Thread:

10's or 12's

Alright guys, I need your advice. I just installed my infinity 6.5s last week with a 600w amp and they sound great. I just returned from getting quotes for 2 subs and another amp to push them. The question is 10's or 12's. The salesman was saying I will get better sound from the 12's but I dont know about cutting 2 holes that big under my back bench seat. Is 12's too big or should I just suck it up. I am no ghetto banger, just want good music I can hear at full throttle. What do you think?

Put whatever fits best, 2 quality 10's with good power will be plenty loud. I run 1 12 under the driver console in my boat, and it's almost too much, a 10 would be just fine. It is in a ported box with over 1000 watts though.

I was really leaning to 2 10's with about 500 watts pushing them. I just think 12's would be too big. Thanks

one 10' with good power would be good, and you wont have to cut 2 holes lol. but i would go with 10's they sound great and if ur not "ghetto" bumping then thats gunna be enough...

I know everyone has an opinion on what "good power" means, is 250-500 watss enough?

Depends on the subs and enclosure. If the boxes are sealed, you'll need a bit more power, up to what the subs are rated at. If the box is ported, you can probably get away with a little less and still get plenty of bass.

Which subs/amp did you have in mind? Budget? Maybe we can throw some suggestions your way.

I am trying to keep the package down to around $500. The shop I went to said they will install it for free it I buy it from them. Right now I am looking at Rockford Fosgate Punch Marine M110S4 subs. Still looking for the right amp to go with it. But I am always looking for advice.

Do you know if they plan on building any sort of enclosure? Or just free air under the rear seats?

The Fosgate power series amps are good, but are a bit more money. The T500-1bdCP would be perfect, but is in the 300-400 range by itself. Alpine MRP-M500 would be ok for the money, more in the 150 range.

Those subs are rated at 200rms at 4ohm each. So figure the amp needs to either put out 400rms at 4ohm (wired in series) or 400rms at 1 ohm (wired in parallel) for max output...... so 150rms going to each sub (300rms total) is probably enough to sound decent without worrying about smoking them.

Right now I think they are going free space. The area under the bench seat is pretty much inclosed with only the seat top as an opening. The T500-1bdCP inst too bad. It is only 279 through sonicelectronics and the Alpine is 179. I knew I could get pointed in the right direction. I think I will try and go with Rockford T500. Will free space be enough? Thanks for all your advice.

Cool, those Fosgate power series amps put out some decent power, I installed one a while back to a couple Kicker subs and it pounds. (The 1000 watter) But it's build sheet actually showed increased output compared to what's advertised. I wasn't thrilled about the newer Fosgate stuff until I put that one in. Pretty impressed.

Have them install it in a way you can build a box in behind it if needed. In case you don't care for how it sounds free air. But most likely it will probably be ok.

Seat bases are the WORST place in a boat for subs. Boat manufacturers and installers only put them there because its easy. 1 decent 10" sub in a properly designed and built sub enclosure inside a mid cabin or closed bow will out perform 4 free air 12's in seat base.

I would love an inclosed but with my mcob, I dont want to clutter up space. Any sugestions?

You got to have some room in there somewhere! In the mid cabin? Footwells? Do some measuring and see what you can fit.

Vented enclosure only calls for 0.80 to 1.25 cu ft per sub, sealed 0.35 to 1.25 cu ft. Probably get away with 1 vented sub.