Author Topic: free air subs  (Read 4422 times)

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Offline STU84W

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free air subs
« on: Jul 30, 2005, 06:13PM »
i've just bought a pioneer 10" free air sub... and i've put it in a ported enclosure, and it sounds alrite... but i'm wondering two things...

1. will it sound better being used in a free air application
2. will having it in a ported enclosure damage the sub?

thanks guys
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Offline Sticky

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #1 on: Jul 30, 2005, 06:52PM »
basicly 1. no, 2. No, personally free air subs sound sht no matter what you do with them, can i ask why you bought one, if you were gonna use it in a box??

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Offline STU84W

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #2 on: Jul 30, 2005, 07:02PM »
stupidity really... i didn't realise that a free air sub was specifically designed for a free air system, i thought it was simply an added feature of the sub that it had potential for use in a free air system without damage

but now i know that it doesn't damage my sub, i'm more than happy to just leave it in the box... it was only $75, so yeah... for the price i paid, it sounds alrite... i don't really have anything to compare it to... its my first sub set up
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Offline ashman01

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #3 on: Jul 30, 2005, 07:19PM »
Neva really looked into free air subs b4. I just no that subs sound like shit if u dont have them in a box.

I will be asking ssstick for info on this tomorrow.

u better be ready for lotsa questions.

Offline Jono

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #4 on: Aug 1, 2005, 12:02AM »
I just no that subs sound like shit if u dont have them in a box.
Hehe me too...

*Mental note: build sub box ASAP*
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Offline Dano Da Bomb

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #5 on: Aug 3, 2005, 02:12PM »
i got a 12inch free air sub and i didn't care i just put it into the box anyway. Sounds OK. it was just a cheap sub till i can afford better ones.  ;D
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Offline STU84W

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #6 on: Aug 3, 2005, 03:02PM »
heh... same... i got my friends 10" ported box when he upgraded to a 15", and this free air pioneer was only $75, so yeah..

i'll get the pioneer grill to pretty it up a little...
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Offline Dano Da Bomb

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #7 on: Aug 3, 2005, 03:05PM »
lol thats the spirit  ;)
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Offline Rake

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #8 on: Aug 5, 2005, 11:33AM »
Whats the difference between a 'free-air' sub and a normal one anyway? I think it'd be a lot better to know some facts and have a little more info than mere statements like "free air subs are shit".

- What are the pro's and con's of each?
- What purpose was each type of sub designed for? (Eg, cars, home theatre systems, large open areas, etc)
- Similar to the last Q, what should be used for different kinds of music, and/or specifically in a car?
- How should each be used in their respective circumstances? (Enclosures, sealed/ported, etc)
- Overall, which ones louder, and which one produces quality sound?

The sub that came with my TRX seems to be of the free-air variety so I'd be interested in good information to help me plan what I'm doing with my car's stereo setup - whether I can make good use of the sub, or if I should get something else.

Offline weasel

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #9 on: Aug 5, 2005, 12:20PM »
free air subs are designed to be run exactly how the name suggests - without a box, alot of cars come with an optional subwoofer, when they do though they are usually reffering to a free air sub sitting in the parcel tray eg. my dads el fairmont

look at it from a physics point of view, bass is created when large quantities of air are displaced at speed, now a free air sub will need to displace the total air in your car to create the same amount of bass as the little sub and box in your boot (an impossible task)

free air subs usually don't have the power ratings, the cone extension, or the build quality of a typical in box subs

overall go for an enclosed sub over a free air sub any day and you'll be happy

as for what type of enclosure to put it in this is very personal but a general idea is:

Sealed: it's your good all rounder you won't get as high a db rating on certain frequencies but you'll have a larger range of bass coming from the sub/s
Ported: can be very loud but is usually tuned to certain frequencies and outside of it's tuning the bass drops off (or becomes sloppy) very easily
Band Passed: much like ported very selectively tuned to certain frequencies and bass will fall away quicker outside the ranges, great for SPL though

more info on boxes and making boxes can be found >here< i learnt alot of stuff from reading the tutorials on the site particulary "The Myth Of The Magic Box"
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Offline Rake

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #10 on: Aug 5, 2005, 01:39PM »
Sounds like an enclosed is the way to go then.

I'm sure there could be a bit more to that physics idea though.

Though if the sub I have is meant to be enclosed but it's not, hmm. Going to remove it this weekend hopefully and see what I've got.

I want to aim for quality over quantity. Sure, have a stereo capable of being loud so you can crank it a bit if you like, but make music that sounds really good instead of muffled, distorted, rattling, crappy or otherwise bad sound.

Offline weasel

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #11 on: Aug 5, 2005, 03:35PM »
I'm sure there could be a bit more to that physics idea though.

yeah just a little bit more to it than that
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Offline japcrp

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #12 on: Aug 7, 2005, 08:44PM »
one word
crrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaapppp pp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ha ha ha!
yes my plate's say japcrap! but its worth it.

Offline STU84W

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #13 on: Aug 8, 2005, 01:16AM »
hey, japcrp, where did you come from?  check your pm, i still wanna buy that chip off you!
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Offline japcrp

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #14 on: Aug 8, 2005, 11:07PM »
hey, japcrp, where did you come from?  check your pm, i still wanna buy that chip off you!
dude i sent you a message with my bank detales?
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Offline omad

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #15 on: Aug 11, 2005, 12:45AM »
Subs that are supposed to be in a box break if you leave them free-air from over-extending the excursion and smacking the coil against the back of the magnet. Basically going so hard that it shakes itself to death. Free-air subs don't have that ability, or usually the same power or movement. Putting it in a box simply restricts it more. AFAIK the best way to use them is like weasel said: on the parcel shelh, or alternately using MDF behind the rear seat to mount it on.

That's what I understand, anyway :P
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Offline jayjay

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #16 on: Aug 11, 2005, 01:59PM »
ohmad right.
i have 2 12 inch free airs mounted behind the seats . they arent boxed , so when you seal around the back seats it uses the whole boot as a enclosure and i get huge bass out of them .
im actually studying car audio at tafe.
the only problem is that  you will discover more rattles through your car  and you have to watch the air movement doesnt effet the parcel shelf speakers
.
ta  jayjay
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Offline weasel

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #17 on: Aug 12, 2005, 12:02AM »
ohmad right.


hahahahahahahaha when i read this i had to laugh, it sounds like you are a caveman, "omad right, me jayjay" hahahaha sorry jayjay it just made me laugh :P
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Offline jayjay

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Re: free air subs
« Reply #18 on: Aug 30, 2005, 02:14AM »
yeah it was late
me no speaker good english when tired
hehehe
laters
Check it out, it's like this. If I lose, winner takes my happy meal. But If I win, I take the burger AND the TOY. To some people that's more important