Thoughts - JL Audio MicroSub in rear speaker spots - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

soundman414 · 08-24-2015, 12:33 AM

I have been thinking about how hard/easy it would be to incorporate one of JL Audio's MicroSub's into the rear speaker areas and having the sub speaker meet up to the existing speaker grill in the car panel.

If it would fit and I could fab a way of attaching it to existing points, it could be great for getting bass and keeping ALL the trunk space.

Thoughts on viability or is it more headache than it's worth and should just give up some trunk space?

http://www.jlaudio.com/car-audio-sale-subwoofer-systems

P.S. I'm at the planning phase and will be replacing the head unit, stand alone multichannel amp, component speaker system upfront. Just wondering if I should be deleting the back channels for microsubs, or go bigger sub in trunk and keep back two channels...

Chimera · 08-24-2015, 12:50 AM

You can fit some 8" back there.. The enclosure will be a challenge for certain

mid_life_crisis · 08-25-2015, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chimera

You can fit some 8" back there.. The enclosure will be a challenge for certain

This car really makes me wish I had fiberglassing skills.

industrial · 08-28-2015, 12:48 PM

After looking at the giant cavity around the rear speakers when I did my car stereo, I wondered why a vendor didn't design a box to go there. There is a lot of room, it's just an oddly shaped space.

TOOSTUBBORN2FAIL · 08-28-2015, 01:48 PM

Delete the two rear speakers no matter what, they are pretty much useless.

If you want the most output, you'll likely get it from a wheel well mounted box in the trunk, not inside the cabin. This seems counter intuitive, but I've seen it happen over and over in all kinds of different cars.

That said, the rear side panel would like have a smoother response curve.

soundman414 · 08-30-2015, 10:22 PM

My biggest goal is to retain all the trunk space. I use it on a weekly basis and almost every inch, for stuff when washing the car, going to the store, etc.

This is why I would like to utilize the back seat area for bass.

TOOSTUBBORN2FAIL · 08-31-2015, 12:25 AM

It could be done with a fiberglass enclosure, and have pretty good response. Unlikely the microsub enclosure would fit behind the panel.

soundman414 · 08-31-2015, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOOSTUBBORN2FAIL

It could be done with a fiberglass enclosure, and have pretty good response. Unlikely the microsub enclosure would fit behind the panel.

So find a custom faber and ask them for a quote.

Any idea on how much things like that cost?

TOOSTUBBORN2FAIL · 08-31-2015, 02:50 PM

Honestly, not cheap. If it's hidden behind the panel, it might not be as bad as it doesn't have to be finished. But for example, a pair of sealed mid enclosures for a door generally cost over $2000 a pair for a nice looking finished product.

soundman414 · 08-31-2015, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOOSTUBBORN2FAIL

Honestly, not cheap. If it's hidden behind the panel, it might not be as bad as it doesn't have to be finished. But for example, a pair of sealed mid enclosures for a door generally cost over $2000 a pair for a nice looking finished product.

2-3 square feet of saved trunk space isn't worth that much to me.

Maybe I can look into getting the cavity 3D scanned and 3D printed.

TOOSTUBBORN2FAIL · 08-31-2015, 10:37 PM

There's actually a car audio guy that's been building small bandpass boxes using a 3d printer, but his printers not big enough for that area. I had him 3d print the fluid tonearm damper for my turntable.

mid_life_crisis · 09-04-2015, 03:41 PM

I've got a couple of JL Audio 6" subs new in box that I bought years ago for a project and never used. I wish to hell I could fiberglass worth a damn because they would be perfect back there.
I currently have a 10" in a box that just takes up way too much space. Sounds great, but I really miss my trunk.

DAEMANO · 09-04-2015, 04:07 PM

A couple/three owners pulled this off in this thread with subs up to 10" IIRC.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66561

It was a lot of work.

toast · 09-05-2015, 02:59 PM

That is my pic, and yeah, it was a lot of work. In the end it sounded fine, nice even, but then I made the mistake of putting my fiberglass enclosure for the spare tire well from my STI in there. Just SO much more when placed in the trunk. Some of it is the proximity to the driver and the frequencies involved - you just aren't far enough away and that location doesn't couple to the interior very well.

If you insist on doing it I will give you my enclosure for the price of shipping. It would be good if someone got something out of it.

08-24-2015, 12:33 AM	#1
soundman414 Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Drives: 2014 Silver BRZ Limited Location: Dearborn, MI Posts: 19 Thanks: 16 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Thoughts - JL Audio MicroSub in rear speaker spots I have been thinking about how hard/easy it would be to incorporate one of JL Audio's MicroSub's into the rear speaker areas and having the sub speaker meet up to the existing speaker grill in the car panel. If it would fit and I could fab a way of attaching it to existing points, it could be great for getting bass and keeping ALL the trunk space. Thoughts on viability or is it more headache than it's worth and should just give up some trunk space? http://www.jlaudio.com/car-audio-sale-subwoofer-systems P.S. I'm at the planning phase and will be replacing the head unit, stand alone multichannel amp, component speaker system upfront. Just wondering if I should be deleting the back channels for microsubs, or go bigger sub in trunk and keep back two channels...

08-24-2015, 12:50 AM	#2
Chimera Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Drives: FRS Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,181 Thanks: 575 Thanked 291 Times in 216 Posts Mentioned: 17 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	You can fit some 8" back there.. The enclosure will be a challenge for certain __________________ Car Journal: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1513783

08-30-2015, 10:22 PM	#6
soundman414 Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Drives: 2014 Silver BRZ Limited Location: Dearborn, MI Posts: 19 Thanks: 16 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	My biggest goal is to retain all the trunk space. I use it on a weekly basis and almost every inch, for stuff when washing the car, going to the store, etc. This is why I would like to utilize the back seat area for bass. Last edited by soundman414; 08-30-2015 at 10:36 PM.

09-04-2015, 03:41 PM	#12
mid_life_crisis Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: FR-S 10 #103 AT Location: NC Posts: 1,519 Thanks: 101 Thanked 599 Times in 347 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I've got a couple of JL Audio 6" subs new in box that I bought years ago for a project and never used. I wish to hell I could fiberglass worth a damn because they would be perfect back there. I currently have a 10" in a box that just takes up way too much space. Sounds great, but I really miss my trunk. __________________ Necessity may be the mother of Invention but Desperation is quite often the father. “Sex is like Bridge. If you don't have a good partner, you'd better have a good hand.” - Mae West Papa said, "son there's a lot of evil temptations out there. Best to try 'em all so you know which ones to avoid."

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08-28-2015, 12:48 PM	#4
industrial Add lightness! Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: 17' WRX Location: Boston Posts: 1,253 Thanks: 380 Thanked 888 Times in 411 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	After looking at the giant cavity around the rear speakers when I did my car stereo, I wondered why a vendor didn't design a box to go there. There is a lot of room, it's just an oddly shaped space.

08-28-2015, 01:48 PM	#5
TOOSTUBBORN2FAIL Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Drives: Specialized Hardrock Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 170 Thanks: 0 Thanked 68 Times in 42 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Delete the two rear speakers no matter what, they are pretty much useless. If you want the most output, you'll likely get it from a wheel well mounted box in the trunk, not inside the cabin. This seems counter intuitive, but I've seen it happen over and over in all kinds of different cars. That said, the rear side panel would like have a smoother response curve.

08-31-2015, 12:25 AM	#7
TOOSTUBBORN2FAIL Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Drives: Specialized Hardrock Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 170 Thanks: 0 Thanked 68 Times in 42 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	It could be done with a fiberglass enclosure, and have pretty good response. Unlikely the microsub enclosure would fit behind the panel.

08-31-2015, 02:50 PM	#9
TOOSTUBBORN2FAIL Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Drives: Specialized Hardrock Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 170 Thanks: 0 Thanked 68 Times in 42 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Honestly, not cheap. If it's hidden behind the panel, it might not be as bad as it doesn't have to be finished. But for example, a pair of sealed mid enclosures for a door generally cost over $2000 a pair for a nice looking finished product.

08-31-2015, 10:37 PM	#11
TOOSTUBBORN2FAIL Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Drives: Specialized Hardrock Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 170 Thanks: 0 Thanked 68 Times in 42 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	There's actually a car audio guy that's been building small bandpass boxes using a 3d printer, but his printers not big enough for that area. I had him 3d print the fluid tonearm damper for my turntable.

09-05-2015, 02:59 PM	#14
toast Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: 14 BSP Edelbrock BRZ Location: Lon Gisland Posts: 806 Thanks: 113 Thanked 450 Times in 256 Posts Mentioned: 12 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	That is my pic, and yeah, it was a lot of work. In the end it sounded fine, nice even, but then I made the mistake of putting my fiberglass enclosure for the spare tire well from my STI in there. Just SO much more when placed in the trunk. Some of it is the proximity to the driver and the frequencies involved - you just aren't far enough away and that location doesn't couple to the interior very well. If you insist on doing it I will give you my enclosure for the price of shipping. It would be good if someone got something out of it.

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