Focla utopia 5.5 inch subs- poor bass, please help

[ryan]

To cut a long story short, I have 2 focal utopia subs, each in the oem sub boxes behind the seats. I have dynamatted (extreme) the inside and outside of the boxes and sealed them completely. I have left the port in as it is nearly the right spec as recommended on the focal instructions.
The subs are powered by a DLS reference 200 amp, and are getting LOADS of power,; the speaker is REALLY bouncing in/out. However, the base is very hollow and muffled. Its just not tight and i'm getting more bass from my front Focal K2P components!!
The only thing I haven't done is filled the boxes with wadding as I was told to see how it sounded without the wadding first.
I'm losing faith with these Focals and am close to going down the single 12" sub route

Thanks guys and gals

[LuizeGT]

could it be the dynomatt in the box. absorbing the bass? im not a wizz with this stuff but that stuff absorbs the bass on doors and things to minimise the rattle?

[Driftlimits Performance]

you checked the polarity of the speaker cables yet matey?

[Valentino MR2]

Does sound like a wiring problem to me aswell, don't really know too much about these speakers, are they dual voice coil?

[ryan]

Luize, Sounds like a decent explaination but I was told to do it by the audio place

Skywalker, cant seem to undo the wires on the amp, and i dont want to swap the polarity on the speakers 'cos i'll have to break the break the silicone seal

Valintino, Not sure of the specs, but I know its a mid bass speaker

[Driftlimits Performance]

can ya swap them by the subs?

[Tallbloke]

Ryan. Change the polarity on the sub end. Luize - Dynamat will absob some sounds but shouldn't effect the speaker like that. If fact it mainly cuts out background noise so you get a better sound overall.

Also Ryan, I've managed to get my old 12" in so my two focals are for sale soon (you may want to add them to your setup) And they are subs and because they are small the seem to "bounce" more as they have to work harder to displace the same amount of air as a 8" sub. Also your 6.5" speakers may sound more "basey" as they have a larger surface area.


Remember tho that the subs will not produce the long bomb the base type sound you'd normall expect from a sub. These will produce a shorter sharper bang on a higher frequency than a larger diameter sub.

Another thought is you say the the boxes are silicon seal. Area you 100% sure on this. When you showed me your setup @ Japfest it wasn't quite the "tidy" install you were hopeing for. Personally I would remove it and start again - making sure everything thing is right. Ie did said company remove the foam "type" lining the interior of the sub boxes as for the focals to produce the best sound quality (and a bit more bang) you need to remove it.

Chris

[Tallbloke]

also just searched google and you get many many comments like this

http://www.epinions.com/pr-Focal_5WS_Ca ... y_~reviews

Chris

[Tallbloke]

Also

http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/vbb/showthread.php?t=82475

Talk audio - the home of all true ICEr's

[LuizeGT]

i dunno, was just guessing

[ryan]

also just searched google and you get many many comments like this

http://www.epinions.com/pr-Focal_5WS_Ca ... y_~reviews

Chris

Thanks for the links Chris. I did a google search but it didn't come up with any of that!
I may seal the port for now to see what it sounds like.
Regarding wanting anymore Focal subs; i'll pass on that, i'm nearly resorting to binning the ones i've got!!!

Ryan

[ldavies83]

Hi Ryan, did you swap the wiring round?

[ryan]

Hi Ryan, did you swap the wiring round?

No, I cant work out how to detach the wires at the amp. I don't want to do it at the speaker, cos it means sealing up the unit again.....

I may just seal the port up and see what happens. According to Talkaudio, best results are achieved when they're in a sealed enclosure

[Tallbloke]

your have a alan key grub screw on the amp....... if you really get stuck - come and find me at JAE and I'll swap it for you

[ryan]

your have a alan key grub screw on the amp....... if you really get stuck - come and find me at JAE and I'll swap it for you

I'll have to dig out my allen keys then!
I've sealed the port with fibreglass last week and the bass id much tighter, just not as loud
See you at JAE!

[TBDevelopments]

this might be a stupid suggestion, but if you can't get them out the amp or the speaker but can get the to wire why not just cut them then resolder then together with the correct polarity?

Just an idea, not as good with ice as i used to be

Tim
xxxx

[Tallbloke]

no you should never do that as it adds resistance to the wire. and will help bu88er up the sound quality

[TBDevelopments]

really

Didn't know that, learn something new everyday

Tall bloke i've emailed you so answer it

Tim
xxxx