I installed a stealthbox in my '96 A4Q about a month ago, and I wanted to share my observations with the group. Keep in mind that these are the opinions of one person.

I should preface the message as well by describing my musical tastes and the rest of the system:

I listen to all kinds of music, from Salsa to Jazz to Funk to Rap to Modern Rock to Motown to Hip-hop to Drums 'n Bass, but not classical or opera. As such, I like a system that has some kick but is not boomy.

I have replaced the entire stereo, including all wiring. The car was an original non-bose car. I installed

Sony XRC-900 head unit
Sony CDX-91 changer
Sony XDP-210EQ digital signal processor
Alpine MRV-F400 Amp (driving front speakers and rear door fill)
Boston Acoustics ProSeries 5.4 speakers up front
Boston Acoustics ProSeries 6.4 speakers in rear doors (required cutting; installed in stock door location with stock grilles - if you want to learn how to do this, check a detailed message that I put in the archive)
Alpine MRV-1000 Amp (driving the stealthbox)
JL Stealthbox
Monster Cable RCA cords
Streetwires speaker cable
Monster Power wiring

So, now that being said, the Stealthbox is definitely the weak link in the system. I admire the build quality and the fact that I don't give up any space, but there is no bottom end on the thing. Midbass is tight, but it gets loose and useless down low, and is difficult to tune. I am pretty disappointed, as I have used JL products extensively in the past and have found them to be exceptional.

For interests sake, I also tried my 2-Boston Acoustics ProSeries 10.4 subs in a ported enclosure in the car with otherwise the same setup, and it was breathtaking. However, I just don't want to have a hundred pounds and many cubic feet of box in my trunk.

Next, I tried a single JL10W1 sub in a small sealed enclosure, and found it to be a spectacular performer for its size and price. It outperformed the stealthbox substantially, and cost less than a third of the price of the stealthbox.

So, I don't know what I'll do - stick with the stealthbox for its convenience or live with a small sub box w/ the 10" JL in the trunk. Or, I could get a custom job done (big $$). All a pain.

Has anyone tried to upgrade the drivers in the stealthbox, or otherwise tinker with it to improve it? I saw nothing in the archives on this.

Searched the archives, but can't find it. Very interested as I plan to put rear door speakers in when I get mine in about a month.

Thanks.

It's at:

http://www.a4.org/bbs/a4/9931/messages/987.shtml

I'd been hopeful about the Stealthbox, and considered doing on in my next car, or at least something like it. But this is the kind of experience that puts a black mark on my consideration of JL for subs...

Glad to hear you like the Boston Pros, however. Regardless of what some major audiophiles say, I've always thought that Boston had some of the best sound out there. I have their Digital MediaTheater system for my computer and it's just great. My roommate has one of the Micro systems with home theater, and those are great too! Just a very good company. Hopefully they don't go more mainstream and let the products go to hell.

The Boston Acoustics 10" subs sound awesome. I'll probably end up with those in my next car, with some kind of hidden enclosure. Expensive and a pain to do, but I want them away from prying eyes!

-S2-

I have never been able to make a free air setup as deep and tight as a sealed enclosure (or even bass reflex)
The stealthbox is essentially just a baffle for some free air drivers.
You might try stuffing the box with rock wool, etc, see if that helps.

if u like email me
1996 a4 2.8 qm
(custom box in the works)

I am running a Stealth box with a RF amp and couldn't be more pleased. I also have a diverse taste in music and found the stealth a better option than my 10" punch. I do have to say that I might have a different stealth than everyone else. It did not come in two pieces as the instructions said. I did not remove the rear speakers, but rather made a custom grille between the two rear speakers (just above the ports in the stealth) to let it breathe right into the cab. It is definetly not boomy, but I can feel the various frequencies vibrate from my shoulders and end up in my seat when there is a bass slide. Any one in NY area is more than welcome to check my system out.
Kev
98 2.8QMS

That should sound really good with your system. My box is from my old car so is not contoured to my A4, but if you angled the back wall of the box to the back seat, I imagine you wouldn't lose too much space. There isn't too much you can do about the weight though.

Good Luck,
Mark

I have yet to find any style of music that makes this thing boomy at my current settings...and I am all over the spectrum in music (Muddy Waters in the CD right now).

What do you have it crossed over at? I found that crossing it over between 80-90Hz was where it sounded the best in my setup (Eclipse 5302-PPI PAR 225-PPI PC450-Front speaks only).

I played with that crossover point for a while, first much higher to see if it would act as rear fill, but it didn't respond well at all...slight boom to it. Unusual because JLAudio suggested a higher than normal crossover point....I guess 80-90Hz is "higher than normal" to them...to me it's normal for 2 8"'s.

Good luck...I'm sure you'll get it worked out. This thing really surprised me when I got it hooked up...didn't expect such a great sound from it.

steve

... or just dont' worry about it - enough will go thru magically ??