Hey guys...

I'm debating on how to mount my next sub. I'll be building the box... half fiberglass half wood. The most optimal and stealth location requires for the sub to fire forward (spare tire well). the sub will be a single sony 10", the pentagon woofers... i know, i know... xplod is garbage, that's my motto too... but it was highly reccommended by my installer, so i'll take his word

ANYWAYS, forward firing woofers... whats the difference in sound quality? I once tried this with my buddy's caravan... placed a 12" round sony xplod in a ported box to fire forward... the midbass still played well, but everything else sounded like crap. it was like the woofer was working hard but no results could be heard.... Yet when the same setup was set to fire rearwards, the sound was amplified TREMENDOUSLY.

Now... i don't own a caravan... i own an rx7... so the acoustic properties are OBVIOUSLY very very different. The box will be sealed and secured to the frame of the car.

Any advice? I want low frequencies, and very good sound, but i don't want that whole "earth poudning, ground shaking" bass that i once had an affinity for. Just good sound

 

It will sound better in an RX cause the sound will reflect off the glass, but there is no substitute for facing subs towards the rear

 

I'm looking for a more technical answer, specifically referring to standing waves, cancellation, and the natural frequency of rx7's

The orientation of the woofer is obviously very important, and naturally, rear-firing will give the most ground pounding sound. But i'm looking for sound quality. not license plate rattling garbage like i had with all my previous systems in my old rx7. Loud as hell, but inprecise.

 

No, it is most definately not. What is important is the physical placement of the woofer within the interior, and in car response will vary greatly with different positions within the cabin. Once you find your "sweet spot" you'll find you can orient the woofer in any direction (as long as you are not strangling the cone against something) and the response will be the same.