I might also add that usually "tuning" goes along with the enclosure size, the woofer going into that box will change how I would tune the box. Also the car it is going into can change the tuning, where at in the vehicle the box is placed in the vehicle can change the tuning. Also one of the more important variables is the goal you are going for. I have had some people want a box that can get as loud as possible and do not mind if it is boomy or sloppy to achieve it, and then there are people that are the opposite and will sacrifice output for a flatter response. I have even built boxes that were 15 cubic feet with a port opening so large that you can climb into the box, and believe me it was such a "one note wander" it is not even funny, but that is what the person wanted. There is so much you can do with the enclosure and port to alter the sound of ANY speaker to make it sound a particular way to fit a person's desired sound, and while a lot of times a manufacturers suggested box is great it is not always what the customer wants, which doesnt mean any are wrong, as long as the customer "or person" with the box likes it and thinks that it sounds good "to their liking", and does what it was asked to do from the beginning, and not allow the speaker to be torn to shreds, then it is right.
On a side note a little too late now but hey whatever, $200 for a properly built and tuned TL box is stupid cheap.
Now why A simple question of is RE audio any good turned into a 5 page debate is beyond me, but I do know I have seen and read just in this thread alone at least 5 professionals with roughly at LEAST 10 years experience EACH try to educate others on our "opinions" and knowledge we have all learned throughout the years, and while some of us may have different opinions of what sounds good to our personal tastes or likings I would assume that if anyone came to any of us professionals and talked with us about what YOU want, then chances are I am sure we could all make you happy, and get you there, so there is a reason we are "professionals", and our prices are so not the cheap ass price of FREE that you get from forum trolling. Now dont get me wrong while I can not speak for everyone I do not mind trying to help people out on here or any other forums and give my opinion, and I would assume most of the other pros dont either, but when argued with that we are wrong or do not know what we are doing it makes helping others pretty difficult.
While I understand what you are saying that a 10 sounds like a 10 is true because hey it is a 10 and not a 5 X 7 or whatever, I am sure everyone on here knows what was meant to be the understanding of that statement, which is that someone "like badapple" who knows what they are doing can make lower end equipment sound better than higher end equipment installed by someone who doesnt know what they are doing.

And oh yeah that Scion TC referred to earlier I built the box for that car, when it was in the original car that sub could keep up with and sound good while playing metal "again only an opinion of mine", and furthermore like someone else stated at that competition it was in another vehicle than the one the shop built and wired wrong from where the customer tried to do it them self, and the customer only had one voice coil wired up. So when it was only a couple DB quieter than you it was only running on one coil and obviously half power (750 watts +/-), so I would have to say I wouldn't bash on Memphis too hard there.

I am sorry for rambling on and hope not to offend anyone, but really when people ask for help or advice and you see a professional trying to help someone else out, you should probably let them

Unbelievable still trying to correct someone else's math. yes you are right 3 8" woofers is not 24" of cone area, however I am trying to figure out where you got your numbers from. To figure out surface area of a circle you do pie X r sq. r=radius =half the diameter, half of 8" (not counting screws and surround) is 4, 4 sq = 16 X 3.14(pie)=50.24X3(woofers)=150.72,, where do you get 474??