A Fresh Take on Subwoofer Locations

[Tieniber]

Hi everyone,

For a while now, I've been working on fitting a subwoofer into my Boxster. As most of you know - not a easy task. Both the footwell and behind the seat options take valuable space from the passenger, which I wanted to avoid. Recently, I saw JAAY showing off his rear compartment woofer, which looked pretty awesome, but I wanted to try something different.

So, I realized that with a single din radio and climate control in the upper console, the lower front console had quite a bit of empty space behind it. After measuring, it looked like I just might be able to squeeze a JL 6w3v3 subwoofer in there, either facing upwards or forward.

Tonight I completed a proof-of-concept box for the woofer, and it sounds great! I ended up aiming the woofer upwards, and actually building an inverted box. That is, the speaker faces into the box, which is a wedge shape as shown in the attached images. The angle needs to be steeper and the top of the box is a bit too long, but I got the general concept in there.

Now, this was just a quick mockup box to see if my idea would work (I wasn't so sure about the inverted box), so now the real work begins. I need to fit the original lower console plastic shell over the speaker box, which is definitely going to be a feat of engineering when complete. As always, not a lot of room to work with!

I'll be sure to post updates as I make progress!

[Pat]

I like the idea, and look forward to seeing how it progresses.

[Deserion]

Is it a good idea to have such a large magnet that close to the airbag computer?

[dirkdiggler]

Best solution I came up with for decent stereo in a boxster is:

5 channel soundstream amp located in front trunk.


2 channels run too the dash speakers

2 channels run to the stock sound bar thing in the rear behind the seats

subwoofer channel ran 2ohm to qty 2 6.5 inch sub woofers located in the doors.



No customization needed or space sacrificed.

qty 2 6.5 subwoofers can put out alot of BASS actually.

[Tieniber]

Good point about the airbag sensor - I had thought about that too. It doesn't seem to have any kind of magnetic attraction. Does anyone know what type of airbag sensor is used in the 986? According to wikipedia there are a number of different types...

[Tieniber]

Well, I did it! Looks awesome, sounds awesome!

http://imgur.com/a/5VY7E#aeox3

[Gary in BR]

it does look good.

[Tieniber]

Thanks!

[Topless]

Nice! That is the cleanest sub install I have seen in a Boxster yet. Bravo!

If you wish to fine tune your enclosure, you can plug in T/S parameters and box dimensions here:
Speaker Box Enclosure Designer / Calculator

The calculator will recommend damping material and port size to make the most of your design.

[Splitpin]

I'm sure the fore and aft sensor is in that box, that's why it's mounted like it is, there will be a forward arrow on it. The sensors are steel ball bearings on springs, these could be affected.
The case material itself will be non magnetic, some form of cast alloy.

[healthservices]

I have a Boxster in my driveway I'm trying to get started and it has a box in the spare tire with a tube leading into the passenger compartment, I'll take a couple pictures later.

[healthservices]

[particlewave]

Did you buy the car like that, or have it done? I read about a frunk sub with tube to passenger compartment, but never saw any pics. Good solution, but seems like a lot of work...how difficult was it?

[healthservices]

I know very little about this car other than it won't start. A member brought it over and I just happen to notice the sub.

[Ghostrider 310]

I have a fantastic idea for my neighbors regarding their children living at home and the relocation of their sunbwoofers to their sigmoid colon proceeding all the way to the illeocecal valve, should sound phenomenal with that BOSE style folded tube technology behind it, the body wave radio. You could feel the vibrations and the rest of us can go back to stacking our china.

[boxster6354]

Originally Posted by ghostrider 310

i have a fantastic idea for my neighbors regarding their children living at home and the relocation of their sunbwoofers to their sigmoid colon proceeding all the way to the illeocecal valve, should sound phenomenal with that bose style folded tube technology behind it, the body wave radio. You could feel the vibrations and the rest of us can go back to stacking our china.

i like!!
:d

[Homeboy981]

Let's see more pics of that spare tire sub thingy. Clever design. I wonder where the enclosure came from? Of course I wonder how much of it you can actually hear/feel since the trunk/frunk compartments are pretty tightly sealed. Hopefully there are no tire balancing weights to fall off since all the vibes are transmitted through that tire. Also, wouldn't the tire act to actually reflect more of the bass, since it will have some flex? Interesting.

[2003S]

Originally Posted by Homeboy981

Let's see more pics of that spare tire sub thingy. Clever design. I wonder where the enclosure came from? Of course I wonder how much of it you can actually hear/feel since the trunk/frunk compartments are pretty tightly sealed. Hopefully there are no tire balancing weights to fall off since all the vibes are transmitted through that tire. Also, wouldn't the tire act to actually reflect more of the bass, since it will have some flex? Interesting.

Google Spare Tire Subwoofer enclosure -- there are a suprising number of these things available. I believe you'd have to port it into the cabin to really feel it, though. the spare tire placement is perfect for this for in a boxster, though...

[stephen wilson]

The spare-tire sub. is a popular OEM solution, my wife's RSX has one.