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by tsfranke 1563 days ago
From a nerdy standpoint, SPL competition is AMAZING.

The amount of math that goes into a proper enclosure design and to fit it properly in a vehicle is really fun. It's not going too much further than geometry, but theory can go far further. The differences that exist in rounded vs square ports vs flared ports, sealed vs ported vs bandpass box design, standard vs inverted vs isobaric mounting... the list keeps going.

To get the loudest, it's not always about adding the most power possible. The enclosure, capabilities of the subwoofers, power delivery, even the acoustic properties of the shape of the vehicle itself are all factors. Adding the weight of all the components usually means the vehicle's suspension needs upgraded. Higher output (or multiple) alternators need to be able to produce enough power. Extra batteries are added to support peak power for longer periods. Gaining DBs at high levels is exponentially more work as you continue to go higher.

The DB Drag events really showcase the hobby best. Much like how people tinker with their engine's performance and test it at a drag strip to see just how fast they can go, others tinker with how loud they can get their bass to go.

As noted by other commenters, these systems can be annoyingly loud when used at late hours, busy locations, or residential areas. The exact same can be said of people driving their cars way too fast / aggressively. Any hobby needs to have situational awareness to be respectful of its surroundings.

Anyone interested, https://www.diymobileaudio.com/ is likely one of the best information sources, both for current and historical SPL information.