system setup help

[wolfstick]

I'm going to be upgrading my stereo setup real soon and had a few questions. I'd really like to mount the sub facing the cab thru the ski hole that I'd cut out. I've heard mixed reviews on this, but none from anyone who has actually done it. I'd like to get an opinion from someone who has actually done it or heard it. I'm getting a JL 12W6 and will have a Phoenix Gold ti400.2 pushing it. If there are any other ideas (custom enclosure) thatwould allow me to increase base still facing the cab, please let me know. I realize I'd be losing some bass with this sub positioning, but I can't stand trunk rattle.

My other question is whether upgrading my deck is actually going to improve my stereo sound noticeably. I've heard mixed reviews on this as well. Some say it allows the speakers and sub to play cleaner and louder- others say it sends pretty much the same signal.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[vbrock1137]

Hmm, I don't know if the direction will effect trunk rattle, but I could be wrong. As you stated though, you will probably hear less bass with this setup. I currently have subs facing towards the rear with a "ski hole" I cut myself and they sound great.

An aftermarket headunit will definately help your bass sound better. Not necessarily louder, but better. I don't think the stock unit sends out as low of frequencies as aftermarket units do (so it may be a louder at the low, low end), and you have no way to control your sub volume, unless you have a wired remote from your amp.

I ran the stock unit with subs for a little while, and it sounded ok, but the flexibilty of an aftermarket unit was definately a great improvement.

Additionally, I sold my old Infinity Basslink to a friend of mine who mounted it facing into the cabin through the "ski hole" of his BMW and it sounded terrible. I had it mounted under the rear shelf in my car, firing upwards and it sounded great. I don't know how much this relates to a traditional subwoofer setup though because the Basslink has a powered woofer on one side and a "passive radiator" on the other side, so the placement effects how the sound waves from each interact with each other. Thought I'd mention it though.

[audiophile]

well to start off, you wont be hearing any trunk rattle from inside the car. trunk rattle on these cars are very minimal or non- existent.
as far as the bass issue goes, yes you are right about losing some bass, but you will also lose some frequency response from the sub itself.
and yes, upgrading the deck will improve the sound, over the stock deck. i have an eclipse 8053, and the sound is awesome. for the signal, pretty much any aftermarket deck that has a sub output will have a better signal than your stock deck because your stock deck doesn't have a sub output.
either way you go with the sub, it will sound better, than having no sub

[714guy]

Originally posted by audiophile
well to start off, you wont be hearing any trunk rattle from inside the car. trunk rattle on these cars are very minimal or non- existent.

I don't know what kinda of W202 you have, but my car rattled like crazy before I added dampening material. Even now the rear bumper rattles a bit, I still have to dampen that too. My system isn't even that loud also.

OK now to answer the original question. Either way a sub in the trunk will cause rattles. I have my sub in my wheel well facing up, I have also removed the rear speakers, but i have built an amp rack so it partially blocks the wholes. Anyhow the bass still carries thru to the cabin but not as much as I'd like it too.

In my old car I had my sub facing the rear trunk, and thats what sounded best. I've talked to many installer and they've also said that. . . Ok just read that you wanted to mount it towards the cab, so for that I'd say make an inclosure so the Subs are slanted like \/
that way you can push more air into the cabin.

Any yes, a HU with make a difference, like night and day.

[rollinrealbig]

hmmm, im kind of an audio freak,


I wouldnt put the sub in the ski hole because I really wouldnt want people touching it alot, so id try the med. box in the middle of your stock subs, cut out a hole but it may be kind of hard. also you should already have three stock subs in.

my suggestion is - buy a good HU like pioneer eclipse or alpine and have that installed, tune it rite and you mite just like the way it is and not have to buy a sub and amp.

and trunk rats. - i stuck part of an old bushing between my lisence plates and frame, another area that rattles is the med. box lid - use some type of weather seal or something.

the stock subs sound nice and clean with an aftermarket HU, but when you turn them up louder they get nasty.

[Teck]

I did it like that,







easy install. I took the signal from one of the rear speakers...sounds really great!

[wolfstick]

I appreciate the responses from everyone. I just got my system installed yesterday and love it. I got a Pioneer Premier 680 HU, a JL Audio 12W6 and a Phoenix Gold Xenon 400.1 amp to push it. I cut the ski hole out and faced the sub thru it. I sounds really clean, loud when I want it, and absolutely no trunk rattle. I had the stock unit and stock cd changer taken out, so if anyone is interested let me know.

[c280nz]

personally i found it is not as loud pointing through the seat hole, but is better quality and less rattle, compared to where i have left it now which is at the front of the boot pointing backwards towards the numberplate, i opened the ski hole like that and it seems to be louder although the sound has to go over the top of the sub box b4 it comes into the cabin,,, if that makes sence to ya.
when it points backwards it sorta uses your hole boot as a sub box aswell which makes it louder.
my 2c

edit:
oh yea and teck if you tidyed up the sub wiring it would look alot better imo.

[Teck]

Originally posted by c280nz
personally i found it is not as loud pointing through the seat hole, but is better quality and less rattle, compared to where i have left it now which is at the front of the boot pointing backwards towards the numberplate, i opened the ski hole like that and it seems to be louder although the sound has to go over the top of the sub box b4 it comes into the cabin,,, if that makes sence to ya.
when it points backwards it sorta uses your hole boot as a sub box aswell which makes it louder.
my 2c

edit:
oh yea and teck if you tidyed up the sub wiring it would look alot better imo.

Thanks for the info. I am not an audio specialist so I did what the audio guy told me. And the wiring problem is solved, these where the very first pics after the install