Flat/thin Subwoofers or Subs - Info and guidance ?

No input

Or are all the music boys out for the count ?

I am not sure if it that thin, but my Phase Linear Aliante is getting on for one of the thinnest subwoofers around, meaning I can play around with thin boxes . But it is competition standard (SQ orientated, not the loudest thing out there compared to a fair few), and you will be looking at anywhere from £80 for a 10" but I'd spend between £120-£200 (depending on spec/condition (about 3 different types, all have a very similar sound) on a 12".

I can't see them depreciating as Phase Linear is now Phase Evolution, and has sold the rights to the Aliante to Mac Audio, who have modified it (probably to make it cheaper to build (It's £300 new if you can find someone who sells an MA Aliante compared to £500+ of when Phase Evolution/Linear were selling them)). I know I have been offered what I paid for mine.

I would say my box takes up around 150mm of depth as I'm using a double thick baffle, but you can put them near enough anywhere due to working in small spaces (0.6 Cu ft (maybe less) for the 10", and 0.8 for the 12".

Another version is the Alto Falstaff. Same subwoofer, but cheaper and as rare as poor quality wobbly children's play pony curse word.

I'm not an expert but pretty well up on car radio's firstly you don't need a sub. The best thing you could do would be too buy the best quality gear you can for your budget (ebay) fit the biggest component speakers you can in the standard sized door mounts and co-axal speakers in the rear shelves/rear doors. Direct all the tweeters to you ears making sure you keep the rears hidden behind the standard grills for some stealth points. Now the secret to bringing all this together is firstly enclose the rear of the speakers in as much of a box as you can making them into mini subwoofer enclosures and finally amp everything up with an excellent 4ch amp. Have a search on ebay for Audi/Bose speakers you will see little speakers in big plastic boxes, this is what you want to achieve. If you can fit the bose gear into your car then your 99% of the way there.

Yes I always found this to be the best option, My Audi A4 is full of little enclosures in the doors and a 10" sub on the rear shelf it sounds excellent and on comparison my Honda has non of this and sounds rubish!

Thanks for the replies so far guys.

I am not into competition spec, but rather want something that just ups is a bit.

I had a Mitsubishi Outlander on test, and it had IIRC a Rockford Fosgate sub and associated system. That was good, but the Chevy has a typical system you would expect from a family car.
I deffo want more bass and possibly more ooommph...

I just popped into Halfords this morning to get some other stuff, and Ms Grizz reminded me I was looking, they have something where you get a 400w RMS , 1000w max sub, in a box, with wiring kit and amp for £150. or 450w RMS, 1300w max with box and amp for £200.
I am sure in the normal world (not Max Power) that would be enough.

But keep on telling me. Budget is always a relative thing, and I mostly listen to the radio in the car, and get in and out all day, as I am a rep.

More info, pointers etc, much appreciated, Thanks.

My audio gear has been in about 10 of my cars so far, so its not like its a waste of money buying good stuff as you do tend to keep it, i dunno about thin subs though, not something i have ever used, I have a pair of "thumpers" i was given which are designed to go under the seats, they are not speakers but apparently just thump the floor for a "similar" effect, not tried em yet as they seemed a bit daft to me and i was thinkin they'd come in handy for something else, like building a gamig chair or something.

cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUDI-A6-EST-BOSE-SOUND-SYSTEM_W0QQitemZ320330096278QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item320330096278&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301|66%3A4|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

designed right you don't need a sub, honestly all it takes is a little know how and Lexx yes your right 90% of the quality comes from the front the rears are for balance and a bit more bass. In my Honda I have to turn the rear speakers down because they overpower the front components, but my Audi is set up perfect with a really nice balanced sound. 6x9's in the rear shelf are silly because all the sound will come from the back and you don't go to a rock gig and turn your back on it and listen to it.

I have fitted a Bose head unit out of a Honda Accord, Alpine 6CD Infinity speakers all round and a 10" sub which is coming out when I get a 4cd amp.

As said, (being an ex employee I am afraid to admit), I wouldn't go to Halfords. Caraudiodirect is pretty good as are the Talkaudio Classifieds, where are some right silly bargains at the moment.

As for the no sub comment, I disagree. Motorway noise will kill pretty much most of the bass on most systems especially if you have a loud exhaust (and even then, there is only so much a sub can do as well as the fronts. In a car like suggested, rears aren't needed except maybe for ambience (so you shouldn't be able to tell that they are there, hence standard stuff is more than adequate) or for when you have passengers. As said, you don't go to a concert to turn your head around do you? . Most Home Audio systems also focus on the front more rather than the rear for this very reason.

As for the Audi/Bose systems, I would (as would some others in this thread) say that they are nothing special, and are generally rebadged Philips. And nowadays, an increasing number of the so called top end installs don't even use enclosures (but this is also down to what you use equipment wise.)

What's the budget? With the recession, good quality gear is dirt cheap.

And another thing, ignore Max power ratings, they mean nothing, and work (unless they are guess out of air (as they are with the cheaper gear) on unrealistic assumpmtions (100% efficiency, which as we know is near impossible in anything). Considering that even the most efficient amp these days is around 80% that should tell you something .

There is alot of confusion as to the origins of Audi hifi's, My headunit it the Audi Symphony II which is made by Panasonic, the Bose element comes by way of a processor and speakers, as for it mainly being Philips, is that bad? Not at all, its all down to sound quality, motorway noise can be reduced by sound deadening. I hate the idea of a sub box in the boot. Using rear speakers are essential if you don't have a sub because you can tune them to enhance the bass not the mids/highs.

I mean granted you can get alot of impressive performance from subs amps etc. But sometimes all people want is a nice sound and an empty boot.