Adding bass, but keeping the car stock

[Lloyd1986]

I am quite happy with the 6 speaker sound system in my VX, and I am upgrading the speakers so it should sound much better soon. It just lacks a bit of bass though.

I don't want to put a subwoofer in the boot, as I don't like the look, it will take up too much room, and I often chuck wet salty things in there (ie scuba gear)

I don't listen to "doof doof" type music anyway, so its not like I want that extreme bass.

So I think I have a couple of viable options:

1. I was listening to the 6x9's in strathfeild, and to me, they sound quite good, they have a decent amount of bass. So I can just get those and put them on the rear deck.

2. I am wondering if I can fit 8" subs on the rear deck? There seems to be enough room. Like the magnet can stick through the hole in the rear deck, with the top of the speaker supported on a spacer above the hole. The top of the subwoofer would still be under the grills of the rear deck though, so it all looks stock.

My only concern is that without enclosures, these 8" subs will hardly provide any bass at all, and no more base than what 6x9's that would simply fit in, and are designed for that slot.

Any ideas?

[azkwazere]

Without owning a VX and knowing what space you have to work with, its hard too say.

A decent set of 6X9's will provide a fair amount of bass providing they are solid, ie, my parel shelf is made of very thick MDF so the bass is better than if it were just the standard 0.00000000001mm chipboard.

10" 3 ways would sound nice but again, would eed to see pics of your space limits!

aZk.

[Julie]

You will find that the parcel shelf will accommodate 8" subs perfectly, in fact the higher spec cars (eg. calais etc) come out stock with 8" subs in them.

[JBDrifter]

I am quite happy with the 6 speaker sound system in my VX, and I am upgrading the speakers so it should sound much better soon. It just lacks a bit of bass though.

I don't want to put a subwoofer in the boot, as I don't like the look, it will take up too much room, and I often chuck wet salty things in there (ie scuba gear)

I don't listen to "doof doof" type music anyway, so its not like I want that extreme bass.

So I think I have a couple of viable options:

1. I was listening to the 6x9's in strathfeild, and to me, they sound quite good, they have a decent amount of bass. So I can just get those and put them on the rear deck.

2. I am wondering if I can fit 8" subs on the rear deck? There seems to be enough room. Like the magnet can stick through the hole in the rear deck, with the top of the speaker supported on a spacer above the hole. The top of the subwoofer would still be under the grills of the rear deck though, so it all looks stock.

My only concern is that without enclosures, these 8" subs will hardly provide any bass at all, and no more base than what 6x9's that would simply fit in, and are designed for that slot.

Any ideas?

You can actually get sub woofers that are designed to work without an enclosure... for that very purpose of mounting them in the rear parcel shelf. Can't remember what they're called, but they're definitely around... and I'm sorry but I can't suggest any brands or places to buy them as I've never actually come across any myself. Just thought I'd let you know that it is a real option.

I'm sure someone else around here will be able to tell you what they're called and give you some better direction of where to get them. CAFO may even be able to suggest some brands, maybe! Otherwise check out the CAA forums, endless amounts of info over there it's crazy. Excellent source for any car audio info you will ever need.

[Car Audio Factory Outlet]

True..........

[Car Audio Factory Outlet]

You can actually get sub woofers that are designed to work without an enclosure... for that very purpose of mounting them in the rear parcel shelf. Can't remember what they're called, but they're definitely around... and I'm sorry but I can't suggest any brands or places to buy them as I've never actually come across any myself. Just thought I'd let you know that it is a real option.

I'm sure someone else around here will be able to tell you what they're called and give you some better direction of where to get them. CAFO may even be able to suggest some brands, maybe! Otherwise check out the CAA forums, endless amounts of info over there it's crazy. Excellent source for any car audio info you will ever need.

There are not many FREE AIR subs anymore of decent quality

The RF are quite a good sub and the Punch series have some free air subs that will be released in about 21 days has 8" free airs available which is what you are chasing..

If you just want bass then go the SVC not the DVC.

[JBDrifter]

True..........

I did say "maybe!".



EDIT:
Seems I replied too soon :P Yeah I thought they were called free air or something like that... but I kept thinking "free to air" and confusing myself. Anyways thanks for backing up my post...

[wrx884]

If ur worried bout room in ur boot u could always try 1 of those 8" cylender subs with a built in amp with ur stock speakers and deck and 4 wat u listen 2 im sure that would b enough 4 u liking? cant tell u wat they sound like tho ive never used 1 but im sure they would b somthing like wat ud have hooked up 2 ur computer? lol

[Car Audio Factory Outlet]

I did say "maybe!".

I was actually doing a quickie -- quick post to Julies... but got your instead and that is fine as well.

[Lloyd1986]

You will find that the parcel shelf will accommodate 8" subs perfectly, in fact the higher spec cars (eg. calais etc) come out stock with 8" subs in them.

Yeah I had read that in the past, but I thought they may have had a different rear deck with holes for 8's rather than 6x9's. I guess they must have sat on a spacer with the magnet through the 6x9 hole, like I am planning to do. They must have been free air ones too. If anyone has a calais, it would be great if they could tell me!

The subs I was looking at were the 8" Venom subs from Jaycar... but these probably arnt suitable.

Car Audio Factory Outlet, any idea how much will this punch series 8" will cost?

[JBDrifter]

The subs I was looking at were the 8" Venom subs from Jaycar... but these probably arnt suitable.

I'm not expert but I would say that those subs are best suited to an enclosure. If you really wanted to though, I'm sure you could fabricate an enclosure to sit on the underside of the parcel shelf. Would just be a hassle trying to get it sealed properly, but I'm sure it could be done.

[Car Audio Factory Outlet]

Yeah I had read that in the past, but I thought they may have had a different rear deck with holes for 8's rather than 6x9's. I guess they must have sat on a spacer with the magnet through the 6x9 hole, like I am planning to do. They must have been free air ones too. If anyone has a calais, it would be great if they could tell me!

The subs I was looking at were the 8" Venom subs from Jaycar... but these probably arnt suitable.

Car Audio Factory Outlet, any idea how much will this punch series 8" will cost?

Everyone knows my feeling on Jaycar ... but if you are going to run these be aware you will need 29.7litres of volume for the enclosure which is large for a small sub.

Typical application (vented box)

* Box volume: 29.7Lt
* Tuning freq: 35.62Hz
* -3dB point: 40.49Hz

Cabinet dimensions (internal)

* 520(H) x 321(W) x 198 (D)mm
* Port size 66mm dia, Length 217mm long

[shaggerz]

side note... the other name for subs designed to work without an enclosure (other than free air) is 'infinite baffle', so if you see a sub specified as infinite baffle, that is what it means.

[Lloyd1986]

Well now I think ive found the best option. I use the subs that came with Falcon BA premium sound they are free air subs, 8", cheap, and they are pioneer, which fits with the rest of my gear being pioneer.

A friend of mine had a BA XR6 with premium sound with one of these subs, and it was quite bassy, so I can only imagine what it would be like with two