sub tubes

[luke23]

okay probs asked a few times and ive gone threw the threads and searched it and cant really find the anwser im looking for
so anyways you've probs all seen them, the sub tubes that have a build in amp
they seem good because they dont look messy with all wires and seem easy to set up
but would anyone recomend one? there usually cheaper then buying a sub and amp and all the wireing when you buy it seprate, so they seem like a good bargain but im not sure
so do they put out good bass?anyone happy with the one they have?

[acarmody]

The tube is nothing but a shape, they are all 'active subwoofers' aka they have an amp built in the box.

FUSION Electronics
FUSION Electronics

Same.

What is your budget?

Also they will still have wires running to them (RCA, power, ground, +12v), the only wires you are cutting out is the amp to sub wire.

Shopping Secure - Car Audio Specialists - VIBE CBR12 With Amplifier

[luke23]

yeah thats what im talking about the active subs but no one knows what i mean when i say active sub and i always here them being called tube subs
and yeah i know they still have wireing but you dont have to wire the sub to the amp, plus there pre-tuned and more ready to go
and well as fare as my budget goes ive just heard when looking at a sound system to keep an eye out for specials, and these active subs are always on sale so i was hopeing on picking one up for around 200-300 doller mark which most of them are priced at
and yeah that one you put up with the "tube" design was the kind i was talking about, but the active wedge with the inbuilt amp looks way better

[acarmody]

If there is one thing I have noticed is that companies charge stupid amounts for enclosures, that really aren't always best suited for your wants, since they have to be very middle-ground in space and output. If you have the equipment maybe buy a sub and amp and build your own enclosure, we can help with design.

Also the amps won't be tuned from factory, since they have no idea what your H/U output volts will be, or where you want the crossover filters to be. And the amp to sub wiring is just two wires, both simple screw-down.

[luke23]

aw yeah well then i would probly want the sub and amp seperate, but ive heard if you build your own box it wont sound as good?but thats kind of what i wanted to do is build my own box so it would fit my car better and look tidy

[sweefu]

You can build your own box and have it sounding better than a pre fab box mate.

[HCVP]

Luke, at your price range i'd seriously be looking into used gear. Remember a Commodore is quite a large car. A small output sub will have a hard time playing with any real authority. It would be a different story if you were looking at something to install in a small hatchback or something.

[acarmody]

aw yeah well then i would probly want the sub and amp seperate, but ive heard if you build your own box it wont sound as good?but thats kind of what i wanted to do is build my own box so it would fit my car better and look tidy

If you build a box crap than yes it will sound dodge. You build it nice and tight with no air leaks and the correct specs, and it will make a shit sub in it sound better than a better sub in a shit box.

And agree with HCVP, second hand gear can sometime do you really good.

[luke23]

im just startin to think that if its worth doing its worth doing right so im going to save up more money and do it right the first time
any suggestions? kinda looking for subs with good bass but isnt really deafaning, but yeah i just thought those active subs seemed good

[HCVP]

An active sub is nothing but an enclosed sub with an amp mounted to either the inside or outside of the enclosure. Nothing different than if you were to mount an amp to the side yourself.

I guess the only thing they offer is the fact that they simplify things for people with less experience. There's no need to worry about impedance levels, determining what enclosures are suitable, and then picking out an amplifier.

But in saying that, a lot of the times the enclosures that they are in are usually very basic and nothing more than the minuimum internal volume needed for the sub to operate. The amps are usually of low output offering no head room at all, and in some cases they are simply a bridged 2 channel amp, where ideally a mono block should be chosen.

If your open to the idea of used component, and you list your budget and location, we could put together some options for you.

[luke23]

yeah i was just interested in them because they seemed simple and cheaper then buying everything seperate
and mabey go up to about $500-600 and from the southcoast of n.s.w's

[JAKE-26]

i got my JL sub and an enclosure posted to me off ebay new for $285, which rrp would be worth close to $600, and an alpine mono amp to run it also off ebay second hand but as new condition for $200, worth rrp $430.
You can get some seriously good gear if you search the forums and sites like ebay. just make sure it's legit!
good luck dude!

[luke23]

thanks jake, yeah ive looked for some stuff on ebay but i dont want to pay if its going to be used and something wrong with it