Do any of you have the JL Audio Stealth box installed in your Maximas? I may install one myself, but am curious how this setup compares to a "traditional" box with a pair of subs. Specifically, how hard does it hit, relative to a sealed box with a pair of subs?

 

Well, in general, I wouldn't ever expect one sub to hit as hard as two subs. But the purpose of the Stealthbox is to provide a good amount of bass without taking up much usable trunk space. So you'll have to decide if you want good low-frequency reproduction for everyday listening that doesn't require a lot of power, weight, or space, or if you want to win SPL competitions. Our fearless leader, Jambo, has one but has yet to install the damn thing! I want to hear it when he does, and I expect it to sound really good. JL Audio wouldn't make something that didn't sound good, and it has a slot-loaded 10W6, which I know can make a lot of bass. So I'm sure that with 250+ watts, it is more than enough bass for most people. I keep the sub level on my single 12 at 40-50%. Two subs really aren't necessary.

 

Yeah, okay, okay. I've been "given" the go ahead to put the system in after Christmas is done, so I guess it's time to get my act in gear and start figuring out what I want where.

Having listened to Micah's system, I can say that his single 12" is plenty, and I suspect that the 10w6 in the Stealthbox will be fine with the 300 or so watts that'll be going to it.

 

Eh, go to a shop and have them build you a custom fiberglass "stealthbox" with a real sub in it Probably cost you less...

 

How much do you think it would cost to go to a audio shop and get a custom fiberglass "stealthbox" made for my max? I already have a JL Audio 12W0 waiting for a home.

 

I've never priced fiberglass box buildling, but I would guess about $200. Just a guess. Or you can always do it yourself, fiberglass is kinda fun

 

and it would be around $300 to build the box, not including the speaker. Depending on the speaker you choose, it would cost around the same if not more to build one and it wouldn't be as strong as the steathbox. the build quality of those things is bullet-proof..

 

It's pretty well built, too bad it's got that damn JL sub in there...

 

JL Audio and bandpass boxes
hahaha
BTW, if you don't mind me asking Deathwish, how did the Heart monitor work out? Hope all's well.

 

Well, I have nothing against a well designed bandpass, it's just that 99.9% of them aren't well designed... And I don't really have anything against JL either, I just don't see any reason to buy them

Dunno yet, they said it's gonna be like two weeks to analyze it...

 

I'll reply, as an owner of a Stealthbox. Also, just to be 100 percent upfront, I also am selling my Stealthbox (wife got a company car, stuck getting rid of my beloved Maxima).

However, my sense of ethics is that I'll only be 100 percent honest (you can see a few flames from me about JL Audio's warranty service if you visit newsgroup rec.audio.car)

So... now that all my disclaimers are out of the way... here goes...

The Stealthbox sounds fantastic, and if you're into such things, "Hits" very hard. It is at it's best with a good amount of power (200 to 1000 watts), but still sounds wonderful with reasonable amounts (I only had 150 watts to mine). It contains the famed 10W6 woofer by JL Audio, which is generally accepted as one of the best woofers available, great sound quality, and extreme powerhandling capability and output.

Next, the enclosure and fit to the car. It is custom designed to fit into the left rear corner of the Maxima, to the point of people not even knowing it's there. It is also optimized for the very best sound quality (non-boominess, and "slot loaded" to maximize the bass output).

If you're considering 2 or 3 woofers, I'd say you need to make sure they are 2 or 3 woofers equal in status and reputation to the 10W6 to do better. If it's 2 or 3 plain old inexpensive or mid-line woofers, a single 10W6 may well be better.

If interested, visit my post in the "for sale" section for info on my stealthbox

 

Does anyone have pictures of what the box looks like in the trunk of a Max? Just wondering bacause I know what my box looks like I want to see how much less space this really takes up. Also, would this setup cause less trunk rattle as the sub isn't firing into the lid?

 

for a pic, go to this other thread, 7533 here at maxima.org...

https://maxima.org/forums/showthread...?threadid=7533

someone posted a pic of one over there, a better quality pic than the one I have, which is here.... http://lawunet.com/max/images/car_sub_cdchangerr.jpg

As a frame of reference.... I can show people the subwoofer... I open my trunk... and they don't see it until I point it out...

 

So what direction does the sub fire? Does it fire into the middle toward the jack compartment? I must admit that does take up very little room in comparison, but where do you put he amp(s)?

 

The woofer itself (JL Audio 10W6) fires straight down into the floor of the trunk. Part of the installation kit it comes with includes some foam padding, and other miscellaneous screws and such to prevent vibration.

It is what they call "slot loaded", where the enclosure is tightly integrated and becomes part of the car, and all the sound is channelled through the little slot you see in the picture. I'm not an acoustic engineer, so I'll stop explaining how it works now, since I can't tell you all the details. However, the people at JL Audio are, so to make a long story short, it was designed by JL Audio engineers themselves (not some arrogant Car stereo store installer who thinks he knows more than anybody else in the whole world) specifically for the Maxima, it is in the perfect location acoustically for a woofer in a Maxima, and it has some of the best sound quality you'll ever find. I have a friend with 3 10W6 woofers in his car, and the stealthbox sounded better, although technically, I'm sure his could put out more decibels in a sound off contest.

For you folks who feel the need for two and three woofers, though, I'll say that I never reached a point where the Stealthbox wasn't loud enough for me. I found a "bass" CD at Target on clearance for $1.86, so for the hell of it, I bought it. With the Stealthbox, and the bass turned up a bit, I could create the same low frequency high pressure "boom" that you hear from baggy-panted thugs with their neon-kitted low rider Mini Trucks (no offense, some of my best friends drive Low-Rider Mini Trucks... ;-) At one point, while I was still attepting to sell my Maxima WITH the stereo in it, I was demonstrating the stereo to a potential buyer, and my wife who was in the house told me that the car was rattling the windows of the House, 50 feet away. In other words, it's a high quality audiophile quality subwoofer, but make no mistake, it's a seriously bad-*** piece of equipment too.

For a pic of one way to put a big Amp in a Maxima, click here... http://lawunet.com/max/images/car_amp.jpg