JL Stealthbox Opinions

["Paul Elliott" <pelliott@xxxxxxx>]

>>You can't get the bass of a
more powerful and accurate sub cause you are only using IB4's in that
stealth box.  It's a lousy sub for the money.  If you can afford 70lbs of
readily removable weight (great for the snow) and the lose of some trunk
space, get the sub/box setup.

You're going to kill your imaging without any speakers in the rear.  The
stock front woofer is to low and out of the way for the best staging....try
and keep the rears for reflection off the rear glass.<<


I've just got a couple of points I wanted to make re your comments.....Those
of us with E36s have a bit of a dilemma...Unlike many Japanese cars, our
trunks are unusually tight, and this presents real problems for the
transmission of traditional bass from trunk based subs.  I went with the 2
Stealthboxes in my M3 after a competion winning installer told me its just
too difficult in these cars to get the trunk based sub-bass into the cabin.
Alot of folks have to resort to plowing holes in the rear deck, or driving
around with one or both of the rear seats down, or leaving the rear deck
speakers out, all in an effort to transmit the trunk-locked bass.  I
disagree with you about the twin stealtbox arrangment...First, with a good
and powerful front stage and amp, many of us never miss the rear fill, and
moreover, feel IT more than anything else kills our staging.  I've got a
Kenwood Excelon Head Unit and 4X75Wrms amp driving polk DX components up
front, and the rear stealths with 300 watts bridged, and while the entire
system only cost me $1600, I think I hit a sweet spot in deriving excellent
quality sound for all kinds of music, from classical, to trance, to rock, to
jazz.  I can make these subs hit so hard they will kick a hole in your
chest, or, can make them play excellent mid bass, and everything in between.
They're very versatile speakers, which in a car this size, are an excellent
solution, without sacrificing your trunk.  I dont doubt that other JL Audio
subs in a more traditional configuration, bigger in size, may ultimately
provide more or fuller  bass.  But I think you came down a bit hard on what
has proven to be an excellent solution for what is often  troublesome car to
find good sound in.


_____________________________
Paul Elliott
'99 Alpine White M3  <25000 mi  Forged M dbl-spokes; Rotex pads; Dinan Stage
II Supercharger; Stygar Short Shift kit and Clutch Stop; Skaggs Pedals;
X-brace; Sound by Kenwood Excelon, Polk, JL Audio

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