Fish Chris

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZA91uQO9VU Granted, that's just one oddball whacko's opinion It seems I have instantly, and totally fallen off of the deep end with dubstep ! Ya' see, being an old guy (47) I was listening to techno (like TechMasterPEB) in the late 80's and early 90's..... But it occurs to me that many of you guys were not even born yet ! No worries though.... Dubstep, IMPO, is just the latest, greatest, 2010 techno of the 10's Just off-the-hook music, for off-the-hook sound systems Whoo Hoo Fish PS, What a great time for me to be getting back into big sound systems !

First off, here's a shot of one of my port tube extensions. I built two {after determining three tuned it just too low to be of much use}. I was cranking it up last night with two port extensions, and it sounded freaking awesome (about 28hz). But then today, on a long road trip, I figured I'd be playing a bunch of old-school stuff without so much deep bass, so I took one off, and through it under my bed cover (raising my tuning to about 31hz). I LOVE how tight they fit on, but how they can be pulled right off, with a little wiggle out at the end, whenever I want to remove them Yea... I know, I need to spray them again. Piece of cake. They only look this gray and blotchy because of the flash.... ......and when I got back into town > Whoo Hoo I got my second set of Polk Audio components I love these things Although they are going to be a PITA to mount them where I want them... Took this shot a few hours ago at Bodega Bay. These guys are just so goofy ...like living cartoon characters ! Watched these guys fighting a grass fire near my house a couple nights ago. Wonder how much these guys get paid ? Peace, Fish

Thank you Freek. And one other thing.... Any time "you think" your $#!+ is just the baddest, most bombastic on the planet (SPL, SQ, or whatever else), all you have to do is go surf the net for about a minute..... and then you will be like, "Who TF is SMD guy" ? F**K ! Maybe I should pick something else to compete in ! LOL Peace, Fish

How many of you are in this same boat ??? > So, now that I've got my new sub box up and running, I've been giving demo's to all of my friends, and enevitably, one of the first things they all come up with is, "Are you going to enter it in any stereo contests" ? Well, I'm flattered that they think my system is nice enough that it might actually have a chance.... But then I have to explain to them that this is "not" an SPL system, and although it might sound loud to them, this is not even close to what many (or even most) of the systems that were built for straight up SPL, put out. So next they say, "But it's so crystal clear".... Uhhhh.... well, again, I'm flattered, but compared to many (or again most) of the systems set up for straight up maximum SQ, my system is not even in the same league as those, either. What I have is a really nice daily driver setup. It's pretty loud, and it's pretty clear > but it's just not in the running for any contests..... Except maybe in the SQL, below 2000wt category.... and since they might have about 3 entries, my odds might be pretty good So what could I win for that ? A shaved ice ? LOL Good thing I'm probably the least competitive guy on the planet in the first place Peace, Fish PS, Funny thing is, if I hit the lotto, my system(s) would still probably end up falling just short of a comp winning SPL, 'or' SQ setup, as I'd still just have to be somewhere in between.

Echo, Probably my favorite new tune > and this, coming from a guy who really doesn't listen to much modern rap whatsoever. Your asking for a chopped and screwed version ??? I dunno.... I haven't listened to it in my truck yet, but just listening to the original MP3 on my PC here, I can't help but think its going to hit really deep, and clean..... No ??? Anxious to find out.... but need to go finish my port tubes first.... Peace, Fish

Right on. That's all I needed Peace, Fish

Thanks guys. Decaf, moving that box would be almost as difficult as moving half dome ! LOL + I like the look of it all on the drivers side... However, when the port extensions are in place, they do, in fact come within a few inches of the passenger side rear door. I never considered that this would add db's, but I can totally believe it. Anyway, like I say, I'm not really a hard-core SPL guy anyway. I still have some SQ tendencies Although my system will never be SQ enough to compete.... Nor SPL enough to compete.... Yet it's still louder, and cleaner than most of the systems in my area. {okay, there are a few loud a$$ fart boxes around here, but I mean, systems that play actual music}. Anyway, going to finish those couple port extensions today. Will add pics to this thread. Peace, Fish

Hey Ray Geeez, I dunno, but that sounds almost too good to be true ! 3db's ? Really ??? It's kind of funny, but I almost always see them pushing aero ports as a great way to eliminate port noise (which is not a problem with sufficient port area, anyway) but I honestly don't remember ever reading about huge gains in db's ? Think I'll have to go back and look into this some more. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oh hey, but anyway, had it been proven to me ahead of time, that a flared port could add significant db's, I actually did flare the 6" pvc port on my last box, myself, by heating up the edge with a blow torch, then forcing it down over (of all things ) a bowling ball ! Worked great ! Here's a pic... but it's kind of hard to see how much it's flared, as I wrapped the 4" or 5" that protruded from the box, with carpet.... Peace, Fish

Chevy, gets some good rest, and eat your wheaties when you get up, and then it will all start to make sense LOL Peace, Fish

94Retta, thank you. Why not aero ports ? 1) 6" aero ports are like $30 each ! Would have been $90 just for my ports ! These cost me $8 each at home depo. Marketed as riser pipes. 2) The masses use aero ports. Whatever the masses do, I almost never do. 3) I wanted to be able to adjust my tuning.... Which, as I explained below, I can, and will. But instead of going from no port extensions, to three of them, I'll probably most often go from one extension, to two of them. I think it's kind of lame to be constrained to one specific port tuning, especially when I listen to so many different types of music. One port tuning does not fit all..... Peace, Fish

Good question, but definately not. What happens, is that when you have multiple ports of different lengths, what you end up with, is the tuning of what the "average length" of those ports works out too. It's right along the same lines as when you have a slot ported enclosure with a slanted face... The top of a port exiting the slanted face, might be 24", while the bottom of it is 32" (just for an example). So theoretically, the port acts as if its 28" long..... And along these same lines > theoretically < I could chop off all three port extensions to 12", and the tuning should be exactly the same, as it will be running two, at 18" each. In other words, not using one of the port extensions will reduce the porting by 18"..... chopping all three of them off by 6", will still reduce the porting by 18" Peace, Fish

Okay, so you might remember my idea, for being able to add extensions to each of my ports to drop my tuning from aprox. 35 hz, to close to 26 hz, in just one minute, whenever I wanted to ? Well, this evening, I went on and cut them, all three at 19", and then made little couplers, with the scrap. So, I was going to sand, and paint them (they are PVC and I want them black) but then I got to thinking, maybe I should test them out first. And so, here's what I found out; When I put on all three extensions, yes, it did, in fact, increase a few of the deepest notes, on a couple of my techno bass tracks > However, it did so, at a pretty big sacrifice, to anything higher, "even other fairly deep bass notes" in those same tracks ! So, I then removed just one of the extensions. Theoretically, this would increase my tuning from 26hz, to 29'ish, or so.... And guess what ? It barely hurt those deepest notes, but it helped the other bass notes in those same tracks a LOT ! Next, I removed another of the extensions, which should have raised my tuning from 29'ish hz, to about 32 hz, and now it was getting really "musical" ! Sure, those deepest notes suffered, but for the most part, the techno bass tracks still sounded pretty darn good, and regular music sounded the best it has with my new setup yet ! > Better even, than with no port extensions at all. So what this all tells me, is that the default tuning of my box (without extensions) of about 35 hz, is a little bit high, meaning that I will probably run one of the port extensions pretty much all the time, for that most musical tuning of 32'ish hz. But if I'm playing some techno bass tracks, (want a deep bass fix) I'll put on a second port extension, for 29'ish hz tuning. In a nut shell, with no extensions the box is tuned a little bit high. All three extensions is just a bit too low. So, I'm going to go on and finish two of the extensions (sanding, and paint) tomorrow morning, and then this phase will be a done deal. Next is adding two more mid-bass drivers (easy) and two more sets of component mids/highs (pita). Fun stuff though Peace, Fish PS, I'll post a shot with one or two of the finished port extensions added in a day or two.

I know theirs a forum section for > "Show off your rides".... and I guess I could go there and try searching... But isn't there a way I can just go straight to a list of members galleries, and click ? {probably right in front of my dum-bass LOL.... But where ? Thanks, Fish

Numbers ? As in DB's ? I'm just trying for a little more mids, to keep up with the rest of my system. I'm not a hard-core SPL guy, if that's what you mean.... nor an SQ snob I'd just like to have a pretty nice SQL system, for a daily driver. I think I'm kind of already there now.... It's just that my new sub set up is putting out more than my current mids/highs, and mid-bass drivers can keep up with. I mean, it's not WAY off.... but I'm purposely being nit-picky Fish

Nobody here has dash mounted speakers that they'd care to comment on ??? Fish

So, I've already got another set of Polk Audio 5 1/4" components on the way.... And I'm going to use the freaking things one way or another ! Personally, I think I can mount them in my dash, without a whole bunch of chopping and hacking.... okay... maybe a little But some of the guys on the truck forum keep trying to talk me into mounting my mids down by my freaking feet, in the kick panels (a total bee-otch to do in the kicks of an F150 BTW !) And they insist that the "PLD" (whatever TF that's all about) will be lousy, with my second set of mids in my dash. (I already have a set in the stock door spots). Now, I'm not a straight up SQ guy.... nor do I think I will ever be. IMPO, having enough power, enough speakers, properly crossed over, and a good balance between subs, mid-bass, and mids/highs, is SQ enough for for me. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So, is having an extra set of mids in my dash just going to wreck the sound of my whole setup ? Really ? Your opinions please. Fish PS, I know some of you guys do these super sweet fiberglass doors, with like 4 mids, a couple mid-bass, and 8 tweets or something crazy..... like space is no object ! I'm envious. But I'm not capable of doing that kind of stuff, nor can I afford to have it done. But one more set of mids in the dash sounds pretty doable....

Well honestly, I just don't think it's going to be that much work, to surface mount them in the dash. IMPO, the kick panels "especially" in an F150, are a really poor choice. For one, my feet have really poor hearing LOL For another, I certainly couldn't put the extra set of tweets down there too ! So that means, I'd have mids at my feet (darn near underneath the dash, in a F150) and the tweets for that set in the top corners of my windshield ? Definitely going to dash mount them. One way or another, I'm going to make them work, and be mounted somewhere up by my ears .....as I'm fixing to order them right now Peace, Fish PS, You mentioned the more common choice > 6.5's..... But i'm not worried about low frequency extension of my mids, as I also run mid-bass drivers (ordered two more last night Oh, and with my Polk Audios, the 5.25's are actually 1db louder than the 6.5"s. Interesting, huh ? Not to mention, I love the set of 5.25"s I've been running for the last 2 1/2 years, so why change up now ?

Red, yes, you are correct. I just saw on another website where a guy was sub-surface mounting some mids there, and he had totally hacked the duct in two, and rerouted the air flow around that spot.... crazy amount of work. But honestly, I'm thinking I don't need to do all that for a simple surface mount. I think I can notch the duct out enough, to let the speaker drop in as far as it has to, then seal the duct back up with aluminum tape or scrap plastic and epoxy, or something. Won't be visible anyway. Peace, Fish

A few thoughts come to mind... First, I'm glad you are going to make a full recovery. Second, sure, you could sue the hell out of the guy.... But have you ever heard the phrase > "You can get blood out of a turnip" ??? The judge could award you $500K..... but good luck ever seeing .50 cents. Third, alcohol fucking SUCKS ! I'd sooner smoke pot. Much less dangerous / destructive. But I quit that a long time ago too. Fish

{I know SM has one, but not sure if he has ever opened up his dash.... did he ever put a system in that ?} Okay, I had been considering dash pods for some 5 1/4" mid ranges..... but I've decided they would be way too bulky, and obtrusive to do that.... So now, I'm seriously considering mounting them in the dash. (note: I have zero problem with hacking on the dash. It's my truck, I can cut it up if I want to LOL} Anyway, I just need to know what is under the dash, in the area I've marked here ? I'd prefer they be mounted in about the center of these two X's, but they could be closer or farther from the windshield if they had to be, to clear anything important underneath. BTW, my mids only need about 2 1/2" depth when top mounted. Anybody ? Much thanks, Fish

Okay, so I need to build some little pods, that fit snug in the corners of my dash, in my F150. These will hold two pairs of Polk Audio components (the 5 1/4"s). But I've never done fiberglass in my life, so I'm completely clueless ! I don't even know where to start ??? Can any of you direct me to some good tutorials, or Youtube vids, that cut the crap, and tell me just what I need to know ? BTW, I'd totally take the easy way out, and buy pre-made pods, for an 04-08 F150 > IF I could find some.... but I sure haven't seen any yet. Figured I'd throw that out in case anyone knew where I might find some. Anyone ? Much thanks, Fish

Much thanks again guys And hey Chris, a special thanks to you for the use of your awesome program ! Not only was it fun, and easy to use, but it's great to be able to show guys the printout, while telling them > "It doesn't sound like it does, just because of some kind of lucky break"...... This $#!+ was calculated ! Heading to the ocean today, for an awesome drive down the Pacific coast highway Whooo Hooo ! Peace, Fish

Thank you Ray..... But plug into a 30pin ? You mean, on the back of my deck ? I'd definately have to take something apart for that.... Like, my dash. Or am I just confused ? Fish

Thank you LA BTW, how do you like your Polk Audio components ? I love mine Can't wait for another set Peace, Fish

Hey BA, well they get really good reviews. {In fact, I need to go post a review on the Parts Express site now, myself ! Not that expensive either. These were $170 each. And I wish you could see the construction quality of these in person ! Nice cast aluminum basket, and close to 30 lbs each. They do actually make a slightly different sub called the Dayton HF series, which although they require a much bigger box (usually fine in home builds) supposedly play even a little deeper yet. Oh, and they do offer a 45 day, no questions asked, money back guarantee, so you could always order one, and see for yourself. That's what I did.... and instead of sending it back, I ordered another one almost immediately Peace, Fish