I'm thinking about doing a custom build for subs in the roadster. I want to put two 10 inch subs behind the driver and passenger seats. I would like to put the subs in an enclosed box with the subs facing the seats. Here's my question: with two subs facing the seats, will my back and the passenger's back get beaten up by bass or will we not feel it much? I want to get good bass in the car but I don't want to have a back ache after 5 minutes of listening to it.

 

Should be a good massage but nothing too bad. Only one way to find out

 

I guess if it's over powering then I can just turn it down...

 

Good guess.

 

It all depends on how far the seat will be going back. If you are a tall ****, then the seat will be pretty close to the sub. If you are vertically challenged like me then the sub wil be pretty far away.

All that said, installing the subs behind the seats is about the worst kind of placement. Facing back in the trunk area under the strut bar will give you much better results. You can also make it look a lot nicer and you will 'feel' the bass a lot better and get a much larger range of frequencies too.

 

This is in a Roadster so putting one behind the strut bar will not be possible. My only options are either in the trunk or behind the seats.

 

Ah yes, I forgot it was a roadster. In the trunk is your ONLY option IMO.

 

So in the trunk it is... Where should I put it in the trunk and facing where? If I put it in the very front of the trunk with the subs facing the rear of the car... is that the best way to place them?

(edit: Yes, this is my first audio build)

 

Yes, very good idea. It wil allow the subs to load into the rear and extend you bass wave by bouncing off the back 'wall'. It will also effectively utilize your trunk as an enclosure itself. Good luck!

 

I would think that it would sound so much better inside the cabin than in the trunk? Why would the trunk sound better?

I want to try and save as much trunk space as possible.

I don't want to hear a bunch of trunk rattle while im top down. That is just another reason.

 

See my last post.
Hushmat or Dynamat is a good solution for rattle. There is always a sacrifice when installing subwoofers in your car.

 

It all depends on how hard you push it as to whether or not you'll get overwhelmed in the cabin. Same with the trunk.

My setup:

 

The trunk is a safe bet. If you buy good quality subs and amp, you won't be disappointed in the sound. In fact, you'll probably be surprised how loud it can get enclosed in your trunk, as another member said the subs actually use the trunk space as an enclosure.

 

My concern, which is why I went with the above solution, was sound quality with the top down. I didn't want to have to push everything hella hard to get sound through the trunk, through the top, into the cabin. If for no other reason than my sound is for me, and not for everybody within a block of my car.

 

If sound quality is your number one concern...ditch the convertible. Seriously, I see so many convertible owners that expect massive amounts of clean bass with very little power coming out of their subs with the top down. Think about it....its like taking a Ghetto Blaster to the beach and expecting mind-numbing bass out of it. Its open air! You are completely open to the elements! Even with the condom-thin roof up, the bass is going to want to keep going OUT of the car. Convertible designs are the absolute WORST for bass.

Your trunk is like a big old bandpass box in a sense. Why not use this 'box' to help load the subs and create a larger chamber for them. This will effectively make your bass more powerful with less power. Putting them right behind the seats is like placing them on the trunk lid and hoping they'll blast your ears off. I have seen it time and time again dude...."I've got a million watts and four twelves but it sounds like a burping Goat on acid? WTF? I don't get it?"

Its all about placement and enclosure design...then the subs and then the amp.

 

You mention a dynamat or hushmat, would I need to line the whole trunk in it then work the fiberglass above the mat? After the first I'm going to start stripping the trunk and laying fiberglass. This is my first build so the progress will be slow and deliberate.

 

Check out my audio build for all my hushmat techniques. Its pretty concise.

 

So GSX you decided to just go with the trunk install? In my S2K I didn't have any option except to go in the trunk and I was actually pretty happy with the results. I guess I may just go with a trunk install.

Bad part is that I already have my amp mounted in the passenger glove box and have the stock Bose ripped out.