Subs and Bass - What are you using?

[rijosho]

This is a bit of Looking for Help and Misc. Chit Chat.

Anyone using an 8" Bazooka tube for bass in their D-90? Does it fit behind the rear bench under the seat belts between the bench and the belt mount on the floor?

------------------------

So, I have Bostons all around as my regular speakers and love them.

A few weeks back I upgraded/installed my head unit to the newest Pioneer DEH-P5200HD. I must say that thing is sweet! It has both AUX inputs for normal MP3 players, as well as a USB port that both charges and integrates directly with my iPhone and iPods, and so plays Pandora and other music apps I have. And yesterday one of my friends plugged his Droid into it, and same full functionality to his music through the Poineer! I was surprised as it only advertises full integration with Apple products. Also has iTunes tagging when listening to the radio. Highly recommend this head unit.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/CarAudioVideo/In-Dash/CD-Players/DEH-P5200HD

Anyway, the purpose of this thread is that I'm looking to change my sub. When I bought the truck, it came with a 6" Bazooka tube which was great. It was unsophisticated bass rumble which I wasn't too impressed with, but the ease with which I could disconnect it from behind the rear bench under the seat belts and bring inside for safe keeping for the night was ideal.

But, its internal amp blew about two weeks ago, so no Bazooka tube. I installed the additional sub that came with the truck, which is a 10" JL Audio rear-hatch-mounted box system. I'm going to install some spring clip wire terminals to the outside of it to make removal and re-install nice and easy (so I won't actually have it mounted), but I'll likely sell it soon after for something a little smaller, as I got used to having some room behind the rear bench seat!

What are you guys using for subs?

If you're picturing me as this dude, you're getting it all wrong. Just want to round out the audio in the truck, and be able to hear a Chello while at highway speeds.

[bjf]

No we are picturing you as this dude.

[woldd90]

I have the factory rear door sub on my ST, it works great.

[o2batsea]

Wow, you can hear music in your Rover? What is it electric powered or sumpthin? Neato.

[alastair]

Wow, you can hear music in your Rover? What is it electric powered or sumpthin? Neato.

Yeah, before my 90 arrrived I had plans to put some well hidden audio into it. Between the time it arrived and the time it caught fire I decided I'd be better off buying ear plugs.

[dmarchand]

Kenwood woox.

[roverguy]

Wow, you can hear music in your Rover? What is it electric powered or sumpthin? Neato.

Yeah i carry a generator and a boombox...

[woldd90]

Wow, you can hear music in your Rover? What is it electric powered or sumpthin? Neato.


Yeah, I have the factory radio, CD changer and the factory amp and rear door sub, and it rocks. I do have Boston Acoustic speakers.

I can hear it perfectly with the top off speeding down the road on 35" Super Swampers.

[SeattleRRC]

Does anyone make/sell the rear door sub anymore?

[rijosho]

Scott, is the factory sub a 8"? Any idea on the enclosure's dimensions?

Woody, not sure if the stock ones are available. What I'd want from an enclosure is:

Lightweight. Shortest/smallest profile possible While accomodating the speaker.
10" JL (I have). Or a 8" JL.
External spring clip wire terminals.
Enclosure must be able to clear the bench seat seatbelt floor bracket.
Rhinolined.
Maybe even a sleek little handle for when I have to remove.

[jorge]

let me know if you want to hear the factory sub .

[tomaco1]

Theres a guy by me who has the Bazooka deal in his ST. I think he strapped in right behind the cubby box. I can ask him how it sounds and grab a few pics.

[rijosho]

Hey Tom. I had the 6" Bazooka tube before the sub's internal amp blew. I wasn't too impressed with it, as I think they go for just high dB with little regard to what it actually sounds like coming out. I was contemplating buying the 8" Bazooka tube, just because it was easy to install/uninstall when I leave the car on the street. I've changed my mind though I think.

I'm going to check out how to accomplish most of what I'm looking for from a hatch-mounted sub enclosure for either my 10" JL or perhaps a new 8" JL.

[alastair]

When I re-visit the idea I think I'll do something similar to what ATV riders use:

http://www.mototunes.net/

Marine quality components in PVC pipe, mounted behind the driver's seat / cubby. The link show's ATV specific designs but it's not much of a stretch to imagine using longer sections of pipe etc.

[cellulararrest]

They couldn't get tight bass from a 6" driver? That shouldn't be difficult to accomplish... A 10" driver, now that's more difficult.

If a company can't pull decent tight, discernible bass from a 6" driver, they should probably be avoided.

[roverguy]

Hey Tom. I had the 6" Bazooka tube before the sub's internal amp blew. I wasn't too impressed with it, as I think they go for just high dB with little regard to what it actually sounds like coming out. I was contemplating buying the 8" Bazooka tube, just because it was easy to install/uninstall when I leave the car on the street. I've changed my mind though I think.

I'm going to check out how to accomplish most of what I'm looking for from a hatch-mounted sub enclosure for either my 10" JL or perhaps a new 8" JL.


I have two JL 8" in my discovery and they sound really good. You wont be disappointed.

[aosias]

Factory set up is nice, you could just build a box and then paint or line it (I'm not being a smart ass). It bolts on the door and then uses the rear light path for the wires. IIRC correctly it's 6 inches deep so you have room behind the seat still. I didn't feel like I had lost any cargo/passenger room with it. Factory up is a box and then of course a plastic cover and then grill. The factory bass wasn't' bad but you could put whatever you wanted in it. I believe it was 8" but it could have been larger.

Anyway, I uploaded the installation instructions a while ago so you could probably build a box from those.

[rijosho]

Thanks for the info, Alexandra. In this pic you can see my old Bazooka behind the bench, and on the rear door you can see plate I have (and the bolt pattern) for supporting the sub enclosure.

http://www.d-90.com/forum/showpost.php?p=217964&postcount=11

[steve mez]

if you want the best....then go with the best.... 3 JL 8 W6s with 6 1/2 componets canton speakers... been happy ever since...along with my friends can you can hear it at 70 mph....and now issue compard to a friend who had a D90 with a 12' and it rattled the car it was horribale...

steve

[EWR]

Josh, I think you need to stop trying to kid yourself. Just do what's deep down inside. Slam the 90 on bags with twenny fo's, convert to an SW and fill it full of 18's. You know you want to.... flat black your ride and put a sticker on the windshield that reads.... "under construction".

[TDI Guy]

Josh, I think you need to stop trying to kid yourself. Just do what's deep down inside. Slam the 90 on bags with twenny fo's, convert to an SW and fill it full of 18's. You know you want to.... flat black your ride and put a sticker on the windshield that reads.... "under construction".

LMAO.... Word....

[rijosho]

Project completed and it's awesome, so I figured I'd share. I had a few things I wanted to accomplish with my new subwoofer and especially enclosure. It was going on the tailgate, so it had to be light - like all in under 25 lbs light. It also had to be slim enough to fit behind the rear bench seat, CLEAR the floor-mounted seatbelt bracket (the original enclosure that came w/ my truck didn't clear it!!), had to be a 10" sub, rhinolined (both to match, but more for weather durability), EFFICIENT (you wouldn't believe how many subs are overly power-hungry), and of course had to sound amazing. Carey Knause (EWR) and I did a bit of back and forth on this, talking about the best way to go, and after a few months he finally offered to build an enclosure for me - and assured me he would build one better than any of my other options, and optimized to the sub's Q based on the one I would provide him. It took me a month or two to pick out the JL Audio 10W1v2-4, which optimized both the low profile feature I was looking for, as well as performance and budget for my 10" sub. $140 and free shipping at the time (which I used to ship to him) for this sub.

http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_subs.php?series_id=15

Carey built me an enclosure measuring 16"x19" and I think 7-8 inches deep, as well as under 21 lbs, which INCLUDES the enclosure, rhinolining and my sub (enclosure weighs only 12.5 lbs!!). The sound is CRISP, deep, and easily distinguishable at highway speeds, adding an enjoyable element to one of my favorite parts of going for a drive...listening to tunes. Here's a pic for everyone. Highly recommended. The sub's grill goes on next.

[JSBriggs]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaeNelsAOGo

Tigra and Bunny are all over that!

-Jeff

[rijosho]

Jeff, none of those were low profile subs.

[bjf]

What holds it on?

[EWR]

What holds it on?


magic....

[bjf]

Knew that or screws would be the smart ass response

[EWR]

I'm not sure how he mounted his. Generally a 10mm/ 3/8ths SS bolt will work well, one in each corner...or there about. I like using a hex head cap bolt so some Joe schmo can't walk by and unbolt the box with a common wrench.

[bjf]

Can't see them in pic.

[chris snell]

Horsey, what are you doing with that fuel can and the Spiderman ratchet straps? Is there a spot on the east coast where you can be more than a D90 fuel tank from a gas station?

The gym bag and Castrol are a nice touch.

Horsey, here's your new cruising music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22R5tPvp7aE

[bjf]

Horsey, what are you doing with that fuel can and the Spiderman ratchet straps? Is there a spot on the east coast where you can be more than a D90 fuel tank from a gas station?

The gym bag and Castrol are a nice touch.

Horsey, here's your new cruising music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22R5tPvp7aE

Well done

[Defender90_218]

Compact P/U box with 2 12' Alpine R-tpye, each one has its own 500w amp and share a capacitor. The box has handles and a quick removal plug setup so it is easy to remove. Held in place with straps to the roll bar/bulkhead behind the seats. works great, easy to remove, and great sound. Mounted in my D90 NAS SW. Also mounts in my MINI Cooper S lol.

[Kev Baldwin]

I'm using a Clarion unit mounted under the cubby box. I didn't realise when I bought it but this is the exact same unit LR fitted on the 60th anniversary SVX Defenders. I had to fabricate some brackets to lift the cubby to provide enough clearance for the sub, but the dimensions of the Clarion unit fit perfectly under the cubby box. I guess that's the chief reason LR selected this same unit.
http://www.clarion.com/gb/en/products/2011/audio/subwoofer/SRV313/gb-en-product-pf_1259487995599.html

[rijosho]

I'm using a Clarion unit mounted under the cubby box. I didn't realise when I bought it but this is the exact same unit LR fitted on the 60th anniversary SVX Defenders. I had to fabricate some brackets to lift the cubby to provide enough clearance for the sub, but the dimensions of the Clarion unit fit perfectly under the cubby box. I guess that's the chief reason LR selected this same unit.
http://www.clarion.com/gb/en/products/2011/audio/subwoofer/SRV313/gb-en-product-pf_1259487995599.html

Or Clarion made it for that application. So it's roughly 2.5" thick? That's pretty sick.

[Neil McCauley]

I'm running 2 kicker L5 solobarics in a bass shakers box and they do the job nicely. When I feel I need more bass I put in the Kicker L7 15" sub I have as well. Thats overkill. Got pulled over once already with that thing.

[bjf]

It wasn't because they thought you stole it?

[rijosho]

I'm running 2 kicker L5 solobarics in a bass shakers box and they do the job nicely. When I feel I need more bass I put in the Kicker L7 15" sub I have as well. Thats overkill. Got pulled over once already with that thing.

You didn't find you needed two L7 15's to be able to hear it at highway speeds?

[Kev Baldwin]

Pics of the Clarion install under the cubby box.

[MC36]

Has anyone had experience with powered Bazooka tubes? My D90 lives outside and I think that I need something that I can take inside at night so it will not get legs and walk off.

The previous owner has two tubes in there but they do not work anymore and I want to replace them but wondered how they would sound and if I needed more than one? Any suggestions?

I just replaced my head unit and 4 6-1/2" 2 way marine speakers (money well spent since I left the cover off last night and it rained) The highs are there but there is no warm sound to it. Need a balance, just trying to figure out if one 6 1/2 Bazooka would work or should I go back to the two tube set up.

Thanks in advance

Michael

[rijosho]

Has anyone had experience with powered Bazooka tubes? My D90 lives outside and I think that I need something that I can take inside at night so it will not get legs and walk off.

The previous owner has two tubes in there but they do not work anymore and I want to replace them but wondered how they would sound and if I needed more than one? Any suggestions?

I just replaced my head unit and 4 6-1/2" 2 way marine speakers (money well spent since I left the cover off last night and it rained) The highs are there but there is no warm sound to it. Need a balance, just trying to figure out if one 6 1/2 Bazooka would work or should I go back to the two tube set up.

Thanks in advance

Michael

Yes, I had a pre-amp Bazooka tube in there at first. Not crisp, just low thumping...added nothing to the listening experience, and likely detracted from it, as I have nice Bostons all around. It broke after a few weeks. The fact that you have two broken Bazooka units wouldn't make me comfortable buying one of their units ever again.

[MC36]

Thanks for the insight. That is a good point. I figured the two Bazookas broke due to moisture, so I ordered the marine unit. They have not worked in the 1/2 year that I have had it and the previous owner did not know if they ever worked. I will try one and see if it works but I wish I had seen your comments on the low thud rather than a crisp sound. Sort of disappointing but makes since, I have only found Crutchfield that still sells them for the most part which may be the reason why. I wonder if the powered sub will make a difference rather than the pre- amp version? I am crossing my fingers that one adds something but the likeliness is NO. I was hoping not to spend a ton of money on this one but like other projects what I originally wanted and what ends up being a long way $$$ apart!

[carlosz]

I have a customer who sealed the right side box, laid his amp in there and then cut a hole towards the front in order to fit a single 8 inch kicker... looks very clean and sounds awesome, of course his speakers have been upgraded as well, I think those are either cerwin vega or kickers as well, the amp is definitively kicker.
in my classic I built a box which fits right behind the rear seats and it houses twin 8 inch kickers competition.. it fits the contour of the angle almost to a "t" where it does not interfere with much, yet it is removable just in case I need all nescesary cargo space.

[MC36]

Ok, changed it up a bit to accommodate the fact that I couldn't hear the stereo above 40 mph. I went with two 8" powered marine grade bazookas and a new marine head unit with a bit more power. This is to go with the upgraded door and rear speakers. I should have them installed by the end of the week and will let you know the sound quality.