Sub and Amp Placement

[3 for the money]

Where oh where should I do it...

Shout Box Recap:
[08-20-2007 09:09 AM] mndsm: Just get some 1/2 ply and put that under the carpet.
[08-20-2007 09:09 AM] dmention7: no much room down there
[08-20-2007 09:09 AM] dmention7: Mounting the amp beneath the seat could be a PITA....
[08-20-2007 09:09 AM] 3 for the money: yea, I was thinking that, but didn't wanna drill holes in my trunk
[08-20-2007 09:08 AM] mndsm: Lawl.
[08-20-2007 09:08 AM] 3 for the money: I sold what I could to a drug dealer and almost made even
[08-20-2007 09:08 AM] mndsm: Bolt the sub box down so that you have to remove the subs to remove the box, and put the amp behind that.
[08-20-2007 09:08 AM] 3 for the money: thank god
[08-20-2007 09:08 AM] 3 for the money: yea, happened before, except the subs were jammed behind the rear seat
[08-20-2007 09:08 AM] mndsm: I see.
[08-20-2007 09:08 AM] 3 for the money: Like if someone decides they need a new stereo
[08-20-2007 09:08 AM] mndsm: So if someone pops your trunk they get everything kinda deal?
[08-20-2007 09:07 AM] mndsm: Whaddya mean, like speakers and amp?
[08-20-2007 09:07 AM] mndsm: Can be a PITA.
[08-20-2007 09:07 AM] 3 for the money: I'm afraid of puting everything close together though
[08-20-2007 09:07 AM] mndsm: Problem occurs when you have to run wiring from the front, all the way to the back of the car.
[08-20-2007 09:07 AM] dmention7: seat back FTW
[08-20-2007 09:07 AM] 3 for the money: Yea I'm tryin to keep it down but get good stuff
[08-20-2007 09:06 AM] mndsm: That way you can fold down the seat and fiddle with it.
[08-20-2007 09:06 AM] mndsm: As far as mounting the amp, bolt it to the back seat.
[08-20-2007 09:06 AM] dmention7: Well, you're looking at $130 for the amp, plus about the same for the sub, so that's almost 300 right there
[08-20-2007 09:06 AM] mndsm: If you're like me and need WAY too much sound, that'd never be enough.
[08-20-2007 09:06 AM] 3 for the money: blah, I had a Kenwood before and I had no problems, except it got stolen
[08-20-2007 09:05 AM] mndsm: If you're more of a rock/drum type person, those are ideal.
[08-20-2007 09:05 AM] 3 for the money: only
[08-20-2007 09:05 AM] mndsm: I guess it depends on your listending style though.
[08-20-2007 09:05 AM] dmention7: Only $300 for a 10" 200W powered sub... very compact as well
[08-20-2007 09:05 AM] mndsm: No really deep frequencies though. Tend to wash out on the more pounding bass.
[08-20-2007 09:05 AM] mndsm: Yeah, those have REALLY clean sound.
[08-20-2007 09:04 AM] dmention7: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Ru8o2pu...p?i=108BASSLIN
[08-20-2007 09:04 AM] dmention7: That's what Colin has, and he's very happy with it
[08-20-2007 09:04 AM] dmention7: Stephan, you should check out an inifinity basslink
[08-20-2007 09:03 AM] 3 for the money: Amp, http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAu...roductID=17790
Where oh where should I do it...

[mndsm]

Depends on your setup. I know Jay and I saw the amp already, maybe you could post links to the stuff so that we know what you're working with?

[dmention7]

I think Tom had a good idea. Attach it to the back of your sub box, and bolt the sub box to the floor. That way, you just fold down a rear seat to access the amp, and it's all secured to your car.

[mndsm]

Plus if you want the help, i'm sure we can figure out a way to even fab something that bolts it to the spare tire mount, so there won't be any hole punching in your car. Better hope you have AAA in that event though.


Maybe sometime soon i'll take a look at Colins car and see what we are working with. They're virtually identical, so it ought to be easy to come up with something.

[3 for the money]

Sub:
http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=14953
Amp:
http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=17790
Box:
Standard 10'' Q-logic box (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-IkeRzndI7ho/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=044QLH10S6)

[3 for the money]

I was thinking if I kept the Amp close to the battery I could run a ground to the battery instead of the Chassis. Worth it?
I would like to mount it to the box but I have two concerns. The box might be too small, and thieves.

[dmention7]

The ground should go to the chassis anyways

[3 for the money]

Why you say that Jay?

[mndsm]

Ground it to the battery and you could have a battery that shorts out and shoots hot flaming acid all over the engine bay. Not a good time IMO.

[dmention7]

I couldn't give you details, as electrical systems are not my forte, but I do know that all electrical systems (including the alternator) are grounded to the chassis, and that the negative terminal of the battery is then connected to the chassis.

I can't really find a good explanation, but it is standard practice

[dmention7]

Yeah, if you ground to the battery, you are probably putting more load on the battery than necessary--grounding to the chassis will help to distribute the electrical load more. Maybe? No?

[3 for the money]

Hmmm... Exploding battery...
Don't wanna end up like Corbs lol.

[Picklz]

First off I agree with Jay and Tom, ground it to the chassis not the battery, it's not really practical to mount the amp close enough to the battery to ground it direct anyway.

As far as being worried about someone getting everything, if they want it they are going to get it, now mounting the amp so that it's hidden may prevent them from getting it if they are in a smash and grab situation I spose. Under one of the front seats may work, just make sure it gets enough ventilation.

Also I would not recommend mounting it upside down to the bottom of the seat as all the heat will roll up back over the amp.

Mounting the amp to the back of the sub box and then bolting the sub box down is a nice way to go, that or build a custom floor with room for the amp beneath it in the trunk, make sure you pop in a couple fans, then either mount the sub in the floor or put a box on top. Can be a good way to hide things if its done correctly.

An alarm system is another thing to consider if your really worried about your stuff getting stolen, also try and be smart about when/where you play the system, keep it down a few miles away from parking lots, your neighborhood, anytime your car is going to be parked.

[pingwin77]

I always thought that bolting the amp to the back of the sub is a bad thing to do. Doesn't the vibration of the sub rattle thing loose in the amp?

[3 for the money]

Never thought about that....
Thanks for the input Mike.

[mndsm]

A properly dampened box should vibrate all that much. if it does, you're losing too much sound.

[dmention7]

true. Think of all the powered subs on the market.... Just make sure that box is heavy as a sumbitch and you've got nothing to worry about

[micahlarson]

I was thinking if I kept the Amp close to the battery I could run a ground to the battery instead of the Chassis. Worth it?
I would like to mount it to the box but I have two concerns. The box might be too small, and thieves.

Run gthe ground to the chasis if that is an option or drill a hole into the frame itself use a wire brush attachment on a drill and scrape all the paint and primer off of the area around the hole you drilled and use a nut/washer etc. with a ring terminal and screw it down. depending on amp size use approp. wire

[micahlarson]

I couldn't give you details, as electrical systems are not my forte, but I do know that all electrical systems (including the alternator) are grounded to the chassis, and that the negative terminal of the battery is then connected to the chassis.

I can't really find a good explanation, but it is standard practice

correct.. you don't have to run a neg. lead to the battery

[micahlarson]

First off I agree with Jay and Tom, ground it to the chassis not the battery, it's not really practical to mount the amp close enough to the battery to ground it direct anyway.

As far as being worried about someone getting everything, if they want it they are going to get it, now mounting the amp so that it's hidden may prevent them from getting it if they are in a smash and grab situation I spose. Under one of the front seats may work, just make sure it gets enough ventilation.

Also I would not recommend mounting it upside down to the bottom of the seat as all the heat will roll up back over the amp.

Mounting the amp to the back of the sub box and then bolting the sub box down is a nice way to go, that or build a custom floor with room for the amp beneath it in the trunk, make sure you pop in a couple fans, then either mount the sub in the floor or put a box on top. Can be a good way to hide things if its done correctly.

An alarm system is another thing to consider if your really worried about your stuff getting stolen, also try and be smart about when/where you play the system, keep it down a few miles away from parking lots, your neighborhood, anytime your car is going to be parked.

In the best of circ. mounting an amp to the back of the box is not the best way to go because the screws you use to mount the amp will change the airspace inside of the box slightly and also decrease the integrity (sp.) of the box itself.

[micahlarson]

I always thought that bolting the amp to the back of the sub is a bad thing to do. Doesn't the vibration of the sub rattle thing loose in the amp?

it can, and I've seen it

[micahlarson]

A properly dampened box should vibrate all that much. if it does, you're losing too much sound.

all boxes vibrate but the thing you have to worry about is the box flexing..if the box flex's, again you change the air space inside of the box and can damage the sub and get undesired sounds and performance

[micahlarson]

what exactly are you trying to get out of your system.. and what kind of install are you looking for..?

[mndsm]

He posted the install components somewhere on page 1.

[dmention7]

Micah, you postwhore... try using the M-quote button next time! LOL

[micahlarson]

yeah you know... I might as well just put up somewhere if you have an audio question heres my number or just meet me at a wed. night meet lol

[micahlarson]

it says page cannot be found ... :(

[3 for the money]

My main concerns are making it clean and not taking up a lot of space

[micahlarson]

depends on the type of music and how much bass you want out of your system and what you mean by clean.. clean by stock looking? or clean by wires not everywhere? clean by stock looking you can take out a rear panel use a kicker CVT sub part # 07cvt124 or 07cvt122 and make a fiberglass box to replace the panel. carpet it to match your trunk and use a kicker grill cover part # 06G12 and put that over the front to keep it protected. and you can use that kenwood amp to power that sub. mainly shallow mount because you can get away with .5-1 c/ft. of air sealed or ported usually

[speed_addict]

Come to the meet on wednesday and check out what i did with my stuff. i was worried about hard cornering and my box movind so i used the factory amp rack brackets in the msp to bolt my sub box to and avoided mounting it to the floor. drilling shit into the bottom of your car is never a good idea (gas tank and fuel lines can be drilled into!) and i mounted my amp to the seat. its easier to take the sub box out that way without having to disconnect everything and it looks very clean.

[micahlarson]

ahh that's why you know what your drilling into before you drill... look before you screw! :)

[dmention7]

look before you screw! :)

Solid advice for a number of situations.

[micahlarson]

you know I'm always looking out for you guys ;)

[speed_addict]

yes but when you mount shit to the floor, you put holes in your frame... i'm not a fan of that... lol.

[mndsm]

You mean they aren't speed holes? I mean, it is a mazdaspeed car.....

[dmention7]

weight reduction FTW! I thought that's why my pedals have holes drilled in them..

[micahlarson]

yes but that's the best way to ground.. straight to the chassy.. not a seat belt bolt or anything else :)

[mndsm]

What if I ground it to my airbag sensors? Is that safe?

[micahlarson]

you guys I swear..

[3 for the money]

I want to ground straght to the Chasis in a good hidded location.
I'm thinking about making a steel bracket to bolt to the sub box that fits over the existing back seat bolts bracket, that solves the problem of drilling holes.
I pulled the bolts yesterday and they are long enough.

[mndsm]

Perfect then!

[micahlarson]

good man! sounds like plan

[3 for the money]

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/2809/junkntrunkco4.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/2794/ampncapxb7.jpg

[dmention7]

damn stephan, that looks nice and clean! must've turned out so nice because i wasn't there to "help"! lol

[micahlarson]

looks clean :) I approve ;)