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      10-08-2009, 02:43 AM   #1
klipseracer
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How big of a custom enclosure could be created in stock, under-seat holes?

I am considering installing some earthquake sws-10's into my car. I read the sws-8 threads and I'm compelled to give it a shot. I haven't taken anything apart yet, but I do see that half of the sub is under the seat rail which prevents me from building 'upwards'. How much volume do you think could be had by gutting it and having a custom fiberglass enclosure made out of that space?
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      10-08-2009, 07:03 AM   #2
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Dont even try, your safest bet is to use the space in your boot under the floor and stick a 10" er in there.
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      10-08-2009, 04:35 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by marcm View Post
Dont even try, your safest bet is to use the space in your boot under the floor and stick a 10" er in there.
Why? So it can sound like my system sucks? I've got 1000w RMS going to an Eclipse 12" Titanium 88120 in my 2005 330i and I have a hard time hearing it over the stock harmon kardon system unless my ski pass is open. It pounds when I open the trunk, just doesn't make any sense to install an 80 pound setup back there, sacrifice my trunk for a system that costs way too much and doesn't perform. My car doesn't have the coldweather package anyway.
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      10-08-2009, 10:10 PM   #4
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Ive thought about a larger setup under there also. Check it out and let us know what you find.
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      10-08-2009, 10:19 PM   #5
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I was talking to technic about a couple ideas. But the one I'm thinking about now, would be very very hard but It may be possible. Maybe not logical for everyone but here is my thoughts.

The sws10 should fit in that spot, but the effective volume won't be as much as a woofer that will need to really beat. So to create more volume the only thing would be to build the box out of the stock area and above the carpet and utilize some of the extra space underneath the seat. The problem with this is the speaker mounting location is half underneat a seat rail, so basically it would be impossible to mount the speaker very high up.

So my approach to this is a bandpass box idea.

Mount the sub upside down in the stock speaker well. Gut the stock location and fiberglass the custom mount. Leave enough space so the speaker can fully travel as well as have enough air for it to sound good. Then, on top, build the rest of the fiberglass up and over to the side to avoid the speaker rail however create enough airspace to make the sub effective. I'll have to just have a professional take a look and see whats possible. if it is possible, this should allow for a good sounding system with a bigger amp.
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      10-09-2009, 07:37 AM   #6
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Don't forget that the underseat subs have some midbass duties as well (as the 4" door speakers cannot play down to where a normal 6.5" door speaker can) so by increasing the size of the woofers, inverting them, and putting them in a bandpass box, you are eliminating their ability to play ANY midbass frequencies whatsoever. It will be a trade-off but I am interested in your results so keep us updated.
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      10-09-2009, 08:03 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kaigoss69 View Post
Don't forget that the underseat subs have some midbass duties as well (as the 4" door speakers cannot play down to where a normal 6.5" door speaker can) so by increasing the size of the woofers, inverting them, and putting them in a bandpass box, you are eliminating their ability to play ANY midbass frequencies whatsoever. It will be a trade-off but I am interested in your results so keep us updated.
Good point... I missed that part.
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      10-13-2009, 07:57 AM   #8
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i was interested in this as well, i remember Technic saying something about building a hybrid enclosure out of the underseat ones to fit a larger shallowmount sub.
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      10-13-2009, 08:15 PM   #9
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I hacked hell out of mine to install a Rainbow 200mm shallow 8 - which I'm now not going to use (GRR!)

The seat rail passes over the woofer, which really cramps your space.
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      10-16-2009, 02:28 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VP Electricity View Post
I hacked hell out of mine to install a Rainbow 200mm shallow 8 - which I'm now not going to use (GRR!)

The seat rail passes over the woofer, which really cramps your space.
This is why I am considering mounting upside down and building around the seat rail into the center area to create air space usable by the sub. Getting all the measurements right will be difficult. I don't even know if the sws10 will fit in there like that.
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      10-18-2009, 06:24 AM   #11
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The stock subs under my seat are vibrating the floor a bit when playing loud. Bigger (or more powerfull) sub wouldn't be a pain for the feets ?
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      11-18-2009, 06:20 PM   #12
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So I am getting anxious to buy something else for my car and I'm looking back at this thread. Everyone is installing the sws-8, however I want to go bigger just because

So, The SWS-10 immediately comes to mind, however there will be fitment issues.

SWS-10 - http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...+SWS-10X+.html


Basically, SVC 4 ohms
200w RMS 400 Peak
Minimum Sealed box: .38 cuft
Maximum sealed box: .75 cuft
Xmax: 28 mm
Top mount depth: 2 11/16
Cut out dia: 9"


Comparing to the SWS-8:

+50w RMS +100w Peak
+5mm larger xmax
+9/16 larger top mount depth
+7/8 larger cutout

Still looking for min/max cuft sizes on sws-8

Now... I have been looking at other shallow mount woofers and i've found a couple:

Pioneer TS-SW2501S4 http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...-SW2501S4.html

and:

Memphis 15-SC10D4 http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...15-SC10D4.html

The memphis woofer looks a little more interesting to me. Its smaller, requires less space yet has higher RMS values. The version linked here is a DVC 4ohm however there is a SVC 4ohm also available.

Memphis:
300w RMS/600w Peak
Min Sealed Enclosure: .3 cuft
Max Sealed Enclosure: 1.0 cuft
Xmax: 4.57mm -> what??
Top Mount Depth: 2.8"
Cutout: 9 1/4"



Memphis compared to SWS-10:

+100w RMS +200w peak
-.8 cuft min sealed enclosure
+.25 cuft max sealed enclosure
-23.43mm xmax
+.1125" top mount depth
+1/4" cut out


The pioneer is just slightly larger than the memphis in a few key areas so I won't talk about it but I am leaving it as the next best option. The price of the pioneer is nearly 1/2.
The memphis has much better power handling than the sws-10, smaller minimum cu.ft required, which doesn't necessarily mean much, if the space could be freed up it has a larger box potential, and the Xmax is TINY. how is it possible to have such a small xmax?? Also, its SLIGHTLY larger top mount wise, but if I do this custom box I don't think that should matter, and it is 1/4" wider which may pose a problem. I need to know the width of the entire subwoofer also however I don't have that information. I'm thinking about buying one or both and trying to see if I can get them fitted. And see how much space can be freed up. What do you guys think about the memphis woofer vs sws-10?

Last edited by klipseracer; 11-18-2009 at 06:51 PM..
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      11-18-2009, 06:34 PM   #13
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MTX make some shallow mount subs also, check them out
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      11-18-2009, 06:51 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Craven 328 View Post
MTX make some shallow mount subs also, check them out
Yes but they are bigger than any of the listed woofers... I wish JL would come out with a shallow mount 10". They have the 13TW5 and its only 2.5" mounting depth and apparently pounds!!
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      11-18-2009, 06:59 PM   #15
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I just bought a pair of the 15-SC10's for $200 bucks. They are used but I think they will be a great test. If they aren't abused then I can just use them. Great project I think. Now I just need to find an appropriate amp. Any ideas? They are the SVC 4's.

Rockford Fosgate P600.1bd What do you guys think?

Last edited by klipseracer; 11-18-2009 at 07:14 PM..
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      11-18-2009, 08:26 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by klipseracer View Post
I just bought a pair of the 15-SC10's for $200 bucks. They are used but I think they will be a great test. If they aren't abused then I can just use them. Great project I think. Now I just need to find an appropriate amp. Any ideas? They are the SVC 4's.

Rockford Fosgate P600.1bd What do you guys think?
If I were you the only thing I would be concerned about right now is fitting those 10" drivers under the seats, period. I remember the width of the space where the OEM enclosure fits into being not much bigger than 8", so I am really interested in how you are going to mount those drivers in there. I don't think it can be done but PLEASE prove me wrong!
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      11-19-2009, 06:16 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kaigoss69 View Post
If I were you the only thing I would be concerned about right now is fitting those 10" drivers under the seats, period. I remember the width of the space where the OEM enclosure fits into being not much bigger than 8", so I am really interested in how you are going to mount those drivers in there. I don't think it can be done but PLEASE prove me wrong!
I'm going home right now to install a couple parts on my car like my seat tensioners so maybe i'll pop the seats up and see whats under there.
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      11-20-2009, 06:33 PM   #18
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I went and moved my seat forward and back, up and down etc and it doesn't look very promising... The only part that is discouraging is under the seat, there is some sort of metal motor or something that comes about 1 inch from the seat when the seat is all the way down and when the seat is completely forward. This doesn't provide much room to build 'up'. Now, when my seat is in a comfortable position, there are actually a few inches of room but I don't want someone getting into my car and crushing the fiberglass box I put there... So now I've got a decision to make. Firstly, I want to see what the 'hole' looks like when the box is not in the car. Does someone have a picture of that hole with the enclosure out? Any measurements? width and depth wise?
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      11-20-2009, 11:56 PM   #19
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What about mounting speakers on the rear deck? Fiberglass a box and run a shallow 12 possibly? I had a 12 done in the trunk in my e46 and like some said, I heard pretty much. Nothing. Had to hack holes in the rear deck so I could hear better
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      11-21-2009, 12:07 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by badass335 View Post
What about mounting speakers on the rear deck? Fiberglass a box and run a shallow 12 possibly? I had a 12 done in the trunk in my e46 and like some said, I heard pretty much. Nothing. Had to hack holes in the rear deck so I could hear better
Yep I had a 12" titanium eclipse 88120 AND a 9122 both are known for being beasts with great sq and it was just depressing.

I'm hooked on the encolure being entirely inside the cabin. The port holes don't do the subs justice I had the ski pass and stock rear deck Harmon katsina removed and it's just not good enough. Too many of the sound waves get lost in the insulation. If I want to go bigger maybe I'll glass in two JL 13TW5's to the rear for the front sears apparently they pound.
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      11-21-2009, 12:24 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by klipseracer View Post
I went and moved my seat forward and back, up and down etc and it doesn't look very promising... The only part that is discouraging is under the seat, there is some sort of metal motor or something that comes about 1 inch from the seat when the seat is all the way down and when the seat is completely forward. This doesn't provide much room to build 'up'. Now, when my seat is in a comfortable position, there are actually a few inches of room but I don't want someone getting into my car and crushing the fiberglass box I put there... So now I've got a decision to make. Firstly, I want to see what the 'hole' looks like when the box is not in the car. Does someone have a picture of that hole with the enclosure out? Any measurements? width and depth wise?
Don't forget the enclosure is partially under the outboard seat rail. I suspect if BMW had had the room to put the driver between the seat rails, they would have - which means that you would need to have height under the outboard seat rail for your driver and your enclosure.
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      11-21-2009, 12:26 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by badass335 View Post
What about mounting speakers on the rear deck? Fiberglass a box and run a shallow 12 possibly? I had a 12 done in the trunk in my e46 and like some said, I heard pretty much. Nothing. Had to hack holes in the rear deck so I could hear better
See, I've done 10"s in E46 and with the skipass panel removed it sounds great. I think that a lot of the confusion here is that some of you guys want your "subwoofer" to sound loud at higher notes than a subwoofer is technically supposed to be playing. (Technically, 50 Hz and down is sub-bass, with notes above that handled by your in-cabin midbass drivers).

A lot of rap music has a lot of bass energy at higher notes - think 80 Hz, and maybe you're expecting that?
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