subwoofer installation
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subwoofer installation
i have a p3 punch 12" sub i wanna install in my 83 ford f100. right now im not going to do the bucket seats, too much work and i dont have time nor the materials or tools to do this job correctly. so now thats out of the way. i want to install a sub on the floor right infront of the bench seat directly in the middle of the cab. does anyone know how i can go about this without having a bulky box pokeing out into the area of where my feet and legs will be. maybe a box someone knows that will fit nicely or something??? thanks
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From: Virginia
Most subs are behind the seat. There are certain physics involved that you can't get away from. Sub woofer frequencies are very long. So to reproduce them well, you need a large diameter speaker(you have that, a 12 inch) and you need the largest box possible so the speaker can generate these longer length sound frequencies.
The long triangular boxes that fit behind the seat are probably the best you can do in the small space you have. If you build a small box that just surrounds the speaker only and try to mount it, you will be disappointed in it's performance.
The long triangular boxes that fit behind the seat are probably the best you can do in the small space you have. If you build a small box that just surrounds the speaker only and try to mount it, you will be disappointed in it's performance.
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Northeast, OK
Most subs are behind the seat. There are certain physics involved that you can't get away from. Sub woofer frequencies are very long. So to reproduce them well, you need a large diameter speaker(you have that, a 12 inch) and you need the largest box possible so the speaker can generate these longer length sound frequencies.
The long triangular boxes that fit behind the seat are probably the best you can do in the small space you have. If you build a small box that just surrounds the speaker only and try to mount it, you will be disappointed in it's performance.
The long triangular boxes that fit behind the seat are probably the best you can do in the small space you have. If you build a small box that just surrounds the speaker only and try to mount it, you will be disappointed in it's performance.
Do you have a separate amp for it? And a dedicated output on your head unit or a low-pass filter?
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Well explained guys. But I have no other place to put my sub. Only two options. I'm not doing the bucket seats so it's gonna have to sit in the floor. I have a viper d600.1 amp and a premier head unit. I can't remember which model it is.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Parkesburg PA
I have 2 10" subs in the back of my F150 and it's a very tight fit. I made a triangular box to fit them. A 12 is going to be very tough to put behind the seat.
You're going to have to make a box that will sit on the trans hump and put the sub there. You'll need about 1 cubic foot of interior space as a guess. Some subs work with less, some need more. The bigger the speaker, the bigger the box needs to be. 8's would be great behind the seat IMO. They'd fill out the sound but I doubt your neighbors would hear you coming down the street. My 10's only have 60w per side and they're plenty loud given I don't have an amp on the front speakers.
The smaller the box you build the more it will choke off the performance. A 1cf box will have the interior space of 12 x 12 x 12. 14 x 14 x 8 3/4 would also work. 1cf is 1,728 cubic inches. As long as the length x width x dept = 1,728 you're at one cubic foot. Use 3/4 mdf to build and you can get carpet at Pep boys and cover it when you're done.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=50720&width=0
You're going to have to make a box that will sit on the trans hump and put the sub there. You'll need about 1 cubic foot of interior space as a guess. Some subs work with less, some need more. The bigger the speaker, the bigger the box needs to be. 8's would be great behind the seat IMO. They'd fill out the sound but I doubt your neighbors would hear you coming down the street. My 10's only have 60w per side and they're plenty loud given I don't have an amp on the front speakers.
The smaller the box you build the more it will choke off the performance. A 1cf box will have the interior space of 12 x 12 x 12. 14 x 14 x 8 3/4 would also work. 1cf is 1,728 cubic inches. As long as the length x width x dept = 1,728 you're at one cubic foot. Use 3/4 mdf to build and you can get carpet at Pep boys and cover it when you're done.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=50720&width=0
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Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Louisville, KY
Here is the bottom line on car audio for a regular cab p/u.
1) a sealed box requires the least box volume, and it has the best sound quality(especially it tight quarters.
2) the larger the sub, the more box volume needed.
3) SHALLOW MOUNT SUBS ARE THE ONLY WAY TO GO. because otherwise u won't have room for a candy in the cab with u otherwise.
Quality equipment makes a big difference.
I would go with a 10" shallow mount, around 350-500 watt RMS, IN A SEALED BOX. And a amp(class d) that has RMS of the same or a little higher. a 1 farad cap jus before the amp/after the back end fuse(front is right after battery. Best if sub faces down at floor but has gap/space between box and floor. Get next size thicker power/ground wire than u think u need.
There are many little things put together that make for a truely GOOD sounding system,
1) a sealed box requires the least box volume, and it has the best sound quality(especially it tight quarters.
2) the larger the sub, the more box volume needed.
3) SHALLOW MOUNT SUBS ARE THE ONLY WAY TO GO. because otherwise u won't have room for a candy in the cab with u otherwise.
Quality equipment makes a big difference.
I would go with a 10" shallow mount, around 350-500 watt RMS, IN A SEALED BOX. And a amp(class d) that has RMS of the same or a little higher. a 1 farad cap jus before the amp/after the back end fuse(front is right after battery. Best if sub faces down at floor but has gap/space between box and floor. Get next size thicker power/ground wire than u think u need.
There are many little things put together that make for a truely GOOD sounding system,
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Posting Guru
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From: Marysville, WA
I think I would sell that sub and get a smaller one, or two smaller ones.
Hell, I have a 15" sub, but nowhere to put it. Maybe I can trade it for a couple 10"s....
Hell, I have a 15" sub, but nowhere to put it. Maybe I can trade it for a couple 10"s....
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Are you prepared to cut a hole in the cab wall or floor and fit a louvred cover panel on the outside?
If so, forward fire the sub into an aperiodic Membrane mounted on the cab wall or floor. Reverse the wiring polarity, job done. All the performance of a box without the box!
If so, forward fire the sub into an aperiodic Membrane mounted on the cab wall or floor. Reverse the wiring polarity, job done. All the performance of a box without the box!
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Wow you guys really knowledgeable. Thanks for all the opinions and help. I am going to buy the smallest box recommended for my sub and put it infront of the bench on the floor. I don't want to get rid of my sub. I want this sub. I had some p2's and they would really hit with little watts. Now I have a p3 and I assume this thing is gonna sound awesome. Later down the road I will install some bucket seats and build a console sub enclosure between the two seats.
Putting the sub outside the can sounds like a cool idea but I have sheety welder. I'm really not sure how I would do it.
Putting the sub outside the can sounds like a cool idea but I have sheety welder. I'm really not sure how I would do it.
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Marysville, WA
I have seen that through the floor box idea. They actually built a sheetmetal box into the floor below the passenger seat and then the MDF box just fit inside it. Fired up at the seat. Female passengers really liked it from what I read....
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these are the boxes im considering. the measurements of one of the boxes doesnt seem to be correct. check em out if yall could. do i need to factor in displacement of my sub with the box? .75 cu ft is the smallest i can get for my sub, adding mhy sub into the will make the cu ft smaller?
Audio Savings | Atrend 12SQ 12" Sealed Car Subwoofer Enclosure Sub Box 0.75 Cubic Feet 3/4" MDF
Audio Savings | Rockville RSQ12S 0.75 Cu Ft, Single 12" Sealed 3/4" MDF Car Sub Enclosure Box
Audio Savings | Atrend 12SQ 12" Sealed Car Subwoofer Enclosure Sub Box 0.75 Cubic Feet 3/4" MDF
Audio Savings | Rockville RSQ12S 0.75 Cu Ft, Single 12" Sealed 3/4" MDF Car Sub Enclosure Box
just a big vibrator hahahaha
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From: Virginia
Just be aware that the sealed box is going to be the best choice for a small subwoofer enclosure, they are not very efficient. In other words it will take more power to get the same music volume that a larger vented box would give.
Like most things, there are trade-offs on this thing. I don't know why you do not want to put anything behind the seat. More than likely you have storage back there like most people do, but it's all in what your priorities are. You could put a truck storage box in the bed to put your stuff in.
Like most things, there are trade-offs on this thing. I don't know why you do not want to put anything behind the seat. More than likely you have storage back there like most people do, but it's all in what your priorities are. You could put a truck storage box in the bed to put your stuff in.