More bass with window open

Capital_M · Post by **Capital_M** » Sun May 27, 2007 3:05 pm

What does this mean, and is there anyway of fixing the problem?

I have my sub pointing towards the back of the trunk in a cat where the seat cannot fold down, its a 4 door car btw

Phoenixcolt · Post by **Phoenixcolt** » Sun May 27, 2007 4:57 pm

Having your window open probably eliminates some of the bass cancellation you hear with the windows closed. This is at least one reason why we sometimes hear our bass louder with the windows open.

With the windows closed, you get the wave moving from the sub toward the front of the car and that wave will reflect off of your windshield which may clash with the new bass that hasn't reached the windshield yet and probably cause some cancellation.

The open windows allow the wave to keep moving forward out into the world. There won't be as much cancellation because the wave has a place to go rather than reflect right back at u and the oncoming wave. The windows closed will keep more of the bass inside and make it a lot easier for that cancellation to occur.

Sometimes changing the subwoofer phase can help this. If you have a headunit with phase adjustment it is convenient but you can also try just reversing the pos and neg for the sub on the amp.

I am not the most acclaimed technical source : ) but I hope this makes sense.

Capital_M · Post by **Capital_M** » Sun May 27, 2007 5:39 pm

Wow, thats great! My HU doesnt have that, but I'll try switching the pos and neg on the amp

Post by **smgreen20** » Sun May 27, 2007 7:10 pm

It'll tie into the vehicles resonant freq as well.

brenzbmr@sb · Post by **brenzbmr@sb** » Mon May 28, 2007 1:09 am

think of your car as a bandpass box........

when opening your windows your changing the tuning of your box(cabin)

Capital_M · Post by **Capital_M** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 8:28 am

Ok so I FINALLY have some time for play around with the system today, its very loud, but there is a huge difference in bass with the windows down, huge.

So before I go digging fo rmy amps, would changing the polarity do anything?

Mackenzie · Post by **Mackenzie** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 8:36 am

This is how most systems are. Not much you can do to get around that.

Post by **fuzzysnuggleduck** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 10:36 am

That's why you're running an LPL, right?

The LPL is such a great little thing.

Capital_M · Post by **Capital_M** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 1:44 pm

its at max or full amp power, i was told all it does is turn down the bass

Post by **AVICJR** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 2:03 pm

Capital_M wrote:its at max or full amp power, i was told all it does is turn down the bass

And the gain is all the way up?

Post by **stipud** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 2:04 pm

I'll tell you a little secret then... turn your gains up, and keep your LPL down low. That way you can adjust the LPL as a sort of remote gain. So long as you are VERY careful with it, and don't turn it up beyond the woofer or amp's capabilities (i.e. force it to clip), then you can get a huge boost on quieter songs or when your volume is down.

Capital_M · Post by **Capital_M** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 3:03 pm

Ah that sounds great!

What does clipping sound like? Is it just distortion? or would the bass cut out?

Post by **AVICJR** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 3:05 pm

Capital_M wrote:Ah that sounds great!

What does clipping sound like? Is it just distortion? or would the bass cut out?

Distortion, or "farty" bass notes.