Let’s see some subwoofer setups!

On my 10" sub I am running the Kicker 46CXA400.1 @ 2ohms for about 300 watts RMS. I am barely using the amp for that sub. You will have more than enough power as long as you are not trying to blow the doors off the truck. I listen to all kinds of music from Rock, Country and EDM. I like accurate, clean and tight bass. Like I said it has been a bit of a challenge to get it right with my thrown together box and combination but I am close enough for now. As far as quality of the sub, the sub in your truck should be fine for years. Its much better than OEM materials, just not higher end material found in a 300+ speaker. As I have gotten older I want good sound but don't want to spend JL Audio prices anymore. I am good with my Alpine components and inexpensive sub. The amps today are so much more capable than they were just 10 years ago also.

 

I think we are mostly on the same page. I opted to not get the JBL system on my Tacoma as it was a $1000 price difference and I figured I could build something better for less. Here I am 10 years later and finally doing it.

I've had a lot more bass in previous vehicles. I'm not looking for rattle-your-teeth bass, but I would like to be able to feel it more than what I currently have installed.

 

Power is the difference between “hearing” and “feeling”. I had a 750w amp on my 2 Sundown Audio SD-4s. Sounded great, but I wanted more, I wanted to “feel” it too. I purchased a 1200w amp, each sub is 600w RMS. Now it sounds great, and feels great too. I only say this because in your last post you said, “ I would like to be able to feel it more than what I currently have installed.”. Think about your end goals, so you won’t be spending money on something twice, like I did.

 

Yep. Buy once, cry once. I feel like I've been doing that a lot lately.

I saw somewhere online that the Alpine 10" will handle 250-600W RMS. I did a chat with Crutchfield support yesterday and they said that it would be underpowered by the amp. So I'm back to considering that Polk, but not fully ruling out the Alpine. I had an alpine type s 10" in my last car and felt it was pretty much perfect. However, I don't remember what amp I was using to push it, nor do I remember any of the specs.

 

Very Nice! How do you like it and what amp is paired with it?

 

I didn’t mean to discourage you, if I did. I think you understand my point though. I didn’t think ahead, and I ended up spending an extra $1200CAD.

 

Ive had it a few years, its a very small sealed enclosure that i have packed with Polyfill. I have it on a small 5 channel Soundstream Picasso Nano

$165 PN5.640D 640W 5-Channel Picasso Nano Class-D Amplifier

PN5.640D. It performs well, very accurate, not too loud. The sub channel is 200w. I just picked up an Alpine PDX-V9 that I will be swapping to run the system for a little more power. This Birth certificate says the sub channel came in at 528w. Im sure ill have to dial that down.

 

Polyfill is one thing I did not do on this box as I wanted to get it in and did not have any left when i did it. I need to get some and pack it as I think that may be causing some of the "boomyness" I am experiencing.

 

Kicker Compart 8"

$160 43CWRT82 Kicker CompRT8 8" (20cm) Subwoofer, DVC, 2-Ohm, 300W

43CWRT82 300 watt RMS dual voice coil 2 Ohm wired for 1 Ohm with a Kicker CXA400.1 amp 400 watt RMS in a custom built box I made using ½" birch plywood filled with poly. The volume of the box is .39 cubic feet, the speaker requires 1 - .2 cubic feet

 

What sub is this? Did you have to modify the tray in any way or did it drop right in?

 

Picked up my Mr. Marv box last week, sooooo nice. Got to see his method for sanding and routing it. Detail work indeed. Fun guy to spend time with.

Anyone have advice on stain to use? Seems like I ought to give it something decent.

He likes rustoleum painters choice flat black for the speaker templates.

 

What subs/speakers/amp did you go with?

For a clear top coat/sealer I like minwax's clear polycrylic. It comes in gloss, satin or matte, but I've only used the satin. I also like their red mahogany, but that's probably way darker than you'd want.

 

Frogs, JL 12T3's and the cheaper JL black amps, though I have a nice 2 channel shiny one for the Tundra and I don't have the sub amp yet.

So you stain and seal? I was thinking just stain? Is that lame?

 

Very nice!

If you don't seal you'd risk the possibility of getting stain on the interior carpet. (Even if the stain has dried.) Also, wood will remain porous until sealed if that matters to you. I'm not sure if that would have an effect on sound quality or not though.

If it were mine I'd just do a clear polycrylic, but that's because I like the way Mr. Marv's sub boxes look plain.

 

Sounds like I will follow you then Thanks for the advice.

Oh, spray, brush or roll?

 

If you're just doing clear I'd pick up the Minwax aerosol spray cans from from Home Depot or Lowes. It's so much easier. For colored stain I prefer to brush then wipe off with a Terry cloth and follow up with the aerosol cans for sealing. Get a respirator if you don't have one.

 

Cans and respirator, will do. Anything special to look for in a respirator? Probably about time for me to get one.

 

Something that filters solvents and oils. I like the 3m half masks with the pink p100 filters (filter cartridge numbers 60923 or 60926). Amazon usually has them when the box stores are out.