8 replies to this topic

[arrow224]

I am inspired at the moment to do research on an install for my car (MY07 Subaru Liberty sedan). At the moment, I am concentrating on the subwoofer driver, enclosure and location of amplifier (amp is an Eclipse XA4000). I would like the install to be clean, functional, and keep access to spare wheel and the ski hatch through back seats. I do not want a large box in the boot, I would like to be able to utilise the boot in the future. At this point in time, I will be bridging the rear channels of the XA4000 to create 350 watts RMS at 4 ohms. This may change if the need arises.

Sealed enclosure:
Fairly simple to do, small-ish box. I have found one that makes great use of space: see http://legacygt.com/...tall-85965.html
With this, I would need to mount the amplifier in the boot space. The XA4000 is too big to be mounted on the back of the seats without either fouling on the upper ridge of the seats or getting in the way of the ski hatch. I can’t mount it underneath the parcel shelf (upside down or hanging from shelf) as there are torsion beams for the boot lid that get in the way. I could mount the amp on the boot floor, up against the seats though. May be a bit 'odd' looking, just an amp on the floor....

Infinite baffle enclosure:
I know it would be a boot baffle or trunk baffle technically. My model comes with standard sound package, but has a pre-cut hole in the parcel shelf to fit an 8” subwoofer. I need to be careful here with the torsion beams for the boot lid. Drivers such as Polk Audio MM840 SVC, polk mm2084, Morel Primo 8" (Marty from FHRX recommends) and Vibe Space 8 (Marty used to recommend) have been mentioned in various forums over the past 3 years. No ‘box’ means I can mount the amplifier in the spot mentioned in the link above, leaving me with a clean boot install.

What I would like to know:
Which way would be better? I know a contentious question, but if it makes it easier, I like my doof, I listen to dance/trance/doof music a lot, also some new age stuff that has low notes (Enigma/Deep Forest/Amethystium).
Are there any decent 8” drivers that would be suitable?
Any recommendations regarding 10-12” driver for the box mentioned above in the legacygt link?

Budget:
Sealed enclosure: $800?
Boot baffle: $1000?
These are figures randomly chosen, although I would like to do this once and do it good. If I can do this for less money, hooray! If more money, then so be it. At this point, let's say I can DIY this. If I need professional assistance, then this can be factored in later.

Thank you for any assistance you can provide, it means a lot to me.
Also, if you need more information, just ask. Happy to provide it.

[mihai]

Not 100% sure but I think the USDM Legacy's came with a space saver tyre in there.

Whereas we have a full sized spare.

If that is the case, the box in the above link will not work properly nor would I recommend it anyway as the boot floor will be blocking the sound waves coming from the sub.

If you are going to spend $800 on a sealed enclosure maybe have a think about getting something fibreglassed to the back left or back right of the boot. You will be able to get a 10 or 12" driver in there that will be suitable for the power the amp can provide it with.

Alternatively, you can get a smallish sealed box made up that sides hard up against the back seat on eitherside of the ski hole. The one I used to have in my car I had sitting in the middle (because I never used the ski hole) but it barely took up any room in the boot and still allowed me access to the spare tire.

[RAD]

As above, explore getting a box fibreglassed to fit snugly into the side of your boot. There's a LOT of work sealing off the boot from the cabin to make infinite baffle sound good, and even then an 8" driver may be lacking in sufficient ouput for that sub to be heard.

[DrBoom]

^{Go infinate baffle, just have to deaden the boot area and it gives you the boot space and access to your spare wheels and it does not have any loading effect, the downside, maybe less spl but for sq, I am really impressed.}

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[mihai]

As above, explore getting a box fibreglassed to fit snugly into the side of your boot. There's a LOT of work sealing off the boot from the cabin to make infinite baffle sound good, and even then an 8" driver may be lacking in sufficient ouput for that sub to be heard.

When I had an 8" running on my parcel shelf (same car as the OP's) it wasn't too bad. A friend of mine actually thought I was running a 12" until he opened the boot and realised it wasn't there.

Only reason I moved up to a 12" is because my other mate blew my sub while testing out the new headunit. But now that I'm running a JL 12W7, I'm over the moon and I'll never go back to an 8".

[TMM]

If you don't need it to go stupidly loud, infinite baffle all the way.

[arrow224]

I'm not into really loud music, I do want to hear noises from outside the car when driving. Really loud is for at home.

Mihai: I was looking at my spare wheel well, and the USDM ones, and I couldn't figure out how it would work. I guess the space saver would make all the difference.

I am leaning towards a sealed 10" on one side of the boot, amp on the other side.

Still lots more to think about, so this is by no means over.

More comments still welcome.

[2LOUD2OLD]

you mention needing to retain the ski port, this therefore rules IB out. the boot needs to be completely sealed off from the cabin therefore losing the ski port. What you are talking about with the sub in the parcel shelf is free air if the boot is not sealed off, which IMO just wont cut it against a properly designed and built box.

you are probably best with a sealed fibreglass enclosure built into the the rear behind the tail lights

[DrBoom]

With IB, you can put the sub on the parcel tray or behind the seat, any other way then go a little box then. IB is good for people wanting a decent bass, not teeth rattling bass, but also have room in the boot. Nowdays, you can get many subs that likes small enclosures so will not take too much space in boot. .