fitting subs behind my seats (crew cab)

I posted this inside a different thread, but didn't get any action, so I'll try a new thread:

I've got an '03 crew cab. I need to save as much space as possible... so the only place I can fit subs is behind the seat. I have a single 12" now... but I can't put it behind the seat. I actually removed it from its enclosure to check the depth of the speaker... and with the sub only, I can't sit the seats up straight... so the 12" has to go... plus there is only 11.5" from the carpet, up to the LATCH stuff (it's the child seat tether atachment point)... so any box I buy or build needs to be under 11"... this basicly says I need 10" subs that are pretty thin... I checked at Circuit City and they sell an MTX sub that's shallow enough for the job... but I'm not sure if they are a very good brand. From the back wall to the seat, I've got 7" at the bottom, and 6" at the top... so a sub that's about 6" deep at the max will be close, but not touch the back of the enclosure if I use 3/4" MDF.

that's what I'm thinking... does anyone have info that might change my mind? Also, I've calculated the air volume inside, and i wind up with 1.21cf for the entire width of the truck. The MTX subs require .75cf each... so i'm a bit short... but not much. Does this sound good to everyone or am I screwed?

-TZ

Are you sure you need to 10" subs? I have heard plenty of systems with single 8's or 10's that sound excellent. If you ran a single sub you could bridge a multi channel amp and send lots of power to a single unit. Now if you are running a high amp system with base you want to hear down the street you may need/want (2) 10's. A good quality 8 or 10 with a good quality amp will go a long way.

Good Luck.

How much are you willing to spend on subs and what kind of music do you listen to ?? I have two Infinity Kappa perfect 10.1's under the rear seat of my 98 ext. cab and they sound great with almost any music. They are very clean and tight sounding, Not muddy. I have them each in .60 cubic ft boxes and they are about $179.00 each now. It is actually more than I need. I actually wound up with four for the price of two because I thought one was bad when it was under the 3 year warranty. I called Infinity to ask how to get them checked and asked if I have used the warranty before. When I told them no the sent me two brand new subs free of charge and said they don't want the old ones. When I installed the new ones I still had the rattle which turned out to be an air leak in the box. The speakers were either 5.75 or 6.0 inches deep so they would fit. They are one of the best sounding speakers I have ever heard for rock, country or pop music and they will hit hard if you want them to. If you are a rap music fan they may not perform as well, But I don't know.I have a mono amp and have the two four ohm subs bridged to 2 ohms so they are each getting 300 watts RMS and they handle it well.

Their are a few companys that make sub boxes that fit right under the rear seat. If you search these threads a bit you will find some links. Check the one i started called "new box?". The three that i can rembere are: Proboxes, StealthBoxes, and JL Audio has a few for trucks.

I built an underseat box for my 00 Silverado and currently am running one JL Audio 10W0 sub, and I couldn't be happier. I had built the box with two separate sub chambers, thinking I'd need 2 10" subs, however after hearing it with one, I never spent the money on the second sub and that chamber sits empty on the passenger side. I'll try to get some pics up for ya if I can.

Later

J

I need the under seat storage for the jack, and my tiedowns... I haul a lot of shit, so I have to cary them with me. I don't really like the look of bed boxes to store that junk, so it pretty much goes in bins under my rear seats...

About single or dual 10" subs... I'd never even considered using only one. Like I said, I've been running a single 12", and nearly everyone I've talked to said that if I use the same amp... that a pair of 10" subs is what I need to perform like the single 12.

As for the type of music I listen to, just about anything goes, EXCEPT RAP. I hate rap. But stations like "the breeze" and "easy listening" and "smooth Jazz" are just as likely to come up as "alternative rock", "classic rock" and "pop music"... or put another way, I've got CDs by U2, Sade, Dido, Journey, and Toto... it varies quite a bit. I'm looking for the most clarity in my bass. I've been told by many people that ported enclosures are louder, but not as clean... and that in order to get the cleanest bass, you need a sealed box that has as close to the optimal interrior volume for the speaker.

If you guys think that a single 10" will work, then I'm all over that! Just saves me money, and makes it easier to hit my target volume inside the box. I was assuming that most people used a pair of 10" but I guess that's not true. I'm using a Coustic 480watt amp... currently bridged for my 12" sub... but I could run the same setup for the single 10".

So I guess my new questions are:

1) Under the seat is not an option, but do you think the sound quality will suffer if I use a sealed box behind the seat?

2) With the 480 watt 2 channel amp, what kind of 10" sub is going to work the best... keep in mind it's overall depth must be shallower than 6"

3) I've also got a 360w 4 channel amp sitting on the shelf. Down the road I plan to replace all the door speakers, and run them off this second amp. Should I re-consider my sub setup if I'm going to use amplified door speakers as well? I want the subs to be able to keep up.

Thanks for the help guys...

-TZ

Understood about the underseat, I sometimes miss the space, but live with it. I would definately go with a sealed enclosure, they can be much smaller and it is a tighter cleaner 'hit' if you will.

I don't think the sound will suffer, the bass should easily penetrate the seat and into the passenger compartment.

Off the top of my head, I'm not sure which subs handle which kind of loads, however I know JL's can handle quite alot of power for their size. Check their site, there are several models of 10" subs all for varying usages and wattages. You should be able to get measurements of subs and dimensions of sealed or ported boxes recommended there as well. I would imagine other manufacturers have the same info on their sites. (I am just biased as I have never heard better subs in the same price range)

I to am running my door speakers off an amp, and I would highly recommend doing that as well as the sub. Using your crossovers in the amps you can have your speakers set to go down to say 90Hz and have the sub pickup from 90Hz down, the amps should have crossovers to accomplish this. Play with them once they are installed and you'll be able to get a good quality sound by adjusting the crossovers.

I hope some of this has been helpful,

J

I just found this picture! it's really what I need to do!

http://www.pacific-audio.com/images/install/truck/chevyhd03.14.03.02.jpg

here's the page it came from:

http://www.pacific-audio.com/popup/truck/chevyhd03.14.03.p1.html

I'm curious to know how they made the box... because you can see it comes up higher than the whole "LATCH" brace thing... in fact, it partially covers the removable plugs... there are three... What do you guys think? good setup?

-TZ

That looks like a sweet setup. If your concerned about the amps taking up space under your seat, you could always mount one sub on the left or right side, and make the other side into an amp rack. That way everything is on the back wall. That looks like what you need man.

Do you have the ability to build a box like that or would you have to hire it out?

J

Yeah... I have never built a box before... but wood is basicly my second language. My dad's got a complete workshop... and I do mean complete.... radial arm saw, table saw, compound angle miter (power) saw... routers, jigs, you name it. I've usually worked in wood for other things... made some pine steps for my kitchen, complete w/ a nice bullnose. The angles and stuff won't be a problem... and from the different websites I've been to, the fasteners won't be either. we've got power drills to counter sink holes, compressors, brad nailers & staplers too.... Building a box should only take me about 2 hours start to finish. Carpeting the box should be pretty easy too. I made a false floor in the trunk of my Trans Am, so the amp could mount on it, and I kept my emergency stuff (jumper cables, fire extinguisher, road flares) underneath it, so you couldn't see them. I carpeted that too and it was just fine. I've even got some left over carpet, although I think it's too shaggy to match my truck carpet.

The single speaker with amp rack sounds like exactly what I want to do... assuming everybody is pretty much in agreement that a single 10" is going to be enough. If not... I may consider doing a single 12. Looking at the way they built that box, I bet I could build one that could house a 12" sub, as long as it was shallow.... that's my biggest concern right now, is finding a speaker that's less than 6" deep. Not too easy.

-TZ

Sounds like you'll be all set building the box then. The only thing to remember about the 10" is that you won't get as deep a bass as you would with a 12" sub. You'll get a tighter, quicker hit, but it won't go as low and rumbly is what I'm trying to say. It all depends on what kind of sound you want. I think either way you'll be happy with it though. Plus you'll get the satisfaction of building it yourself!!

Good luck. Post some pics when your done, I'd love to see it completed!!

Later

J

Don't forget a lot depends on how big the magnet is too.

I just put 2 Bostwick 10's behind the rear seat of a 03 duramax 4-door. They fit perfectly in the box I ordered and the box was made just for the truck. I think the box was an Audio Enhancers. Not expensive either, I think about $95 for the box. You have to remove some little flap that bolts to the back of the seat when its folded down so the box will fit with the seats in the upright position.

I just put 2 Bostwick 10's behind the rear seat of a 03 duramax 4-door. They fit perfectly in the box I ordered and the box was made just for the truck. I think the box was an Audio Enhancers. Not expensive either, I think about $95 for the box. You have to remove some little flap that bolts to the back of the seat when its folded down so the box will fit with the seats in the upright position.

website? Pictures? $95 is cheap enough that I'd just bag making my own... that's way too easy.

-TZ