Free-Air Sub: sound quality using free air vs. sealed enclosure?
 

I just got a couple Pioneer 8" shallow mount subs to put under the front seats in my subaru, and upon reciving them I came to realize that I am not going to be able to fit a box under there that meets the required minimum enclosure size, but they are approved for open air use, but it also decreases the max power handeling from 500w to 300w, and I was just wondering if anyone knows how big of a difference in sound quality there would be from using them open air, or in a box, because if it is that bad, I will have to come up with alternate methods. thanks. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...es/emsmile.gif

anyone?

Re: Free-Air Sub: sound quality using free air vs. sealed enclosure? (BB6-213)
 

Free air really means "really big box that is not perfectly sealed" the back wave of the speaker still has to be isolated from the front wave with a baffle.
EG; Mounting the subs on the rear deck and using the trunk of a car as the box.

The better the trunk is sealed from the pass. compartment, [rear wave isolated from the front wave] the better the bass will be.

If done properly free air subs can sound very good, if not done properly they will sound like crap and will not last very long. http://is.rely.net/1-92-30009-l-tEzP...BTGi0jOCgA.gif 94

Re: Free-Air Sub: sound quality using free air vs. sealed enclosure? (fcm)
 

^^ what he said. People usually mount free air subs on the trunk rear deck or behind their rear seats. that way the trunk basically becomes the box for the subs. Using a free air sub to mount under your seat, it most likely isnt going to sound good at all. Wont hit any tones and will sound flat. If your looking into getting some bass and putting it under your seats, look up Aura Bass Shakers. Those things are impressive. Perfectly fit under your seat and hook up an amp to them and it sounds like you have a 10" sub under the seat.

Re: Free-Air Sub: sound quality using free air vs. sealed enclosure? (K2sInteg98)
 

You get hardly ANY output out of those pioneer shallow mounts with a box. Tried it with a Porsche at my old shop and was incredibly disappointed.