Convertible - Trunk mounted subwoofer?

[Vegas_M]

Hi all.

I'm just about done my resto-mod TR7v8. It has electric windows and an alarm system with remote door locks. I found a great non-cd "head unit" that is very easy to fit flush into the dash. It has ports for an sd card and usb (Actually, I can't remember the last time I played a real cd except to copy onto digital media). I've got 1" tweeters mounted on either side of the dash & 5.25 mids in the doors. But the sound is still a bit "tinny" and I want to mount a subwoofer somewhere.



I've seen some people mount powered subwoofers behind a seat, but in a convertible that is just asking for it to be stolen. So, I want to figure out if and how I can mount a subwoofer in the trunk (the boot for those on the east side of the Atlantic).

I can design a sealed enclosure to fit it along the drivers side behind the rear wheel (I only need about .75cf volume), but I'm wondering about getting the sound out to the cabin as most of the trunk is sealed from it and there is a fuel tank in the way.

There are two fiberboard panels along the upright back of the convertible storage deck that I can remove, cut out carpet to match and put some grills there. And, either side above the wheel arches there is some foam and carpet over a board panel that can be modified. But with the top down, all 4 openings will be blocked by the top and frame, not to mention the tonneau cover.



Has anyone done something like this in the past? If so, what did you do to get the sound to the cabin, especially with the top down?

Thanks

Martin

[FI Spyder]

Hard to get sound in a convertible what with all the road noise about. That's why Miata put the speakers in the head rests. I talked to a guy at Van Dusen car show that put speakers in the TR7 headrests but didn't give it a listen so can't tell how it worked out. With the right speakers you can get big sound from small package as Bose makes a point of.

- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

[195r13s]

With a true sub-woofer set-up in trunk, openings won't matter. The 'sub' here is mostly below hearing threshold. Sub-sonic. That is, you feel a powered sub-woofer as much as hear it...vibrating the whole car body.

I had a single 12" sub, in a ported cabinet in trunk wheel-well in old M3 coupe. Worked really well. Speaker enclosures, however, have their own physics and formulas particular to each brand and size. Sounds like you are on the right track though, good luck.

Tom,

'76V6 FHC

[Spectatohead]

My car has thumpers under the seats. I recently hooked up a stereo. The thumpers run off of an amp under the passenger seat. They have been exposed to the weather and I'm sure that they aren't working the way they were supposed to. I have turned them off for the most part. They buzz and rattle but there is a hint that they may have once made the stereo sound good. The PO said that it was a killer stereo for its day. I have to investigate some more. I'll be able to look at the thumpers when I get around to pulling the seats to redo them and the carper. I replaced the Alpine stereo that came with the car but was missing the faceplate with a Sony unit. The MB Quart speakers that were in the doors need to be remounted. I broke the clips getting the speakers out because I couldn't figure out how they were mounted. They are supposed to be pretty good speakers though.

Jim Clark
'80 TR8
'97 Maxima 5spd

[stevie_a]

<font color="teal"><b>this is the sub with built in amp just behind the seat

It is an Alpine unit and with the seat in the driving position there is no way you can see it

and the sound is great, it kicks you in the back

Like having a back massage when up loud...[:D]</b></font id="teal">



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<font size="4"><font color="green"><i>If it's not broke don't fix it.</i></font id="green"></font id="size4">

http://www.smallbiztranscripts.co.uk

[Vegas_M]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by stevie_a</i>

<font color="teal"><b>this is the sub with built in amp just behind the seat </b></font id="teal"><hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My issue is that at 6' plus (and a wife with long legs), I need every inch of leg room I can get. With the seats fully back they are against the rear bulkhead and I still wish for more room.[|)]

I was looking at under seat powered units on the web last night. They have "marine" units that are supposed to be waterproof. I'll need to do some measuring this weekend to see if something like this might fit under the passenger side.

M.

[Sautie]

Question for Vegasm, what make & model is your radio that looks as though it fits flush?

[Vegas_M]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Sautie</i>

Question for Vegasm, what make & model is your radio that looks as though it fits flush?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It is a Clarion FZ150 "Digital Media Receiver", retail $89.00!!. http://www.clarion.com/us/en/products/2013/audio/source_units/digital_media_receiver/index.html I really liked the "retro" look of it. Most modern units have way too many digital lights and blinking thingies for my tastes.

It is 1/2 the depth of a full DIN CD unit. I had to do a bit of filing to get the frame to fit, but the unit "almost" fits flush with no other mods.

With an A/C box, as I have, in the stock location the unit just hits the box if you try to make it flush. So, I cut out 1/4" from the bottom of the stock Triumph opening and glued the piece to the top of the opening, lowering the radio in the enclosure. This gave me enough room for it to fit flush. You can see this change (bright reflection) in the previous posting picture.

Regards,

Martin

[KFSullivan]

Funny you should ask about a subwoofer in the trunk. My son and I have been tinkering with our 1980 convertible since last summer. Last fall we put in a slim head unit like you have, and some nice Kicker door speakers. The sound is pretty good, but some bass would really make things jump.

So just a few weeks ago my son picked up a really nice Kicker 13" sub already nicely mounted in a box at a swap meet. We wired it up and tested it out with the sub sitting on the passenger seat. It sounded awesome. Once we know everything worked, we ran the wires to the trunk (boot for our UK friends!) and mounted the sub. The sound was dreadful. The bass was really muted, but the bigger issue was the vibration induced noises thatfrom the trunk lid, the lights, and any other attached parts. Even when turning the volume/settings down we could not achieve anything close to the desired or acceptable bass levels.

Unfortunately, this dream was busted. I would consider the powered subwoofers that have already been mentioned that could go under or behind the seat. I'm 6'2", and I believe I could handle a little lost space behind my seat, but otherwise behind the passenger seat.

Good luck and let us know what you end up with!

Pete

1980 DHC Pagaent Blue

[trekcarbonboy]

Check out the TR7 Facebook page. A gent named Thomas Drokin recently posted his fantastic audio project. Cars paint is very nice too.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/2317132101/

Craig '75 2.0 FHC

[Vegas_M]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by trekcarbonboy</i>

Check out the TR7 Facebook page. A gent named Thomas Drokin recently posted his fantastic audio project. Cars paint is very nice too.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/2317132101/

Craig '75 2.0 FHC
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Ah, but you have to be a Facebook member to see it and I flat out refuse to do that. [8D]

[trekcarbonboy]

Craig '75 2.0 FHC

[Vegas_M]

Now that is one heck of an amp!

I wonder what the panel above the amp is?
And where are the speakers?

M.

[trekcarbonboy]

Ok last one. If you want more you'll have to bite the bullet and join facebook. [:p]
All credit for this work goes to Thomas Drokin. I have nothing to do with it. Just an admirer.



Craig '75 2.0 FHC

[trekcarbonboy]

Pretty cool stuff, but I would personally rather spend my money on performance upgrades. (or bicycles) I rarely use my stereo. Very nice work though.

Craig '75 2.0 FHC