Sub dilemma

Discuss In Car Entertainment
Nelson
Getting There!
Posts: 97
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2004 8:21 pm
Location: Kelso, Scotland

Post by Nelson »

Would it be possible to tell me how you've mounted the sub?? and amp? Is it in a box? Pics would be wonderful but I suppose you've not got any more so, oh well.

Cheers

John
Speedlaw
Moderator
Posts: 2852
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 11:04 am
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Post by Speedlaw »

Np,

the sub is in a sealed enclosure; there's a tiny hole in the bottom that slots over the pin that sticks out of the spare wheel well. The box is simply held in place with a big nut.

:D

But seriously, it's solid as a rock now. Very important if you're ever in a situation where you have to brake really, really hard, or if you're in an accident, God forbid. I can tell you from experience it is something you need to take into account when building an install, however big or small.

The hole is sealed off using sticky silicone stuff.

The amp is mounted on its own board, just beside the sub. The board is screwed to the sub box and rests on the spare wheel tub wall. If that makes sense.

The bottom of the box and board are covered with foam, to stop them from vibrating on the metal.
Nelson
Getting There!
Posts: 97
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2004 8:21 pm
Location: Kelso, Scotland

Post by Nelson »

Cheers!

How'd you make the false floor? and hows it secured?
Speedlaw
Moderator
Posts: 2852
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 11:04 am
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Post by Speedlaw »

The false floor is made of 12mm MDF, and it rests on its own 'legs', made of bits of 2x4's. At the moment it's so tight it won't move or rattle - I haven't had the time to secure it properly (even though there's hardly a reason for this, other than the one stated above). I'll probably end up using either magnet strips (used for holding windows in place) or actually screwing the thing down using nuts and bolts.

:D
Nelson
Getting There!
Posts: 97
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2004 8:21 pm
Location: Kelso, Scotland

Post by Nelson »

Did you just drill holes in it? (You said perforated).

Is that the old boot carpet too?
Speedlaw
Moderator
Posts: 2852
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 11:04 am
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Post by Speedlaw »

Yep, I went Ghetto on the install and drilled an array of holes in it. Works well, just takes a while and creates lots of sawdust. An alternative would be to cover the board with perforated aluminium, but that was seriously expensive - about €30 for the size I needed. ('bout 20 Sterling)

The carpet is regular aftermarket cloth, accoustically transparent and non-stretch. I unhooked the regular carpet and put it aside.

Total cost of wood: 16 €
Carpet: 13 €

Total installation cost:

Roughly 30€ (or 20 Sterling) give or take a few staples and some glue.

I've built a few installs in my cars now, and this one is by far the cheapest and easiest I've done. It's also the most secure and solid. More importantly, it sounds very good (IMO, given the components I have). And, I can still have lots of luggage in the boot.
Nelson
Getting There!
Posts: 97
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2004 8:21 pm
Location: Kelso, Scotland

Post by Nelson »

I think I'll copy you!!

Was there any problems mounting the sub where the spare usually sits, size wise I mean?

John
Speedlaw
Moderator
Posts: 2852
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 11:04 am
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Post by Speedlaw »

Cool.

Keep in mind that I'm not an ICE expert or professional carpenter or anything...

/Disclaimer

:D

The spare wheel well is a bit oddly shaped and not very deep, so I lost some overall boot depth. I did however managed to fit a square 40x40x20 cm box in there made of 18mm MDF. (IIRC)

The sub helped in this department, since it only needed .88 cu. ft. or 25 litres.

I did take quite a bit of time looking at the shape of the well and measuring it all up. I used some cardboard to roughly determine the shape a square box could have. Note that I used a square box, which makes building easy but it's also very simple in terms of design. You could make a more efficient box if you opt to make the front end of the box a rounded shape. It will gain you some enclosure volume, but will also make building harder.
User avatar
Josh_PoloGTi
Site Admin
Posts: 2782
Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2002 8:32 pm
Drives: BMW E85 Z4 3.0i
Location: Sheffield, UK
Contact:

Post by Josh_PoloGTi »

Alex.... Got Photos?
Speedlaw
Moderator
Posts: 2852
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 11:04 am
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Post by Speedlaw »

Erm... No. Sorry.

I'll see to it next week.

Image
Geezer
Bronze Member
Posts: 143
Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2003 11:36 pm
Location: Knebworth

Post by Geezer »

just to interupt guys, but just to offer a different option,
how about a sub box with built in amp?
i know VIBE do these and its basically a sub in a box with integrated amplifier, thereofre u need only install a mains wire from your headunit, and then if u carry a lot it can simply be removed, without having to mount an amplifier at all?

i used to have a similar install to speedlaw, with amps racks either side, and the floor made of mirrored perspex, with a 15"sub in the well

simply make a box to fit inside the wheel well, then make a false floor for the boot which covers the top of the box, then mount the sub in the box, with an amp mounted to the side.
u can even boix in the amp to precent damage to it or for aesthetic reasons

in the 6N, the front speakers are screwed in, easily swapped, then if you get a component set of front speakers, u can mount the tweeters in placve of the standard tweeters in the mounting points along the dashboard.

if u r getting a sub and components, do not bother with rear speakers, they will only mess with the sound stage, and r an unnecessary expense
Speedlaw
Moderator
Posts: 2852
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 11:04 am
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Post by Speedlaw »

just to interupt guys, but just to offer a different option,
how about a sub box with built in amp?
i know VIBE do these and its basically a sub in a box with integrated amplifier, thereofre u need only install a mains wire from your headunit, and then if u carry a lot it can simply be removed, without having to mount an amplifier at all?
This could be a quick-and-easy solution. Especially as you don't have to build a box yourself.
if u r getting a sub and components, do not bother with rear speakers, they will only mess with the sound stage, and r an unnecessary expense
My thoughts exactly.

:D
Robo-Toda
New
Posts: 42
Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2003 4:59 pm
Location: Co Durham

Post by Robo-Toda »

[quote="Geezer"]just to interupt guys, but just to offer a different option,
how about a sub box with built in amp?
i know VIBE do these and its basically a sub in a box with integrated amplifier, thereofre u need only install a mains wire from your headunit, and then if u carry a lot it can simply be removed, without having to mount an amplifier at all?
Yes,you can do this,but first off,I would like to say that the Vibe boxes are poorly made,and not tuned correctly.You would be better off getting the Infinity Basslink,or one of the JBL ones,as at least these are fairly musical,not just one note wonders,like most ported boxes available off the shelf.
I notice that the Vibe demo car doesn't use any of their proprietary boxes either.
KarlM
Bling Bling Diamond Member
Posts: 2353
Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2002 11:11 pm
Location: Sheffield
Contact:

Post by KarlM »

Robo-Toda wrote:I notice that the Vibe demo car doesn't use any of their proprietary boxes either.
did you hear there TT? i'd be embarrassed to have that as a demo car!
Post Reply