MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Audio / Security / Electrical => Topic started by: Anonymous on November 15, 2005, 20:55

Title: under dash sub
Post by: Anonymous on November 15, 2005, 20:55
fitting some speakers behind the seats. the 2 side compartments that you can remove for extra space in the cubby holes seems the best, i was thinking of putting them back in the car, cutting holes in them and fitting them in those. has anyone else done this?


edit, renamed this thread seens its gone into sub talk
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Post by: Slacey on November 15, 2005, 22:08
Yep, plenty of people including myself - it works well too. See my thread here -  m http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1200 (http://www.mr2roc.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1200) m
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Post by: Anonymous on November 15, 2005, 22:14
no i mean inside the cubby holes, to the sides (cut into the parts you can remove for extra space)
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Post by: Slacey on November 16, 2005, 07:21
Ah, sorry. I don't think anyone has attempted that - also those bits are rather flimsy, I reckon add some weight to them and they would constantly fall out unless you added some additional mounting points. Also, with the cubby doors shut would you really hear them?
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Post by: kanujunkie on November 16, 2005, 09:18
with the doors shut it'll sound muffled to hell, unless your dumping the doors that'll never work, sorry to be blunt
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Post by: Anonymous on November 16, 2005, 09:20
yeah i know it'll be muffled, but surely i can use those back speakers as a sub then? it'll sound more bass-y with it being muffled
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Post by: kanujunkie on November 16, 2005, 09:27
Quote from: "razorsharp192"yeah i know it'll be muffled, but surely i can use those back speakers as a sub then? it'll sound more bass-y with it being muffled

no you cant, muffleing a component wont give you the bass frequencies of a sub, it'll sound dead and dull. There is no replacement for a sub, they have a lot larger stroke in there movement and a larger surface area to move the air required for those low frequencies
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Post by: aaronjb on November 16, 2005, 09:58
I suppose you could replace the side panels with some flat bits of MDF or ply, that use the standard attachments (you'd need them removable if you have a hardtop, as you have to get to the rear window heater wire there), then cut most of the main doors away and cover them in acoustically transparent material - then you'd maintain the storage area and get good sound, too.

Assuming you can find a way of attaching bits of wood where the side inner panels used to be.
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Post by: kanujunkie on November 16, 2005, 10:09
or you could build one of these

(http://www.tandridgecanoe.co.uk/roadster/speakers.jpg)

its going back in this arvo following the softop install
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Post by: edward.carter on November 16, 2005, 10:14
Mmmmmmm   s8) 8) s8)
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Post by: Anonymous on November 16, 2005, 21:39
yeah i actually want to be able to use the storage bins though

i'll give my idea a go i think, if it sounds crap i'll just take them out, cause i've not got the side panels in at the mo anyway so it doesnt matter if i wreck them
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Post by: kanujunkie on November 16, 2005, 22:01
Quote from: "razorsharp192"yeah i actually want to be able to use the storage bins though

i'll give my idea a go i think, if it sounds crap i'll just take them out, cause i've not got the side panels in at the mo anyway so it doesnt matter if i wreck them

i can as well, i've got a spare set of doors for the bins and i can swap them over in 10mins, i've got a trip on the amps so 1 press and i can pull the speakers out and put in the blank doors. problem sorted
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Post by: Anonymous on November 16, 2005, 22:20
sounds like far too much effort to me. i'll give my idea a go with some little subs in either side, see how it sounds
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Post by: Anonymous on November 17, 2005, 22:46
Will the std Fischer Price cope with adding rear speakers then? what is the recommended wattage that can be used without amplifying?

I hav ebought the Focals for the front, but would like a nice set of speakers to fit into the bins, any reccomendations & prices?

Thanks,
Chris.
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Post by: LeeUK on November 18, 2005, 17:03
Waste of time mate, if you want a sub sound you have to give up some of you storage space for a sealed box for the subs else they won't work properly.  The only other solution is an under dash sub sub box.  I personally, if I was going to fit another sub would go for a fiber glass box like buster had in the rear bin with either an 8-inch rainbow or focal sub (focal is louder apparently).  I wouldn't waste my money on trying to fit subs in those corner bits of plastic as they won't fit, they're not sealed and even if they were sealled they would never have enough air volume within the box to work well (it's all about the volume of the box  s:wink: :wink: s:wink:  ).  

I hope this helps, going on the fact you do not wish to sacrifice space I would fit an under dash sub (I may make one at some stage when I have some free time!)


I've had some 6x9's sitting in a box for a while, they're the new Alpine type R's.  They're pretty good speakers, look rather cool too!  I've fitted them in the rear doors.
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Post by: heathstimpson on November 18, 2005, 18:01
Quote from: "LeeUK"Waste of time mate, if you want a sub sound you have to give up some of you storage space for a sealed box for the subs else they won't work properly.  The only other solution is an under dash sub sub box.  
I didn't want to loose storage space so fitted decent door speakers (Boston Acoustics) , under dash sub, on amp under the rear plastic feeding the sub, and one on top of the plastic for the door speakers. This takes the space taken by the jack which is now in the front with the wheel and it sounds sweet  s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
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Post by: aaronjb on November 18, 2005, 18:05
I have an unused UD Jr enclosure, too  s;) ;) s;)  (Under dash enclosure to take a JL 6W0 sub)
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Post by: heathstimpson on November 18, 2005, 18:07
Quote from: "aaronjb"I have an unused UD Jr enclosure, too  s;) ;) s;)  (Under dash enclosure to take a JL 6W0 sub)
Snap this up as they are a great bit of kit  s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
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Post by: kanujunkie on November 18, 2005, 18:45
have a read

 m http://www.diysubwoofers.org/faq.htm (http://www.diysubwoofers.org/faq.htm) m

just a few basics of building a descent sub unit and what happens if its in too small a space
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Post by: Liz on November 19, 2005, 10:51
How much for the sub Aaron sweeedie?
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Post by: Anonymous on November 19, 2005, 14:00
is there a "make your own under dash sub" tutorial somewhere? so its the right size/shape etc?

ps i'm 2nd in line for the sub if its for sale!  s:D :D s:D
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Post by: aaronjb on November 19, 2005, 15:11
Quote from: "Liz"How much for the sub Aaron sweeedie?

Bearing in mind it was £180 new I think, and it's not been out of the box. Oh - remember it's driver-less (I never got around to buying the sub to go in it, so it's just the enclosure), when it was up for sale earlier this year I said £150.. There were no takers, though, and since it's you - make me an offer  s:) :) s:)

Quote from: "razorsharp192"is there a "make your own under dash sub" tutorial somewhere? so its the right size/shape etc?

I don't think so - not that I've seen anyway.. the company making them kept their design a pretty closely guarded secret (and they were expensive, as you can see). There was talk of someone else starting to make them, but I don't think that ever got off the ground.
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Post by: Anonymous on November 19, 2005, 17:23
cant one just be made from mdf? if you've got one can you please take some measurements?

  s:D :D s:D
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Post by: Liz on November 19, 2005, 17:41
Quote from: "razorsharp192"cant one just be made from mdf? if you've got one cant you take some measurements?
Please?




Aaron I will pm you my dear!
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Post by: Anonymous on November 19, 2005, 21:20
If you do a search for under dash sub you'll come across a post which contains both pictures and dimensions.<VBG>  I would provide you with the link but I don't know how.
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Post by: kanujunkie on November 19, 2005, 21:27
Quote from: "Moleshome"I would provide you with the link but I don't know how.

go to the post you want to link to, then copy the URL from the address bar and post it here
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Post by: Anonymous on November 19, 2005, 21:37
I believe it's this one.

 m http://www.mr2roc.org/forum/viewtopic.p ... ions#76067 (http://www.mr2roc.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1862&start=25&highlight=dimensions#76067) m
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Post by: Anonymous on November 20, 2005, 10:29
ah ok, looks easy enough, i'll make one myself. couple of questions though..

how is it mounted under the dash?

do i need to put any holes in it anywhere for the air to flow? how many? where and how big?
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Post by: Ernie Ball on November 20, 2005, 10:48
There's a guy on Spyderchat who makes UD sub boxes.  He seems to think  that the boxes he makes wouldn't fit a RHD '2.  However, if we had the measurements of a box that we know does fit a RHD '2, he'd probably be willing to do a GB over here.

Here's the thread over there:

 m http://www.spyderchat.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=25211 (http://www.spyderchat.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=25211) m
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Post by: Anonymous on November 20, 2005, 10:51
$235 + $20 shipping and handling !!


christ, it'd only cost about £6 for the wood, i'll make my own
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Post by: Ernie Ball on November 20, 2005, 10:59
That's actually a reasonable price as these things go.
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Post by: Anonymous on November 20, 2005, 11:00
hmm, if i can make these then i might have to make a few more. just need to know the answers to the questions posted above then i can get making one

oh, also, on the pics of that one in the other thread theres metal bits (look like bolts, but from the shots of the inside there's no need for them??)sticking out the sides, and 2 blue (plastic?) things on the front, what are they?
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Post by: Anonymous on November 20, 2005, 17:57
Quote from: "Ernie Ball"That's actually a reasonable price as these things go.

ITYM That's as big a rip-off as the commercially available ones.

You're looking at £2-3 of MDF, £0.60 for the speaker connections, £0.50 for silicone sealant, glue etc., £1 for carpeting, £1 for threaded rod, nuts etc., call it £6 total for materials.

For the price they're asking you could buy the tools as well and still be in profit.
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Post by: heathstimpson on November 20, 2005, 18:07
Quote from: "Moleshome"
Quote from: "Ernie Ball"That's actually a reasonable price as these things go.

ITYM That's as big a rip-off as the commercially available ones.

You're looking at £2-3 of MDF, £0.60 for the speaker connections, £0.50 for silicone sealant, glue etc., £1 for carpeting, £1 for threaded rod, nuts etc., call it £6 total for materials.

For the price they're asking you could buy the tools as well and still be in profit.
You're correct but you're paying for the amount of time it took to get this baby to fit under the dash. I'm an engineer and Grant (who ran the GB) is a super engineer but realised the effort put in to get this right. I was willing to pay for this great design. You can say this about anything bought in the shops. I work for Kodak and you don't want to know what it really costs to produce film, photographic paper etc compared to what you pay when you order an enlargement  s:? :? s:?
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Post by: aaronjb on November 20, 2005, 18:16
Quote from: "Moleshome"You're looking at £2-3 of MDF

You do both realise that the US ones are fibreglass, not MDF (hence the complicated shape that utilises all of the available space), right?

Still, if you want to start making them and selling them for £7 a throw, go for it - people will be grateful (though you might begrudge selling your time for £1 for Xhrs).
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Post by: Anonymous on November 20, 2005, 19:55
I don't expect them to be sold at cost but the markup on these is taking the pi$$.

Anyone producing copies of the Musical touch one has no development costs and the total development costs for the glass fibre one is a polythene bag and a can of expanding foam.
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Post by: Ernie Ball on November 20, 2005, 20:21
If you want to start making them and selling them for half that price, I'm sure you'd make yourself a tidy sum.
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Post by: Anonymous on November 21, 2005, 20:16
Hey I'm loving the spirit on this post. All I can say is "Bulldog breed"  s:D :D s:D
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Post by: Anonymous on November 21, 2005, 20:42
started making mine today, got all the wood cut and got some parts on, the glue's drying at the mo, looking good though. i'll take some pics tomorrow   s:) :) s:)  

i've got enough wood to make another one, would anyone be interested and how much are you willing to pay?
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Post by: Anonymous on November 22, 2005, 16:52
Quote from: "razorsharp192"how much are you willing to pay?
£8?
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Post by: heathstimpson on November 22, 2005, 17:28
Quote from: "IHateJam"
Quote from: "razorsharp192"how much are you willing to pay?
£8?
Worth a little more than that me thinks  s:? :? s:?
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Post by: Anonymous on November 23, 2005, 09:38
Quote from: "heathstimpson"
Quote from: "IHateJam"
Quote from: "razorsharp192"how much are you willing to pay?
£8?
Worth a little more than that me thinks  s:? :? s:?
I thought that was generous, he gets £2 labour then   s:D :D s:D