free-air sub WANTED. very few out there?

BrentC5Z

I've only found JL marine subs stating they are for free-air use. Does anyone have more for me to choose from?
Thanks in advance.

Brit Rider · Posted: Feb 29, 2008 3:36 am Post subject:

Wetsounds.com Cool

Goochy · Soul Rider Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Posts: 470

WETSOUNDS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! X 2 .. GREAT STUFF Mr. Green

jonyb · Addict Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 844 City: Paducah

Or Clarion Marine and Kicker marine.

I've had a pair of clarion marine 10's in one boat and 4 Kicker KM10's in the last one. The Clarion's sound pretty good for the price.

BrentC5Z · Posted: Mar 01, 2008 9:10 am Post subject:

Thanks for the feedback.
jonyb, Kickers are not free-air according to their website.

I contacted wetsounds, they are very reasonably priced. I would rather not skimp on $ and get what sounds good the first time. There's nothing worse than saving a little money, then replacing them later.

Brit Rider · Posted: Mar 01, 2008 11:36 am Post subject:

Brent87LT1, I am a Kicker dealer and so am always wanting to plug their stuff - but you are correct, for your application the KM10 would not work well at all. It needs a sealed box to really punch.

jonyb · Addict Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 844 City: Paducah

According to this: http://www.kicker.com/06/tech-support/manuals/manuals/2006/2006%20KM%20Sub.pdf

Infinite baffle or free-air application will work. Sure, it'll sound better in a sealed box, but that goes with any other woofer, not just Kicker.

Brit Rider · Posted: Mar 02, 2008 1:41 pm Post subject:

jonyb, Sure it'll work, but it would not be money well spent unless its getting boxed. The Kicker KM10 sealed box is great if you've got the space; otherwise the Wetsounds unit will be a better way to spend the money Very Happy

jonyb · Addict Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 844 City: Paducah

I completely agree. I was just posting what was available.....

BrentC5Z · Posted: Mar 03, 2008 1:13 pm Post subject:

jonyb, thanks for the link.
Apparently, all free-air subs will work "best" in a sealed enclosure. I can pick up a KM10 for half the price of a Wetsounds sub. I would hope that for the price difference, the wetsounds would be considerably better.

Brit Rider · Posted: Mar 03, 2008 2:40 pm Post subject:

Brent87LT1,

I have Kicker in stock now and will have the wet sounds stuff within 4 weeks so if you can wait that long I can provide some back to back comparison... but all the figures and other opinions I've heard tip the wet sounds as superior -I'm stoked to try them out!

BrentC5Z · Posted: Mar 03, 2008 4:44 pm Post subject:

Don't know if I can wait that long, but who knows. I had to replace my water heater this past weekend, that kind of drained the audio budget for a couple of weeks.

Please keep me posted. Kickers are made right here in my home state & I have a friend who does the special projects for them. Sort of biased, but still want the best product.

jonyb · Addict Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 844 City: Paducah

Don't forget about the Clarions. I think they're a little cheaper than the Kickers... I did an install in a Baja 35 Outlaw with 2 Clarion 10's and a JL Audio 500/1 last year. They sounded great in that boat under the rear seat with no enclosure. They can't just be out in the open though. In the Baja's, the rear couch is completely closed in. Not sealed, but closed....

mneal · Outlaw Joined: 28 Jun 2003 Posts: 120 City: St. Petersburg

I had a Clarion in a free air application and got a deal on JL Audio to replace it with. New sub sounds way better, more power hungry then the Clarion but much cleaner sounding INHO.

Slope · Criminal Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 67 City: Muscle Shoals

I had 2 Kicker Marine 10's free air applied and they sounded good..you are not going to "beat the block down" with them..but as long as you properly power them you are going to have a good sound...

jonyb · Addict Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 844 City: Paducah

I heard 1 Wet Sounds 10" woofer today on a baffle under the helm of a Tige, and it was pretty impressive. The sub channel of a Kicker ZX700.5 was pushing it....

BrentC5Z · Posted: Mar 12, 2008 7:11 am Post subject:

Thanks for the help.
Today I ordered a wetsounds 10" FA & a Kicker 700.5 amp.

I had planned on using that amp & I was surprised the wetsounds sub was very reasonable.

Brit Rider · Posted: Mar 12, 2008 8:08 am Post subject:

Great - lets see some pics and feedback when you're done installing. Smile