I just purchased one JL Audio 12w6. I need to purchase a box for it and am going for a sealed box. My question is, I know each speaker has a recommendation on the dimensions on the size of the box so must I get a specific speaker box or will any sealed 12" box do? I am sure I will get more umph with the correct size but how much of a bass will I loose if i get a universal 12" box?

 

you can loose alot with the wrong sized box.

go to the JL Audio website. they will have all the information you will need. Just make sure you get a good solid box made out of 3/4 inch MDF wood.

 

So the only way to get the right box is to order from jl's site?

 

no not at all. Anyone can build a box, just go to their website and search for your exact sub model. You will probably have to look in the discontinued section, then you can look at the manual for it. It will give you recommendations for box size and shape. Just make sure that you use quality wood, screw and use wood glue to hold it together, and take the recommended box size to get the box volume. then you can make your box or any car stereo shop can for you.

 

well actually if you go with their specs you wind up with what their designer thinks is a good general sounding box. for me i toss their box calculations out the window and build my own. i know what i want.

but for sealed boxes it isnt going to change that much sealed sounds like ASS IMO anyway. if i was to build a box i would design a ported one.
you get a lot more bang for the buck and effort spent.

 

well looking at your name I can see why you think sealed boxes dont sound "good". You wouldnt think that if you heard a properly built system. Unless all you listen to is Bass Mechanic cd's, a sealed box will be just fine, and much smaller and easier to build right. You can really fuck up a ported box if you dont know what you are doing or what sound you are going for.

But if max SPL is what you are after...a well built ported box will nearly always hit lower and louder than a sealed box.

 

damn, i was settling on a sealed box. should I go for ported?? I can't build my own box, im not that talented. Id just rather put out 20-50 bucks or so for a box. How much would a box built by JL cost anyhow?

 

20-50 bucks would buy you the MDF (wood) and supplies to carpet the box but it wont get you one built. at least not a decent one.
send me a PM and ill help you with it.

 

I just picked up 3 4 x 8 sheets of 3/4 MDF costed about $100CAD, screws, glue and silicone brough it to $115CAD.

Used one sheet to make a custom dual 15, dual ported box for the trunk of the TL. Pic will come soon, I haven't carpeted or fiberglassed yet..

I have personally gone up 5 dbl by designing my own box for my last viechle.. I wouldn't spend any money on a universal box. That's what I was using when I hit 123dbl with my one concept 12.. After making my own custom box (no where near company specs by the way) and a few other tweaks I hit 140.8 with the same speaker and the same amp!!!