What is Polyfil and does it give me deeper bass? | Car Audio Q & A

Watch as Brendan explains the benefits of polyfil!

This video is a part of our Q&A Series, be sure to check out the Q&A playlist to see them all!

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[killabee]

That's going to be one pissed off woofer when it finds out it has been tricked!!!!

[syko]

Very informative, to the point. No fluff. Thank you!

[djshumon]

didn't think the polyfil tricks the driver.always thought it dampens the sound in the cabinet and helps with the vibrations and a hollow sound stage.

[terencegoldfinger]

Hmm to reply the first question of that video without trying to be physician, yes polyfill does make your Bass sound deeper. But originally at the 60-70's some drummers were using foam to fill there kick to make it sound deeper or some guitarist guitarist using foam to fill there humbuckers cavity to make there guitar sound better without feedback and it does work. Whatever you want to use foam or polyfill but at least the material can absord negative waves and just giving the best option. thanks

[jonross]

Simply ask your woofer which it prefers

[fredkickingbird]

Use an example with a frequency meter. With and without.

[ianaintsaying]

The woofer doesn't "think" anything. Polyfill slows down the sound waves inside the enclosure which simulates a slightly larger enclosure. Do NOT over stuff with PF or it will have the opposite affect and will make the enclosure behave as a smaller box.

[cafes]

Polyfill can smooth response a little bit, BUT it's at the expense of efficiency and dynamics.

[houseoffire]

Poly fill is awesome stuff excellent way to help tune the box. Rule of thumb is 1# per cubic foot. Works great

[TApoUTxMFFN]

Thanks everybody for making the smart ass remarks, my faith in humanity has been restored

[damimbroke]

My opinion it does make the bass sound deeper...I took it out, WELL the installer took it out and I admittedly noticed the difference. PUT IT BACK IN SIR!!!!

[jacksfoodfilms]

Are people in the comments legitamately arguing over the semantics and wording used in this demonstration? Of course he doesn't think the woofer can think. I'm sure, so long as the listener is above a fifth grade learning level, his wording wont convince anyone subwoofers are sentient or able to compute. It's a simple way of describing the impact pollyfill has without getting overly technical.

[grahambambeck]

Thanks for the info.! I'm going to take a look at the stock enclosure in my ST and see what I can do with it.

[clanderson]

All I ever hear is that it "tricks" the woofer into "thinking the box is bigger". What does that even mean? I think people just regurgitate that over and over without actually knowing how or why.

[attpureownpk]

i use old used carpet and just staple and line the inside works nice! and its usually free!

[bekkerthesokuangeldragon]

I've remvoed and added polyfill to my sub boxes many times and there is legit big sound differense to my personal opinion. it sounds Alot frickin deeper bass without polyfill in a rectanglar box for like 10 inch 12 inch 15 inch ( To my personal opinion, i think thatno filled enclosures have louder deeper bass even if the sub isn't at high volume. ) - i might be wrong about this. Sorry if i am wrong about this.

[svitroful]

My slotted ported box with 2 x JL 10" TW3's subs, sounded tighter after I added the recommend 16oz of Poly-Fil, this info. came from tech support. So email the manufacturer if you can and ask.

[johnviera]

I added 3 lbs. of polyfill to a 1 cu ft box with one 10 inch subwoofer. My friends thought it was two 18s.

[connectdots]

It dampens the back wave, and thereby dampening the box resonance. cleaner purer sound, and avoids wave cancelation, remember both sides of the woofer membrane is moving air....

[pcno]

All it can really do is damp standing waves. Given that they are usually higher in frequency than the fundamental frequency of typical bass notes, that translates to "deeper bass", at least on the average. But acoustical damping cannot lower the resonant frequency of the cabinet, so it's still going to sound small if it is small. I also have a bias against the use of flammable fluff near a speaker that can take over 100 watts; why not use fiberglass or rock wool?