Since the car audio bug bit me back in high school, I've had several system installed in a variety of vehicles, each time moving up the ladder to bigger and better things.
Started w/ 2 Audiobahn Alum12's with Audiobahn 2800E amp. Loud, sounded good (IMO), turned heads. I still found myself upgrading the system in my next vehicle with beefier subs and amp (from Audiobahn).
This has been the case for the last several years until I've arrived upon my current system, and RE SX12 w/ 2 Diamond Audio 8's, with over 1500w amp output, and bass so loud it hurts.
At what point does one throw in the towel? I realize my system is peanuts compared to others. I honesty feel the tingling sensation I get right at the ear drums when playing certain songs is not safe.
Is anything more a waste? Or is it just for competitions? Just wondering, please throw out your justifications for the uber sound system, and those with > SPL than what I have.
Ask yourself if you're a music lover or basshead. If all you're after is turning more heads at decent comps then there's a whole new world out there. A very expensive one at that. If you're looking for something to expand your love for the sound then consider the SQ side of it and attack it from there.
I'm always reading about those who conquered bass, then came back to the SQ side of the force. Pure sound violence and definition are completely different animals. Ask yourself what you want next.
To be honest I'm a basshead that respects sound quality, and wants to be able to hear when I'm 40. So the further prospects of increased SPL is unlikely. Can these low frequencies damage hearing?
Honestly with my truck it was getting to the point where it wasn't always enjoyable to sit in. The pressure on your ears on those sub 30hz notes messed with me. I know it did 155+ with the windows down at 32hz, so I'm sure it was in the 150s down in the 20 some hz range too. The damage to my vehicle as far as irritating rattles is frustrating, as well as the cost to fix my power windows, sun roof, and other panels. The ringing in my ears as I try to sleep isn't fun either.
I think I'm about at the end of my SPL days and going back towards maybe 1 18 or something. It isn't too much until you get tired or hurt yourself from it
"Is anything more a waste? Or is it just for competitions? Just wondering, please throw out your justifications for the uber sound system, and those with > SPL than what I have."
It's great for the shock value, surprising people and seeing the looks on their faces can be priceless. Aside from it not sounding good and getting you tickets it has it's expensive nature. I do love the feeling of a powerful system though and that's something SQ can't do
i come to point a while back that there is such a thing as too much ...honestly unless ur hearing is going u really dont need any sub more than 1000wrms for daily use (i really want to say 500wrms but i know most ppl wont agree)
u know u have too much when after a few songs banging hard that ur ears r fatigued after 10-15mins ....
x2^ 1 kilowatt is plenty of substage. if you cant get bass to loud for normal listening off of 1k then you have either sh1tty install, sh1tty box, or sh1tty subs, or your amp isint really 1k rms or any of the above combined.
In my day if you 500w you were considered the almighty. We didn't even worry about the car's electrical. Today however when you have ppl running (or trying to run) 1000's or even 10,000+ watts some try to blend SQ with SPL. How do you do that??? Why do that??!! At some point you leave SQ behind and spend more time trying to keep your car together.
^x2 what Paul said. The day I took my subs out was the day I realized that there is no such thing as SPL + SQ. You can have an AMAZING front stage, but drown it out with subs and it means nothing. I was going to run 8k and 2 18s and I decided I don't even need that. 4k is more than enough.
I'm 34 yeard old with a bunch of kids, including a newborn.. A lot of people don't understand why I put so much time and effort into car audio.. I quit trying to explain it to them... I do it because I like it... Always have.. With the equipment available at a decent price, Why not give it h_ell? BUT sometimes, especially recently, The feeling I get when I turn down the bass knob and let my body and ears relax is priceless. It is somjketimes hard to breathe and even see sraight.. When I fiksrt installed this system, I overdid it (overendulged)... For a few days I thought my phone was ringing constantly... Even when I was in the house.. I was releaved when it stopped.
I realized that there is no such thing as SPL + SQ. You can have an AMAZING front stage, but drown it out with subs and it means nothing.
You can have SPL that also sounds amazing to music. Interchangeable slot port boxes are quite easy to make. I know when I plug one of the ports on my box, the music comes alive. It just depends on your install.
Troy, you should have had a gain knob to turn down so the pressure wouldn't have been so much on music lol.
I would turn the subs down to 0 and the bass to -12 and while it sounded nice, and fairly smooth too, it sort of was a waste of equipment not to have it up lol. Honestly no matter how you look at it prolonged exposure to 150+ db music will damage your hearing at some point. Nothing compares to the feeling of your hair moving, your vision bluring, and your chest constricting as you feel the air sucked in and put of your lungs with bass. But a nice balanced sound is so calming and orgasmik in comparison lol.
I had interchangable ports and it was always loud. A 25hz tone that overpowers the mids and shakes the plastic panels is just as irritating as one that does it at 50hz.
Im 15 and i am in the spl stage, winning my first competition 3 months ago, all i am saving up for is a different car and equipment to build myself the ultimate spl vehicle. and im sick of explaning to people why i like bass so much, or in fact car audio, but i just do. im sure ill eventually get into the sq side or car audio
I'm 37. Been out of car audio for........ok we'll just say a few years.
Had the setups in my day. Spent entire Friday paychecks on gear I tried to get installed on that Saturday. Went through prefab boxes one after the other. Learned to build my own and peaked out on a 12" pair of Kenwoods in the back of my 1988 Camaro.
Today, after marriage, two kids and a divorce I'm stuck with my bass at home in my HT setup. It may not be everyone's evolution but it sure was mine.
I'm 22 and getting tired of it. The only people that really seem impressed or to care at all are azzles. I realize if I make that generalization, people are thinking that about me too
nobody can deny when u get ur car & want music u want it loud as u can to impress ppl & just to feel that crazy bass but that only for a moment meanwhile ur fooking up ur ears trying to go louder & louder
i ran a 1 12 1000wrms premier sub in a sizeable box tuned low to about 33hz dropping lower that that too & that had ur voice in my car sounding as if u r in front a fan talking & in ur chest it was pounding so i cant honestly see y ppl need 2 15s with 5k watts of power for daily
what good is too much bass when its uncomfortable to ur ears\body ...these days im running only 2 10s RE SE sealed & its silky smooth blending in bass ...i even have a bass level control ran off to my front seat so i can turn it down if need be ...i only boom if i go to an occasional carshow & i have another box set which i just switch in for that day only & its back out next day after the show ...
.. just too loud to enjoy 
