Custom box, can it be done!

[PCracer51]

I've been looking at the trunk of my GA for a while and wondering how I could still keep decent storage, always have the seats folded down and get 2 10" subs in there. I was thinking about building 2 sealed boxes that would extend the wheelwheels inside of the trunk back to the end of the trunk, and use that dead space between the bumper and the wheelwells to put the subs. I think I can get a 1 cubic foot volume out of that. Would this even be do-able? I really hate the thought of having a box taking up half my trunk. Just how precise for the size do you have to be?

I know there is no way I could get the space for ported, or even get the ports in there, but could this be done w/ sealed or is it out of the question?

[birdhouse]

I'm extremely confused... You only have 10" woofers... The box for them (sealed or ported) can't be that big. What kind of subs are they?

[tubpub11]

for a 10" sub there should be enough room in that spot. it would be nice if you made a fibreglass box for those corners, and it would utilize the space alot better then wood. and for 10" subs you probably don't even need 1 cube for space, you could probably get away with .8 cubes or so but depends on the sub.

[gerald]

cant type Es work with less then a cube?

edit: after checking, sealed for type Es is 0.6-1.25.

[PCracer51]

I was looking at using the infinity 10" subs, but I could go 12 if I have the space. The alpine type E, S and R were on my list, and the RF Punch Stage 2 and 3. I am not impressed with my history with kicker, so while L5s and L7 have a good rep, I am not willing to give them another try. The door kickers will come out soon in place of Infinity 6.5" shallows.

Next dilema is finding a place to hide the amp. Again, I want to use the trunk and folding seats and keep the subs hooked up, so it can't go just in the trunk or on the back of the seats. I was thinking of a small (physical dimensions) apline class D amp and mounting it under the passanger seat. I thought about building a rack for it to mount inbetween the 6x9s under the rear deck lid, but that just doesn't seem stable enough for me.

Fiberglass for the enclosures would be cool, and I've been told by others to do that too. I was thinking angle the subs in a little so they cross and fire at the back seat.

[DFizzle]

Just to clarify, are you adament about having the seats always folded down for storage purposes?

If you were going to go ahead and fiberglass your enclosures, which I'm not sure I see a way around if you're going to use those corners like that, then it would be a fairly simple next step to do an amp rack on one side of your trunk as well. If you pull the carpeting back there's quite a bit of space back there and the amp would be out of the way. Even if you didn't want to glass that part, a basic piece of MDF with some carpet over it would work just fine as long as you could find a way to mount it to the side of the trunk. It may take some work to figure out how to get the sub and amp in that space, but there really should be plenty of room.

[Shad0wguy]

Originally posted by PCracer51
I've been looking at the trunk of my GA for a while and wondering how I could still keep decent storage, always have the seats folded down and get 2 10" subs in there. I was thinking about building 2 sealed boxes that would extend the wheelwheels inside of the trunk back to the end of the trunk, and use that dead space between the bumper and the wheelwells to put the subs. I think I can get a 1 cubic foot volume out of that. Would this even be do-able? I really hate the thought of having a box taking up half my trunk. Just how precise for the size do you have to be?

I know there is no way I could get the space for ported, or even get the ports in there, but could this be done w/ sealed or is it out of the question?

You have the same idea as me. Someone on these forums was selling a single box describing exactly that.

I have been trying to get in touch with him about doing a pair for me. Haven't gotten a reply yet.

[PCracer51]

I'm a college student, so I wont always need the seats folded down, but they will have to be used often. The other thing is everybody I've seen has subs in a huge box and it makes the car useless to carry anything. I want something that wouldn't take away the ability to use my trunk and was an effective way to add some bass to the system. With the size of the class D amps, or even if I did a 4 channel amp bridged down to 3 channels the amp rack idea would work. (2 channels for 6x9s, one for subs)

[birdhouse]

Please don't runs your subs off of a 4-channel amp... Get a seperate mono blocked amp for your sub(s) and a seperate for your speakers. If you only go with one sub, you can make a nice box that doesn't take up too much room and will be to the exact specifications of the sub itself. A single 12" Alpine Type R, JL, Treo, Crossfire, whatever brand suits you will work great to give you the thump you want.

[PCracer51]

Is it really that bad to run it all off of one amp?

[nineteen88ga]

Most 2 and 4 channel amps are class AB (which tend to heat up quicker). Where as mono amps are Class D (and tend to run cooler). A typical 4 channel may also not have enough power to propperly power a sub even bridged....depending on the rms power rating of the sub of course.

About the enclosures...most 10's will perform great in about .5 cu ft. sealed enclosure. That will be no problem to have a box that size in the area of the trunk your talking about. it may be possible to even make it all out of wood if your good. Glass would allow you to make a more "formed" enclosure to the vehicle making it look nicer...if done correctly.

[ramairgt2]

I would run a seperate amp just for your subs. You want the subs for bass right? If you run your 6x9s and subs from one amp you'll hear the voices/highs etc through the subs... Both of my alpine decks have 3 sets of pre outs. one set for the front,one for the rear and one for subs only so I only get bass. If you get a mono amp you can bridge it so that you'll have just bass and as loud/deep of the thump you want. 6x9s and an amp will be loud for voice/music. Although most decks are sufficient enough that you can run your regular wires from the stereo for the speakers in the car. I would just plan on getting an amp for the subs and if you have a four channel amp only use two channels and bridge it .. Though a mono block amp or any amp that has controls on it so you can tune your bass would be good.


Btw listen to Nineteen88ga. He knows his stuff especially with car stereos

[nineteen88ga]

Originally posted by ramairgt2
I would run a seperate amp just for your subs. You want the subs for bass right? If you run your 6x9s and subs from one amp you'll hear the voices/highs etc through the subs...

Btw listen to Nineteen88ga. He knows his stuff especially with car stereos


Not always true. Most good 4 channels do have low pass filters and if tuned correctly they can be used to power subs and make them sound the way they "should" aka no voices etc., but idealy a Class D mono amp would be the way to go.

haha and thanks for that. lol

[Lash]

Clas A/B also tend to have more current draw than class D amps.

[PCracer51]

thanks for the info guys. The deck I have has 3 preamp outputs (Pioneer 4800MP) so I should be fine for ability to run seperate amps. I was just curious about it so I could do it all off of one wiring job, but if 2 is the best bet then I'll get a class D amp and maybe later down the road, get a 2 channel for the 6x9s. I would deffinetly want it to run cooler and the less amperage it draws the better. I may end up putting a cap on it too, but I was hoping to do this without going to an optima or a larger alternator just yet. I know if/when I goto 2 amsp I would upgrade the batt and alternator.

Was looking at
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-AjtB5PF1DMD/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=520&I=1081050W (2 of them) and then
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-AjtB5PF1DMD/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=120&I=236T421D or
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-AjtB5PF1DMD/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=120&I=500MRPM450
running at 2 ohms.