I would like to build this exact sealed box with one sub and I'm wondering if I should face the sub into the trunk like this guy did, or build that same box with sub mounted forward, up against the back of the rear seats. Thanks.

The box

 

It will sound louder facing the rear.

 

Why is this, BTW? Does the rear-facing subwoofers inject the bass notes into the chassis and use the chassis as the "speaker" per se?

 

First I'd like to say, that setup looks really bad. Sorry but it does.

2nd...What do you want out of it. Typically Facing the sub toward the rear toward teh trunk lid will make it about 3 db louder which the human ear thinks is twice as loud. This is because of the sound wave bouncing off the rear and being able to grow longer. This usally in cheaper cars, does result in some rattle without sound deadning.

Facing the sub into the seat usally makes the bass tighter, more crisp and more acurate.

This is off course without any real planing or tuning...both can work for what ever you want.

 

I had 2 JL 12s facing the trunk and it pounded hard. When I fliped them around facing the cabin of the car I found I lost alot of bass but it sounded tighter. I prefer facing the drunk especially after the Dynamat Xtreme.

 

If you really want to find out which way to face subs, you should just test out each position like the guy before said. Find out which positions sounds best for you.

 

what about sideways?

 

Well I would do that, but I'm trying to save room so I am building a box that fits tight up against the angle of the back seat and I would rather not build it with a sub on the front then rip that off and try it the other way and try to figure out which sounded better. From what I've read here I'll probably face it into the trunk.

 

my 2 12" L7's are louder (Db measured) when facing towards the seats

i dunno, its all personal prefrence

 

I can't belive you picked that as your screen name.

 

.. .

 

a name is a name homie....

I personally like my subs facing the trunk. It seems to hit harder that way

 

I had 2 Infinity 12.1 Perfects facing into the rear seats, then turned them to face the trunk. I got a pretty big increase in the amount of bass. The bass was more loose but deeper and louder.

 

I think from what I have read in my MECP certification class that it is much more in depth then personal preference.. It also is going to depend on the frequency of the box and sub that you are using.. It will take a lower freq longer to "mature" rather then a higher freq.. Facing the sub back gives the wavelength more room to travel and grow before registering to your ears (distance from the sub to the back of the trunk, and then the distance from the back of the trunk to the front of the cabin) which could be essential for a lower tone to sound to it best potential.. If your box is tuned to a higher freq facing the box in might be the key, because the wavelength wont need much space to grow..

Another big part is your cars resonant freq, which I am still trying to fully understand!

 

face them front or back is up to you, but I LOVE the way this install looks
http://maxima.theowensfamily.com/audioinstall.html

 

i like how it looks, face it towards the back

 

After seeing a few threads about whether to face the sub toward the rear seat or toward the trunk, i decided to go out and try it for myself. with my subs facing the rear seat, the bass seems tighter and less boomy, more accurate when i play my trance stuff. With the subs aimed at the trunk, bass is a little more loose, boomy, and a bit louder.

 

a cars resonant frequency is indeed a tough subject...

http://www.eatel.net/~amptech/elecdisc/rattling.htm

 

bass is omnidirectional, but for some reason facing the rear will sound best if you are inside or in front of the car..