buick community is large and strong, and growing up street racing, I was stomped by MANY a built Grand National. I can still recall some of the license plates of those cars and how they were almost mythical on the streets of Chicago. I always wanted one and the bug somewhat bit me again about a year back so I started looking around at the cars, and as the prices dropped and dropped with the miserable economy, I figured it was a good time to buy, so I did. The car you've seen in the pictures of this thread currently sits at around 550-575whp and is pretty much a solid 10 second street car with cold a/c, can be driven in the daytime in 110 degree heat, and rides very well. I've also made it MUCH more refined with a ton of suspension work, etc.....This car will eventually have an all aluminum TA blocked engine that will make around 800-1000whp in slightly detuned trim and be very civil on the street, but should run VERY low 9's. Right now, it's just a great car, fast, civil, comfortable, and outside of the Gallardo, it gets the most looks of any car I own. Young guys, old guys, ladies, etc......everyone who knows cars respects a cherry Grand National. I love this car, and I love when people come up to me to talk about the car. It's VERY different than the Lambo which is a car 99.9999999% of all people will never even ride in much less own. With the Grand National, they come up to you like you are a long lost friend or in some way helping them to teleport back to 20 years ago when they either owned one, or were just like me, getting their tails kicked by the "mythical" Grand National.

The race car I have yet to run yet. It has quite a bit of work until it's ready to go, so you'll have to stay tuned for the report on that car.