which way to fire sub?
 

i've got a single jl 12" that i plan on putting in my tc, but i was wondering which way to aim the box to get the best/loudest sound. i know i could just build the box and try different ways, but i was also thinking of building a custom box (vs. following the jl specs).

i know it's going to be a ported box because of the type of music i enjoy. i had two 12s in my 4runner in a 4 cu. ft. ported box firing towards the front - and it was a heck of a lot louder than firing them in any other way.

so what have you guys tried? fire up/ fire down/ fire to the side/ fire towards the front/ fire towards the back? i've been all the way through the "show your system" thread and have seen all different ways, but i just wanted a bit more perspective. maybe some folks have it one way and wished it was another.

thanks!

I've tried these with good results:
sealed facing rear or the upwards toward the glass, for ported, sub/rear-port/rear, sub/rear-port/sideways, sub/up-port/rear.

sealed box for me

firing upwards was a bad result

firing rear towards the tail lights was the best for me

I also had a ported box and firing to the rear was best for me

Re: which way to fire sub?
 

Too bad those two traits are sometimes at odds. If "best" also means "loudest" (it does to some), then it shouldn't be too hard to figure out, you just need an SPL meter. If "best" means the smoothest or flatest response, then that may not be the loudest location or orientation, but you'd need to do some RTA to determine such.

Otherwise, I think you're simply going to get subjective opinions based on casual listening, which is ok if that's all you're asking for.

i Have a ported Kicker L5 in the Kicker Ported Box and i have it aiming towards the hatch/tail lights and sounds the best

yea... i figured enough folks have tried it each way. just thought i'd see what people's opinions were. i don't think i really care to care the best spl or sql at the dash, just what preferences were.

if i build a box according to jl specs, the i could face it pretty much any way i want, but i've toying around with the idea of playing with fiberglass, which will one get positioned one way. =]

Ported, sub and port up was better than sub and port back.

Sealed, can only do sub up but it works well.

Btw, I never tested on a mic, did it by ear so results very well could be flawed.

last box fired like this, at a slight angle, parallel to the hatch glass... https://i111.photobucket.com/albums/...q/IMG_1782.jpg

current sub fires like this, to the side... https://i111.photobucket.com/albums/...q/IMG_2337.jpg

the first box i could really onlt do either straight up, straight back, or slightly angled(parallel to the hatch glass. it sounded best firing and loading off the hatch glass. the main reason i didn't like it straight back was because of all the extra rattles it caused.

the new box is obviously small enough that i could fire it any direction i pleased. the best result after trying everyway possible seems to be on the left side, firing to the right. sounds great AND had great output there, the best of both worlds.

i fire my type-e towards the back with a closed box. i have the stock deck setup on xa. if you listen to hip-hop it sounds great you get nice clean bass when you want and you can always crank it up if you want to disturb the peace. i tried fire them to the side and towards the front but i didn't like it. for some reason it sounded like the bass was uneven firing it any other way.

like others have said it really comes down to what sounds the best to you.

thanks everyone for the replies.

i'm thinking i may just build an mdf box to jl specs and try it out. maybe i'll play with fiberglass after i figure out which direction i like best.

thanks again!