Is it possible to crack the windshield
03-20-2006, 02:03 PM
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Is it possible to crack the windshield
Is it possible to crack the windshield from the bass of a sub? In my other car I had 2 12" subwoofers and I developed a ring around my rear view mirror from the mirror always vibrating.. But I also had that windshield replaced because when I bought the car it had a cracked windshield. So i'm thinking the place that replaced it installed a cheasy windshield. I'm just worried about cracking the windshield in my cobalt...
03-20-2006, 05:27 PM
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actually, it would be pretty easy to crack a windsheild (or any windows), even without a powerful sub. all you have to do is play the frequency that the glass resonates at, and you've got yourself a busted pane of glass.
but, that frequency is hard to find, so you probably have nothing to worry about.
but, that frequency is hard to find, so you probably have nothing to worry about.
03-20-2006, 08:33 PM
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well i'm just worried about my rear view mirror shaking to much causing it to crack the windshield.. but i think i'm just paranoid so i wouldn't worry about it i guess
03-20-2006, 08:47 PM
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nothing to worry about...worst case senario is the mirror falls off. Im not saying its impposible to do...but the setup you mentioned should not cause you any problems. Ive ran multiple setups in different vehicles with 1000+ watts and big ass ported boxes and have never had a window blow out.
03-21-2006, 01:35 PM
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I might worry about a windshield that's already chipped or spider-webbed. The constant pounding and chassis vibration might cause a pre-existing flaw (visible or not) to worsten.
As to the discofreaks post above, what he's talking about is called a "sympathetic frequency".
Windshields are not milled like crystal, they're poured and also tempered. Even if you managed to fine a sympathetic frequency for even part of the windshield, you would need tremendous amplitude to cause it to vibrate all the way through the glass and break it apart. Far more than would be survivable by a human. Either way it would never "blow out" so dramatically, it would just kind of crumble.
So in short. No, even the most kick ass bass won't break your windows unless they're already split. Sympathetic waves strong enough to break your windshield would be high-end ultra-sonics, not low end like bass.
Makes for a fun urban legend though...
"Man, on my last rides my bass was so sick I busted my windows man!"
As to the discofreaks post above, what he's talking about is called a "sympathetic frequency".
Windshields are not milled like crystal, they're poured and also tempered. Even if you managed to fine a sympathetic frequency for even part of the windshield, you would need tremendous amplitude to cause it to vibrate all the way through the glass and break it apart. Far more than would be survivable by a human. Either way it would never "blow out" so dramatically, it would just kind of crumble.
So in short. No, even the most kick ass bass won't break your windows unless they're already split. Sympathetic waves strong enough to break your windshield would be high-end ultra-sonics, not low end like bass.
Makes for a fun urban legend though...
"Man, on my last rides my bass was so sick I busted my windows man!"
Last edited by tallyphotog; 03-21-2006 at 07:51 PM.
03-21-2006, 01:43 PM
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Dude, the stock pioneer sub and speakers make the rear view mirror shake too. Most likely your windshield will not crack unless you have like 170 sp which you definately don't have. I have a 400 watt rms amp and there's nothing wrong with my windshields.
03-21-2006, 02:21 PM
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Originally Posted by hardtocope
Is it possible to crack the windshield from the bass of a sub? In my other car I had 2 12" subwoofers and I developed a ring around my rear view mirror from the mirror always vibrating.. But I also had that windshield replaced because when I bought the car it had a cracked windshield. So i'm thinking the place that replaced it installed a cheasy windshield. I'm just worried about cracking the windshield in my cobalt...
03-22-2006, 01:29 AM
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i have the sub hidden behind the passenger seat since it was to big to put in my trunk.. i can't believe how hard one sub in a bandpass box can be.
03-22-2006, 02:15 AM
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I was running 900 watts RMS through my 2 - 10" Rockford Fosgate Punch HX2's in a down firing box, in my truck and had no problems.
The sound level would be enough to kill you be fore it broke the glass, unless you find the glasses resonance frequency. That would be difficult, and you would have to hold it at that exact tone for several seconds.
The sound level would be enough to kill you be fore it broke the glass, unless you find the glasses resonance frequency. That would be difficult, and you would have to hold it at that exact tone for several seconds.
03-22-2006, 12:59 PM
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well the reason i bought a bandpass box is becuase i'm running the amp off of my stock head unit. i heard that if i had sub in a sealed box you could hear it distort and in bandpass boxes you can not really here the sub being distorted.
03-22-2006, 01:12 PM
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It's not the windshild you should be worryed about, It's your ear drums you should worry about, i'm 38 years old and have a constant ringing in my ears from to much bass.
03-22-2006, 01:33 PM
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Originally Posted by RACIN_RANDY
It's not the windshild you should be worryed about, It's your ear drums you should worry about, i'm 38 years old and have a constant ringing in my ears from to much bass.
03-22-2006, 01:33 PM
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hey guys do you think i should change buy a sealed box to replace my bandpass box that i have right now? I bought the q-logic bandpass box off of crutchfield and I thought it would fit in my trunk but it does. So now I have to leave it in my back seat. The subwoofer in the box hits really hard but I'm worried that if I get a sealed box the sub will sound like garbage. Keep in mind I am running the amp off my stock headunit.
03-23-2006, 01:36 AM
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I like sealed boxes better myself. If you were to get a voltage regulator, or adjust the voltage regulator you have (assuming you have one) to reduce the signal to line level before your amp you shouldn't have too much distortion.
03-23-2006, 03:24 PM
#23
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Originally Posted by hardtocope
I bought the q-logic bandpass box off of crutchfield and I thought it would fit in my trunk but it does. So now I have to leave it in my back seat.
03-23-2006, 05:00 PM
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The box was a hundred bucks and i cant return in... so i'm basically screwed. It's not like the box is highly noticable. I have 5% tint all around my car so you can't see if from the outside. It's only a single box so i have it located right behind the driver seat. The only thing I could do is dish out some more money and get a sealed box. But then I don't know what its going to sound like. I mostly listen to rap so the bandpass works great. I dont' know what to do??
Last edited by hardtocope; 03-23-2006 at 05:22 PM.
03-24-2006, 11:42 AM
#25
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Originally Posted by hardtocope
The box was a hundred bucks and i cant return in... so i'm basically screwed. It's not like the box is highly noticable. I have 5% tint all around my car so you can't see if from the outside. It's only a single box so i have it located right behind the driver seat. The only thing I could do is dish out some more money and get a sealed box. But then I don't know what its going to sound like. I mostly listen to rap so the bandpass works great. I dont' know what to do??
Besides, its very unsafe. You don't need ~50 lbs of weight sliding around behind you.....