Interesting accidental sub placement discovery

2019 tundra limited.
Replaced everything audio related. Running 2 stereo integrity bm12mk5s on incriminator amplifier.
Saw Kiser was able to install a si sql 15 using the gately seat brackets so was formulating a plan to do the same.

A while back I was trying to decide if a single sub would be enough so I unhooked the passengers side bm12 just to see. Meh, tried adusting things and never could get the sub and midbass to play well together so I just assumed a single sub wasn't the best idea. Fast foward to this past weekend. Was out getting food and had a few minutes to spare so I just decided to try again and unhooked the drivers side sub and give a listen. Remember I did not change anything with tune, head unit or even the sub knob and there was an instant improvement in the low end cohesiveness with the mid-bass. Granted the overall out put was a bit lower but it cleaned up the low end very nicely. I have not had a chance to do a retune on the system since changing things out last year due so the only thing I have done tune wise is setting crossovers and a tiny bit of level matching.
But the low end came to life.

I was pretty shocked to be honest. I am not sure what the difference is between the drivers side and passengers side location but the stock sub is on the drivers side and always sucked but so did the much nicer sub in the same location. but moving the sub to the other side made a huge difference. I have now abandonded the idea of putting a bigger sub back there and moving the seat forward.

I think I am going to just cut the sub box front off on the drivers side and remove the drivers side sub and mount all the amps and dsp on the rear wall of the sub box. This creates a perfect amp rack to mount everything.

Just a thought for anyone who cares.

Honestly the single sub sound better than the 2. I really do not understand what the difference is but it is just that much better.

 

My super uninformed insights would think maybe there's a phase issue or some cancellation happening at your listening position when you have 2 vs 1 sub connected? This thread/Youtube video by Erin's Audio Corner goes over subs improving mid-bass response and might shed some actually informed insight on the topic lol. I've not gotten a chance to watch the video but in looking/considering swapping out my current 6.5" midbasses for 8's, I came across the topic.

https://www.diymobileaudio.com/threads/use-your-subwoofer-to-get-better-midbass.427251/

Erin's closing quip in the post says "And one important conclusion here is that placing the rear mounted subwoofer on the opposite side of the listening position often results in better response!"

 

Did you ever sit in the passenger side and listen when you had just the driver side hooked up? Same opposite angle concept.
We are often limited in sub placement in vehicles. But the home theater world shows you how important placement is to be in sweet spot. They often have 2-4-6 subs separate around the room to help fill nulls in the room. They use REW software to dial where in the room frequencies are the best.
Kinda hard to do a subwoofer walk in a vehicle. Sounds like you might have found that spot. Wonder if Toyota did any of this when they placed the sub.

 

funny you mention that. That’s actuallly what got me thinking about it and to try.

 

I did sit in the passenger seat. Never sounded awesome.

however I did have an amazing time with both subs until I changed our amps and never retuned. With a tune the bass was solid up front etc.

but not everyone had a minidsp with Dirac. Right now I just have crossovers set and some eq on the kenwood which is more inline with the vast majority of folks and it’s crazy how it sounds with a single sub in that location.

agreed with home theater. I had 2 24 inch subs ib in my attic in my theater.

I wonder how good the low end would be if the sub was stock on the other side. I still have my stock one. I may try it one day when the back seat is out