Stealthbox or Thunderform?

[MoparBob]

Stealthbox, Thunderform, or Probox?

We have a debate going (me and a fellow 3rd gen Cummins owner). We are trying to figure out which subwoofer is better or which is better with particular types of music. The three boxes in question are MTX's Thunderform with two 10" subs, JL Audio's single 10" stealthbox, and Probox's single and dual 10" and 12" boxes. These models fit under the rear bench and do not compromise your seating. You do lose the metal fold out floor though. As neither of us have heard both systems close enough together to remember which performed better at what, we're hoping everyone can chime in and help us out. Also, JL audio has a new center console mount subwoofer that looks like it'll really thump. If anyone has any experience with any of these, please let us know how they perform. If you'd like to chime in on how your sub or the one you have experience with is wired and powered, that would help as well. I'm betting that there are quite a few 3rd gen owners out there who would like to know more about these subs to help them figure out which suits there budgets and tastes. Thanks in advance everyone!

 

[RDusch]

I've been using a Hot Box center console sub enclosure with an infinity perfect 10 sub, pushing it with 350 watts from a kenwood excelon amp.



The sub sounds awsome, fills the entire cab with sound, nobody even realizes where the bass i coming from,



[/IMG]#ad




Rick

 

[MoparBob]

I just checked out the "Hot Box" with the link you provided... nice price! How is the fit and finish in your opinion? Also, how does the bass sound? Tight and responsive or boomy? I believe that I read about this box somewhere else on another sight and the gentleman was pleased with it... he did comment on how hard the arm rest was to remount and the fact that it definetely was not designed to be sat on. Did you experience the same thing?

 

[RDusch]

Fit and finish are exelent, material matches perfectly, the bass is tight and crisp

but not over powering, i using a 10" but he will make them for a 12 also.



Very easy to install



Rick

 

[JensenC]

Fit and finish are exelent, material matches perfectly, the bass is tight and crisp

but not over powering, i using a 10" but he will make them for a 12 also.



Very easy to install



Rick

Does it take up the storage area underneath the center seat in the front? Can you still have someone sit on the cushion in the middle, or would it hurt the sub? Thats a pretty cool option.

 

[RDusch]

It completly replaces the bottom half of the center console, so no more low storage.



The top is padded and is strong enough for someone to sit but i've never tried it.



Rick

 

[MoparBob]

RDusch... Thanks again. I checked out your homepage and it looks like you are just as sick as I am with your choice of toys and hobbies :-laf . I'm going to have to email you and pick your brains about the cave diving down in florida.



How 'bout it everyone... any more info on sub enclosures for 3rd gens?

 

[NavyDood]

I also installed the E-Bay center box. The material used for covering it is a 100% perfect match. There is padding on the top part. The armrest sits higher, but for me it is perfect. Before when I would lean on the armrest my whole body would be leaning also. Not any more. I loaded the box with a 12" Phoenix Gold Octane-ZR 4ohm DVC, running parallel for 2ohm. I picked this speaker because it requires . 5 ft3 - 1. 0 ft3 for airspace in a sealed enclosure. The ebay center box has . 88 ft3. The only thing sucking at this point is I am using a donor MAJOR piece of crap amp (Pyramid PB-446X). <--- Go ahead and laugh. I borrowed it just so I could have some bass. Even with the crappy amp the bass is awesome. You definitely can't tell that it is coming from the center console. I have a Alpine MRP-M350 on it's way that is a true 350rms at 2ohm.



The best part???? I didn't lose my storage under the back seat.

 

[PHeadings]

I built my own. A lot like the ebay box but bigger. I run one Autobahn 12" Sub with 1000 watts of Soundstream and it is more bass than I could ever ask for. I have ran 18,15,12's in the past and didn't think this setup could sound as well as it does. As far as damaging anything by sitting on it, the only thing that would get damaged is the feeling in your butt for a few days. :-laf



Here are some pictures:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108894

 

[Tomeygun]

We have a debate going (me and a fellow 3rd gen Cummins owner). We are trying to figure out which subwoofer is better or which is better with particular types of music. The three boxes in question are MTX's Thunderform with two 10" subs, JL Audio's single 10" stealthbox, and Probox's single and dual 10" and 12" boxes. These models fit under the rear bench and do not compromise your seating. You do lose the metal fold out floor though. As neither of us have heard both systems close enough together to remember which performed better at what, we're hoping everyone can chime in and help us out. Also, JL audio has a new center console mount subwoofer that looks like it'll really thump. If anyone has any experience with any of these, please let us know how they perform. If you'd like to chime in on how your sub or the one you have experience with is wired and powered, that would help as well. I'm betting that there are quite a few 3rd gen owners out there who would like to know more about these subs to help them figure out which suits there budgets and tastes. Thanks in advance everyone!

I have the JL stealthbox - the fit is nice, and sound is full and can thump pretty hard... .



BUT, leaves much to desired when I used to have a 2001 with the 12inch center seat sub. That thing ROCKED!



If I had to do over, I would go with the center cushion one

 

[JayWm]

I don't have one of these boxes, but I have had JL subs, they were strong, loud and very clear. JL has an excellent rep for being a very clean sounding speaker. Others may be louder, or hit harder, but JL's are well regarded at their price.



May just have to think about that center storage sub, I never use that section of the storage bin anyway.

 

[MoparBob]

I checked out the dimensions on that center console sub box that Rdusch is talking about (sold on ebay) and it has a lot of mounting room. A JL audio 10w6 DVC sub has plenty of room and I bet that would sound awesome. I may have to try that setup out myself. :-laf

 

[SHobbs]

Anyone use Cerwin Vega anymore? Use to see them everywhere. I had two ten inch subs a while back from them and they hit real hard and took alot of abuse.

 

[MoparBob]

I may be installing a JL Audio 10w6 in a hot box enclosure in my truck next month... still waiting on the "boss" to give me the go ahead. I'll probably go with a JL 400 watt amp to keep it healthy and I'm willing to bet this combo will be more than enough. I'll post how it goes.



On another note... anyone running the Q-Logic boxes or have experience with any of the above named boxes? Please feel free to post any experiences with your sub combo in a 3rd gen quadcab.

 

[JTynes]

I just finished my system- used the "hotbox from ebay" with a 12" memphis dvc sub at 2 ohms, ADS separates up front, coaxials in rear off of a memphis 5 channel amp (400w to sub and 55w to satellites) with a jl audio cleansweep to integrate the rb1 nav unit with the aftermarket stuff. still tweaking but I'm very pleased so far. I really like the sub enclosure.

 

[APrudhomme]

i have the dual 10 inch pro box. i first had a set of alpine type r and i kept blowing them but they sounded pretty good. now i have a set of jl w3 v2 they dont hit as hard as the type r but i guess they will do for now. there is a guy over hee that says he can build i box to fit two jl w6 under the seat . i might give it a try . i guess i am not realy satisfied with the pro box

 

[MoparBob]

I'm curious as to how a box can be made to fit such a deep sub (the w6's) under the rear seat? If I remember correctly, the w6's are almost 6" deep top mounted. If he can do that... please post it... that would be a hard hitting combo.

 

[MoparBob]

I just finished my system- used the "hotbox from ebay" with a 12" memphis dvc sub at 2 ohms, ADS separates up front, coaxials in rear off of a memphis 5 channel amp (400w to sub and 55w to satellites) with a jl audio cleansweep to integrate the rb1 nav unit with the aftermarket stuff. still tweaking but I'm very pleased so far. I really like the sub enclosure.

How do you like that Cleansweep and how much is the cleansweep going for?

 

[MoparBob]

Here's an update...



JL Audio Stealthbox (single 10" under rear seat): It has a real clean sound and does a good job at filling in the missing bass. You lose the metal fold out platform on the passenger side, but it is super easy to remove if you trade out of your truck. I find that with this sub, it makes a good companion for those who simply want a very clean sounding system, easy installation and don't need to hear the bass outside of the truck, just in it.



HotBox off of ebay: Good to great fabric and Leather (vinyl) match. It does raise the height of the center armrest/console, but if you don't mind your arm up a little higher, definetely doable. It has enough room for a JL Audio 10W6 (as was installed for my preview) which hits really hard and has a pretty clean sound. It is more involved when installation time runs around and you lose your center seat cushion (my neice sat on one and was complaining in short order). This is my personal pic as it seems to be very clean, tight and controlled like the Stealthbox, but really bump when you want to crank it up. Also, the gentleman who builds these will load it with a sub of your choice if you so desire.



The new JL Audio Stealthbox (center console) sounded similiar to the HotBox combo, though more expensive. It produced a somewhat deeper bass, but I think it lacked some of the control the others exhibited. It was certainly louder than the 10" Stealthbox, but not louder than the HotBox with the W6. Fit and finish was excellent and I liked the fact that the console was the right height and you kept your power outlet. Drawbacks... you lose your center seat and expense.



*The above combos were all run off an JL Audio 250 watt sub amp and an Eclipse Head unit with JL Audio Coaxial speakers in the doors*



The only two subwoofer box I have been able to listen to is the Probox. I didn't much care for it. It was too boomy and slow in response. It would be good for those who simply want loud bass... but that's about it. I listened to one with Rockford Fosgate subs and one with Memphis subs. There was very little difference between the two. One good thing I do have to say about the Probox is that it is built extremely well and seems to be darn near indestructable as a speaker box. If a person wanted a lot of bass and doesn't really care for precision... the Probox will do that for ya. (Selection of subwoofers could have been a factor here... something you should consider when looking at this box. I would like to have listened to it with a couple JL subs to be able to judge the performance of the box a little more objectively).



I hope this helps for those who are looking at subs. These are simply short observations on just a few sub options for us 3rd Gen owners. If anyone would like to chime in again on this subject, I would greatly appreciate it as I am usually duped into helping out with all my friends and family stereos. Thanks TDR for a great Website!!!

 

[Tomeygun]

Here's an update...



JL Audio Stealthbox (single 10" under rear seat): It has a real clean sound and does a good job at filling in the missing bass. You lose the metal fold out platform on the passenger side, but it is super easy to remove if you trade out of your truck. I find that with this sub, it makes a good companion for those who simply want a very clean sounding system, easy installation and don't need to hear the bass outside of the truck, just in it.

I agree with this, I have the rear stealthbox. It hits nice and clean, adds just enough bass to satisfy. But I did not know about the center cushion one... I think that would be a killer combo!!