91 K5 interior subwoofer enclosure - can I cut through the interior side sheetmetal?

[yakmastermax]

My sub box is huge. I took out the ****ty factory console, and replaced it with a sub box. The top of the box is covered with a leftover piece of 40 series John Deere interior sound deadener. That way it is tall enough to rest my arm on, unlike the OEM console.

Martin

that seems awesome. you've got a single 12 in there? a real nice box and a high power single 12 could be more than enough if done right. do you still have a little storage in there or does the sub take up all the room. does it fire backwards towards the rear passenger's shins?

the more i think about it the more i'm leaning towards a console sub box. the only downside is that you'll be hard pressed to fit more than a single sub.

 

[82355]

I just have a single 12" sub. I could probably put some storage in there as well, but I don't need it. The sub faces forward, to keep the passengers from kicking it.

Martin

 

[Jessie James]

the more i think about it the more i'm leaning towards a console sub box. the only downside is that you'll be hard pressed to fit more than a single sub.

Make an isobaric enclosure. It's not as efficient (read:loud) but that can be overcome by a better amp (read: use more power). Basically you put two speakers in one enclosure that is half the required size of a single speaker enclosure.

http://www.autoacousticdesigns.co.uk/enclosure-types.html

The only thing the picture doesn't depict is the fact that the box should be half as big as the comparable single-speaker box. So in my case, if I need 0.5 cu feet for one 8" subwoofer, if I were to make an isobaric enclosure I would only need 0.25 cu ft internal volume.

Isobaric enclosures, when using good speakers, can achieve a nearly flat frequency response. I won many prizes using four 10" Boston Acoustic Pro Series subwoofers in two isobaric enclosures when I was doing car stereo competitions. I did, however, have to run an Alpine 1000w amp to run them.

Damn I miss that car. It sounded SO good.

 

[nsxxtreme]

Make an isobaric enclosure. It's not as efficient (read:loud) but that can be overcome by a better amp (read: use more power). Basically you put two speakers in one enclosure that is half the required size of a single speaker enclosure.

2 speakers basically sound as "loud" as 1 in that configuration and require about twice as much power very uneffiecient. Personally I would rather just choose the correct speaker for the desired effect. There are many speakers designed to work in .5 cubic feet of air space. The only benifit of this design is that you can get a near flat response. That is because you have 2 speakers doing the work of one.

So many times people buy speakers then build the enclosure around the speaker. That's the wrong approach IMO. You should figure out your volume, placement, and power goals first. Then choose a speaker with those goals in mind. A smaller properly enclosed speaker will sound way better then a larger speaker in an incorrect enclosure.

 

[yakmastermax]

I just have a single 12" sub. I could probably put some storage in there as well, but I don't need it. The sub faces forward, to keep the passengers from kicking it.

Martin

the entire construction is wood? got a pic for inspiration?
i think a real good type R would do the trick especially if the box dimensions were spot on and sealed real well.

 

[Jessie James]

The only benifit of this design is that you can get a near flat response. That is because you have 2 speakers doing the work of one.

Actually, the other benefit is the space savings. For example, I managed to fit four 10" subs in the truck of my 1988 Honda Civic CRX. And that was way back in the early 90's when no one made subs that fit in tiny enclosures yet. And my system was LOUD. Measured it at 144db.

You're young and spoiled, I had to WORK for my SPL and subsequent permanent hearing damage!

 

[Jessie James]

Hey, finally some good news for me. I was going over options and figures and pulled up the recommended enclosure size for my subwoofers, and it turns out it is only 0.3 cubic feet, not the 0.5 cu ft I thought was needed!

This is great because the space I have on each size is about 19" x 12" x 3.5", and if I make a box in that space my subwoofer will be optimally installed. I can then mount the 6.5" component slightly behind the sub box, over the wheel well, which is outside of the enclosure and everything fits.

Yay. For once something works my way.

Now to build this thing!

 

[K85 Octane]

*waits for more pictures*

 

[nsxxtreme]

Actually, the other benefit is the space savings. For example, I managed to fit four 10" subs in the truck of my 1988 Honda Civic CRX. And that was way back in the early 90's when no one made subs that fit in tiny enclosures yet. And my system was LOUD. Measured it at 144db.

You're young and spoiled, I had to WORK for my SPL and subsequent permanent hearing damage!

You're not saving as much space as you think you are because you have a speaker hanging out the other end of the box taking up room inside the car. just my $.02

I had my share of booming systems when I was younger. 3 12" JL audio 12W6's in a 6 cubic foot ported enclosure in a 94 acura integra. Powered by cheater amps a Soundsteam 10.2 25 watt x2 and a Picasso 25 watt x 4. So I was able to compete in the 150 watts and under class. Even though it was well over 1500 watts combined.

Hey, finally some good news for me. I was going over options and figures and pulled up the recommended enclosure size for my subwoofers, and it turns out it is only 0.3 cubic feet, not the 0.5 cu ft I thought was needed!

Is that the sealed enclosure volume? What's the ported enclosure volume? If you can squeze in a port I would recommend it. I would contact the manufacturer and ask them if they can give you the volume for the smallest ported enclosure. Most of the data specs that come with the speakers are usually "ideal" volumes. Depending on the speaker you may have more options.

 

[Jessie James]

I am running the Boston Acoustics G108-4 8" subwoofers. Ported enclosure is 0.8 cu ft, which is more than triple the size.

I also don't like ported boxes any more because the frequency response is often exaggerated when compared to a sealed enclosure. I like "accurate" systems as an old man, so I stick with sealed nowadays.

Now, of course, get this ... the speakers require 4.25" mounting depth. The space I have from the sheetmetal to the side panels is 3.5" deep. So much for easy. Back to square one.