Putting non-enclosed sub behind driver's seat
 

I was hoping to get some opinions on putting an aftermarket sub behind the driver's seat in the stock location. I don't want to pay for an enclosure, so how will the sound quality be since the woofer will not be enclosed. Any suggestions on what a good, reasonably priced sub should go back there?

Re: Putting non-enclosed sub behind driver's seat
 

some people have put their subs there and have been generally happy...although there are others who swear that it sounds awful.

from just the pure popularity, i believe a JL 10w3v2 will be good.

Will that one fit ok? I have heard of some people have problems with grille rattling and fitting issues

Without a proper enclosure, it's never going to sound anywhere as good as it should be. I personally really like the stock sub location, but I would definitely be using an enclosure if I was going for an upgrade. Give it a shot and see how you like it. You can always grab a box after if you don't like the sound

Would dynomatting all around help the cause?

all around the stock area I mean

It might help with a couple rattles but with that much airspace it's going to be hard to get it to sound the way it should with an enclosure. Not sure if you've taken a look behind the stock sub, but there's a TON of airspace around there and it's not even sealed properly.

well, like i said I am not looking to blow the doors off, just something to give it effect.

Yep, I understand :). You might be better off with an amped sub such as the Infinity Basslink. More bass, clear sound, not too powerful. This is the route i'm probably going myself. Not a fan of bbb (big boom bass ;)).

Can't you just get some sort of cheap box to throw in that location? Like a thin truck enclosure or something. You may spend less doing that then dynamatting the entire area..it would require a lot of Dynamat, there are holes all over the place, and there is too much airspace.

or just build a fibeglass/MDF enclosure for about $60

you will need an enclosure. if not, the sub will break, quick. you need a "free air" sub.

robcassell,

How about something like this? Really decent bass.

I built it using fiberglass except for the baffle (mdf).

Tony

stu46,
If you use a free air sub would his idea then work.
As you know im looking into this as well.
I know that infinity makes a good free air sub.

I'm not sure on the specs of free air subs, but I would think so. I don't know anyone that has a free air sub, so I can't comment on the sound either.

I had a Diamond CM3 10" free-air in the stock location untill it was stolen.

Sound was pretty decent. Problem was the rattling. If you want something that is just going to blend in, then you might be ok going in the stock location, free-air. But whenever I would turn it up (which is hard not uncommon to do since bass is a bit addictive) it would rattle like a motha and be unlistenable. On some songs it would sound awesome, even alll the way up, but most of the time it would be terrible when cranking. I guess it has to do with the frequencies it is hitting.

I am going to be putting in another system in the next couple of months to replace the stolen one. I will NOT be going free-air again. I will deffinately be putting the sub in some kind of enclosure, and with the proclivity of te stock spot to rattle, I will most likely be trying to stay away from there as well.

BriA5,

Sorry to hear about your car system. How did it happen? Seems like you have it stealth. Did somebody over heard your system and follow it or was it just some random theft.

The reason I have it in the stock location cause it is "stealth". I have so many breakins with my previous cars.

You are right. When I take the box out of the stock location, it sounds like 10 times better. I have the diamond mark 2.

tony

The install was stealth. The only thing that was visibly changed with the car was the grille over the sub (which was next to impossible to see from outside the car and at night, and looks stock anyway). When it would hit hard, the throw on the diamond sub would hit the inside of the stock grille, so it had to be modified to accomidate that. Keep this in mind for all of you who are thinking of going free-air.

I would have to guess the theft was a random act. There were a few members on this board that are from this area that have been complaining about their cars being broken into. A few had them broken into, the theif looked around in all the compartments and found nothing and took off taking nothing. I think they must have just broken into mine on a hunch and gotten lucky. Grrr...

sub
 

I had a JL audio 10 behind my seat and really it sounded like crap, I took it out and put the stealthbox in and it sounds much much better

Just do this. No loss of storage to speak of and provides for optimal bass response.

that is hot