1 10" sub vs 2 10" subs
1 10" sub vs 2 10" subs i have 2 10" subs in stealth boxes. my car was broken into and my amps and deck were stolen, but police caught the guys on the run and they dropped my stealth boxes with the subs, so i have those back. i am going to eventually (when i move) replace the system with something more low-key. i was really just thinking HU plus a sub at about 500 watts. what is the sound difference between 1 10" sub in a stealth box at 500 watts, and 2 10" subs in stealth boxes wired in parallel at a combined 500 watts?
in light of my car being broken into, if the difference isn't substantial, i might just use 1 sub simply because if the car got broken into again, they wouldn't have more to steal. i know that's a funny way to look at it, but if you get your car broken into and stuff stolen, your perspective changes.
in light of my car being broken into, if the difference isn't substantial, i might just use 1 sub simply because if the car got broken into again, they wouldn't have more to steal. i know that's a funny way to look at it, but if you get your car broken into and stuff stolen, your perspective changes.
One 10" sub with 500 watts rms will have the same Output(db level) as two 10" subs with 250 watts rms.
So if you double the wattage you get a 3db increase in output, and if you double the quantity of subs with maintaining the same rms wattage per sub you also get a 3db increase in output level.
And as far as moving air,you're more likely to physically feel the bass from two subs, since you're actually moving more air.
So if you double the wattage you get a 3db increase in output, and if you double the quantity of subs with maintaining the same rms wattage per sub you also get a 3db increase in output level.
And as far as moving air,you're more likely to physically feel the bass from two subs, since you're actually moving more air.
12 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2005
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i had a mtx stealth box with a new model alpine type r sub with a 350w alpine v12 amp and it sounded really good and clean but now i have a vinyl wraped sub thump 2 12 box and it is louder(2 memphis pr 12's geting 600w total) but not all that much louder.
a really good 10 in a good box with good power will sound better than 2 fair subs with the same power.
a really good 10 in a good box with good power will sound better than 2 fair subs with the same power.
i have 2 mtx subs that are okay. they sounded more than ample with 1,200 watts total. i'm scaling that back to 420 watts and really thinking just one sub will be a better option just because there is less overall power, and it feels a little silly to push two subs at ~200 watts separately. i'm considering a 10w6.
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One 10" sub with 500 watts rms will have the same Output(db level) as two 10" subs with 250 watts rms.
So if you double the wattage you get a 3db increase in output, and if you double the quantity of subs with maintaining the same rms wattage per sub you also get a 3db increase in output level.
And as far as moving air,you're more likely to physically feel the bass from two subs, since you're actually moving more air.
So if you double the wattage you get a 3db increase in output, and if you double the quantity of subs with maintaining the same rms wattage per sub you also get a 3db increase in output level.
And as far as moving air,you're more likely to physically feel the bass from two subs, since you're actually moving more air.
I currently have 1 10" sub running off 2 bridged channels of a 4x50 watt RMS amp...so I'm currently sending a single 10" sub 100 watts. If I add the second sub, unbriged the amp, and send each 10" sub 50 watts each, are you saying I will NOT increase by 3 dB? I'm sending the same amount of power as before, but using 2 subs instead of 1. Or since I'm doubling the subs, using the same total power as before, I'll still see a 3 dB increase since I'm moving more air?
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Verdad Gallardo I'm now getting ready to upgrade to 2 10" subs in my daily driver, so I need clarification:
I currently have 1 10" sub running off 2 bridged channels of a 4x50 watt RMS amp...so I'm currently sending a single 10" sub 100 watts. If I add the second sub, unbriged the amp, and send each 10" sub 50 watts each, are you saying I will NOT increase by 3 dB? I'm sending the same amount of power as before, but using 2 subs instead of 1. Or since I'm doubling the subs, using the same total power as before, I'll still see a 3 dB increase since I'm moving more air?
I currently have 1 10" sub running off 2 bridged channels of a 4x50 watt RMS amp...so I'm currently sending a single 10" sub 100 watts. If I add the second sub, unbriged the amp, and send each 10" sub 50 watts each, are you saying I will NOT increase by 3 dB? I'm sending the same amount of power as before, but using 2 subs instead of 1. Or since I'm doubling the subs, using the same total power as before, I'll still see a 3 dB increase since I'm moving more air?
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: MN
"Thus, the threshold of human hearing (absolute silence) is assigned the value of 0 dB and each increase of 10 dB corresponds to a tenfold increase in intensity and a doubling in loudness."
3db would be an audible difference, but not a 100% increase.
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 92
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From: Virginia Beach, VA
owlpuff- not exactly accurate.
"Thus, the threshold of human hearing (absolute silence) is assigned the value of 0 dB and each increase of 10 dB corresponds to a tenfold increase in intensity and a doubling in loudness."
3db would be an audible difference, but not a 100% increase.
"Thus, the threshold of human hearing (absolute silence) is assigned the value of 0 dB and each increase of 10 dB corresponds to a tenfold increase in intensity and a doubling in loudness."
3db would be an audible difference, but not a 100% increase.
Below is a few facts about sound waves, A and C would relate to power radiating from the source, and B and D would relate to the Pressure that the wave creates.
a) A power ratio of 2 is equal to 3 dB. Conversely, a power ratio of 1/2 is equal to -3 dB. (NOTE: The -3 dB point is often referred to as a "half-power point," as when describing, say, a frequency response curve.)
b) A voltage or current ratio of 2 is equal to 6 dB. Conversely, a voltage or current ratio of 1/2 is equal to -6 dB.
c) A power ratio of 10 is equal to 10 dB. Conversely, a power ratio of 1/10 is equal to -10 dB.
d) A voltage or current ratio of 10 is equal to 20 dB. Conversely, a voltage or current ratio of 1/10 is equal to -20 dB.
pretty picture
Originally Posted by University of South Wales
Experimentally it was found that a 10 dB increase in sound level corresponds approximately to a perceived doubling of loudness.
in the end:
10dB is a perceived doubling of sound, 3db is making the sound wave 2x as big.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,331
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From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
You are correct but most people don't understand the relationship between wave amplitude and perceived volume. Saying it takes 100% more power (watts) to produce a 3dB increase in volume (i.e. each doubling of power produces 3dB more volume) is something they can relate to. A 3dB increase is noticeable but not particularly significant - about the equivalent of one click of the volume **** on most car stereos.
I have a 400 watt 10" in a stealth box and it's great... I mainly got it so I could hear and feel the music above my exhaust when I want. I think anything more would probably give me a headache hah.
I would definitely stick with the stealth boxes though so you still got a spot for the t-tops.
I would definitely stick with the stealth boxes though so you still got a spot for the t-tops.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Valley, AL
lot of talk about subs in a thread where the OP doesn't even own an f-body anymore 
in my experience, the two 10" subs in 2 stealth boxes at 1200 watts was an insane amount of bass for everyday use. in most cases i had the bass set to -2 on the in-dash receiver. i think if you had one sub at 500-700 watts you would find that is more than ample.
i think the reason i posed this question in the first place is because i was so used to having a lot of bass/power that i didn't want to sacrifice what i had before unless absolutely necessary. but in reality, i had a bit overkill in my previous setup.
i think the t-top boxes are overkill too. keep the space for your t-tops, and get a quality 10" sub and amp and tune your system and you'll realize you don't need 2 12"s at 2000 watts.
in my experience, the two 10" subs in 2 stealth boxes at 1200 watts was an insane amount of bass for everyday use. in most cases i had the bass set to -2 on the in-dash receiver. i think if you had one sub at 500-700 watts you would find that is more than ample.
i think the reason i posed this question in the first place is because i was so used to having a lot of bass/power that i didn't want to sacrifice what i had before unless absolutely necessary. but in reality, i had a bit overkill in my previous setup.
i think the t-top boxes are overkill too. keep the space for your t-tops, and get a quality 10" sub and amp and tune your system and you'll realize you don't need 2 12"s at 2000 watts.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Valley, AL
lot of talk about subs in a thread where the OP doesn't even own an f-body anymore
in my experience, the two 10" subs in 2 stealth boxes at 1200 watts was an insane amount of bass for everyday use. in most cases i had the bass set to -2 on the in-dash receiver. i think if you had one sub at 500-700 watts you would find that is more than ample.
i think the reason i posed this question in the first place is because i was so used to having a lot of bass/power that i didn't want to sacrifice what i had before unless absolutely necessary. but in reality, i had a bit overkill in my previous setup.
i think the t-top boxes are overkill too. keep the space for your t-tops, and get a quality 10" sub and amp and tune your system and you'll realize you don't need 2 12"s at 2000 watts.
in my experience, the two 10" subs in 2 stealth boxes at 1200 watts was an insane amount of bass for everyday use. in most cases i had the bass set to -2 on the in-dash receiver. i think if you had one sub at 500-700 watts you would find that is more than ample.
i think the reason i posed this question in the first place is because i was so used to having a lot of bass/power that i didn't want to sacrifice what i had before unless absolutely necessary. but in reality, i had a bit overkill in my previous setup.
i think the t-top boxes are overkill too. keep the space for your t-tops, and get a quality 10" sub and amp and tune your system and you'll realize you don't need 2 12"s at 2000 watts.
