ok, last question. promise. What is the differance in sound going to be if I go with a bandpass box vs a normal straight box with 2 12" subs?

A bandpass box uses a tuned port to produce higher volumes. It makes more noise but is less precise and more boomy than a sealed box. With two twelves I hardly think you will need the extra volume and I would go for a nice clean and tight sound.

In my experience a bandpass box works best with rap music. If you mostly listen to rock, alternative or something other than rap you would probably be best to go with the normal box.

how about a single dual enclosure vs two separate enclosures? I want to mount one sub in each corner of the trunk, but don't want to sacrifice quality

In theory you should get the same results but I cannot attest to that since I have had no experience using single enclosures.

That all depends on the amount of airspace in the enclosure. Check your subs to see what the requirements are. Some subs are flexible in the amount of airspace needed and some are very strict. From experience, Kicker & JL are pretty flexible. Those are the 2 brands i've worked with, can't really speak on anything else.

JL Audio 12W0

I'm currently running 2 of these. If you checked the URL and look at the Sealed Enclosure Range you'll see what i'm talking about. What type of subs are you running? And are you gunning for SPL (Sound Pressure Level) or SQ (Sound Quality)? Some subs are purely SPL subs and some subs are purely SQ subs.

Yeah, it all depends on the type of subs that you are running. I had JL's that I went with a sealed box, and I had MTX that I went with a bandpass. The JL's were much better.

FYI - if you aren't just trying to go for the loudest you can fit... and are considering quality... do not overlook 8" or 10" subs in a properly designed 3rd order (std ported) box.

You can get very nice low end, keep it in a realtively small enclosure, and by placing it in the rear of the vehicle, and optimizing further by aiming the port towards the front of the truck, you might be amazed at how much low end (deep bass around 40Hz) you hear in the front seats... Power requirements should be a bit less than larger subs as well (assuming you cut off the lower frequencies the box can't play (30Hz below))

-=RB

-=RB

Naturally I was assuming one would use the proper enclosure for the speaker. Don't ever use the wrond enclosure or the subs will sound like crap.

That's true. I wanted a 4th order banpass but I can't get one built for under $300. I also spoke to a guy at a local audio shop and he was telling (showing) me about something called a "Wave" box. Supposed to be built under the same principles as Bose's technology. I can't lie...that shit sounded good. He took an average Audiobahn speaker and an average (i think 200w) Audiobahn amp and built it into a makeshift car in the showroom and man...you wouldn't believe how good it sounds. My only problem with it was:

No. 1 - Price ---> $325
No. 2 - Whether or not the exact or similar
bass/sound/effect could be reached in any vehicle. $325 is quite expensive for an experiment.

I know crap about building boxes. I've found all types of freeware to assist in building all types of boxes, but it's all greek to me.

hell check it out i had a bandpass with 2 12's, i traded my brothers friend for his box that had 2 10's (bandpass) well some time down the line i blew one up. sooo i was like "i ain't gots no money. hmmm" i chopped the box right down the middle, trimmed it up and made a nice reg ol box out of it. the dam thing sounds just as loud a the 2 12's i had.