Subwoofer Performance Question

I'm planning on installing a small powered subwoofer (Sound Ordnance™ B-8PT) behind the passenger seat on the driver side. In most cases, I expect I will not have the seat folded down while driving.

Is the performance of the sub impacted by not having the seat folded down? I may be out of my mind, but intuitively, it seems like having the seat up would be blocking the sub. If there is some performance drop, roughly how much of a difference would it be?

 

I dont know much about this but I've read on here that bass is a non directional sound therefore something can be in between you and the sub and sound the same as if there was nothing between you and the sub.

 

True bass is felt, not heard.

 

This ^^.

FWIW, I installed my B-8PT under the driver's seat of my truck and am very pleased with the result.

 

Seat up of down does matter. What you hear is compressed air it also depends on the box you have and or using. Get a ported box.

 

The B-8PT is a self-contained unit. No box is required.

 

I've been thinking about this all night... If the seat is folded up, there isnt a free path for the compressed air of the subwoofer to follow. The seatback equates to putting your hand on the sub when it is playing. By my logic, the seatback MUST be muffling the sub.

In almost every build I've seen, the plastic storage bins are removed. I haven't seen it discussed, but one of the reasons must be to create an opening up by the headrest.

This might all be obvious to many of the veterans to this forum, but I'm pretty new to all this. I'd love to hear what you all think.

 

The plastic bins are removed in order to have a box with enough volume for the woofers. If your mind was already made up, and not willing to take peoples advice or thoughts, why ask the question in the first place?

 

I can't comment on this exact situation dealing with your truck, but I had a 10'' pioneer in my old saturn and it sounded a hell of a lot better when I had the back seat folded down. So I think you would notice a difference in sound with the seat folded up. If the sub was really powerful it wouldn't make a difference, but mine was only 150w rms so it didn't have the power to get through the back seat...

 

If you keep the high pass of the sub around 90Hz you won't be able to locate the sub in the cabin and I don't notice any difference in performance when my seat backs are up or down.
Edit: I should add that I have 2 8'' Polk Audio MM840's behind the rear seat of my '01 double cab.

 

Zackly, one should not even be able to tell from which direction bass is "coming" from.

 

My mind isn't made up. I'm also considering installing the sub under the driver seat. However, this isn't my first choice because the fit looks pretty tight and I expect passengers would kick it from time to time.

My preference is to simply install it behind the drive side passager seat without removing the plastic bin. There is actually plenty of room inside the bin, which brings me back to my original question. I'm wondering if the subs performance will be compromised if the seat is folded up. Based on some comments, there may be a problem, while others don't see an issue. The verdict is still out and I'm grateful for all the comments.

 

How did you get that under the seat? I have an amp under the driver's side, so I was going to install my B-8PT under the pass. side, but I think the bars under the seat hit it.

Pics would be awesome if you can do it.

Sorry for the hi-jack!

 

Yeah, what is the deal with that bar? Why only on the passenger side? I've read somewhere about people taking it out or flipping it upside down so it doesn't get in the way.

 

Good idea...I think. I'll have to go investigate. I thought I searched pretty well, but maybe I'm slacking!

Right now mine is just wedged in behind the drivers rear jump seat.

 

Been doing yard work all day, so just seeing your request for pics now. (Sorry.) Will try to take some in the next couple of days. In the meantime, I note that you're in a 2nd Gen. The seat configuration MAY be different than my 1st Gen, because the B-8PT fit under my driver's seat like it was made to go there.

 

Oops, didn't notice you're a 1st gen. On my 2nd gen., there is a bar across the bottom of the seat that prohibits the sub. from fitting there. I actually concidered install some 1" square tube under the seat mounts. I just didn't know if a side impact might tear them free with the added leverage. An actual box might need to be built to do what I'm thinking..

Sorry again for the hi-jack, I'll check these thoughts in other threads.

 

Proceed with caution if you mess with the bar under the passenger seat. From what I've read, it serves some function in enabling the passenger airbag.

 

Noted! I try to do my research before messing with stuff I know nothing about!

Hanes book and TW to the rescue!

 

Haynes repair manual-worth their weight in gold.