Project; adding a subwoofer (outback)

[Hoopskier]

I am well underway on my spring project. I am adding a subwoofer to my stereo system. My original set up was the OEM kenwood deck for a source, to my JL Audio M6600 amp for all the cabin speakers(6). 1 channel for each speaker. The speakers are the popular Polk Audio DB651. No tower speakers for me.

Using the current setup I am adding a JL audio M1700 amp, and a JL Audio 10" w6 subwoofer. I redid my power wiring to accomadate the second amplifier. I also untilized the RCA pass through on the amplifier to add the second amp in line so I did not have to use any spliters for the RCA wires.

The M6600 amp is mounted in the observers storage area. The M1700 amp in mounted on the seat back infront of the helm. My goal is to use as little floor space as possible.

My subwoofer box is planned to fit on top of the drivers foot rest. yes it will be infront of my amp, but no loss of leg room is priority.

I took some pics so far. Sorry for the low quality. Used my cell phone camera in low light. But gives you an idea. I will add more pictures later as I add the sub box.

7403

7404

[ian ashton]

Cool idea - will make tuning the amp tricky, but definateltly saves space! It's amazing how much room is there when you don't have a heater. I was picturing my boat before I looked at your pics thinking "htf is that going to fit??"

[Hoopskier]

Thought I would post some full size pictures. Some are repeats but one new one. Its been slow progress due to WI winter sticking around among other things.

Finished making my own sub box. Nothing fancy. Thought it turned out ok for a first time. Also got my JL W6 in the mail today:D.

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt201/hoopskier/001-1.jpg
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt201/hoopskier/002-1.jpg
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt201/hoopskier/003.jpg

[mmandley]

Looking good man nice box for your first one.

[usaski1]

So the nwhere are you placing your sub? In the drivers foot well? I've got a sub but I put it under the observers seat. Its that kicker sub for marine use. Not happy with its location/ sound. Need to take out the box and put in a box at the drivers foot well, as the sound is just way to muffled. Its knda like I have to listen for the sub.

[Hoopskier]

Some new pictures with my progress

usaski1 my new pictures should answer you question.

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt201/hoopskier/001-2.jpg
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt201/hoopskier/002-2.jpg

[New Guy]

Looks great but do you think that those l brackets are going to be able to support the weight of the sub and it pounding? I really think that you might want to support the bottom of the box somehow.

[sandm]

you will love that sub.. I have the 12w6 in my boat and it absolutely pounds. by far the hardest hittin sub I have ever owned....

[viking]

you will love that sub.. I have the 12w6 in my boat and it absolutely pounds. by far the hardest hittin sub I have ever owned....

2nd that. It's a monster. I opted for the 12W3 in my boat and it sounds great. That sub is going to be just what the doctor ordered .

[viking]

Hey Hoopskier,
you may consider buying a can of resin and coating your box several times over. It will harden up and waterproof your enclosure. I put about 8-10 coats over mine and turned out bulletproof.

Attached is a pic while in the early stages of coating and then showing it installed above the hump and how it turned out when done!

[Clamcakes]

Viking hate to ask you this, but can you post the dimensions of your box? What amount of airspace is this box?

Clamcakes

[viking]

clam,
I don't remember offhand what the exact dimensions are but I can tell you that we measured the space (height, width "to the glass cross-member" and "to the hole in the hump", and depth to the back of the front seat) to ensure that the overall dimensions would spec out to the JL12W3 needs. It came out almost exact. Start with the sub and needed cubic feet of space and go from there!

The enclosure was a timely process but when all was said and done, had to disassemble the steering column and relocate the power/ground block and it squeezed right in. It isn't going to budge and when I sell the boat it's going with cause it's in there. But no leg room sacrificed.

"butter" :D

[Clamcakes]

forgot to ask about if you had to disassemble the steering and fuse box. i was under there the other day and pondered if a sub would fit on that hump. i figured an 8 or 10" would fit but those woofers are to small for my taste. really didnt think a 12 would fit until i came across this thread. i had an old pre-made 12" enclosure and basically wedged it up under the dash as far as possible with the woofer firing up under the dash. (i'll post pics this weekend if anybody is interested in how i wedged it in there)doesnt leave me much leg room but in the future will look into creating a custom box and getting it up on the hump.

Clam

[viking]

ya - it was extremely time consuming but worth it in the end. And the way it's installed it's easy now to pull the woofer if you ever need to or swap it out. But the enclosure is part of the boat pretty much, sounds great, and factory look from the front.

[Hoopskier]

Viking- I had put some coats of clear polyurethane on the box, both inside and out before I carpeted it. With the polyurethane and its location, I'm fealing confident it will be good to go.

New Guy- I plan on adding some more support yet. I just had to call it a day and snapped a couple of pics to post.

Clam-I know you said you wanted something bigger than a 10, but just for reference in size my box is 12x12x12 inches. I didn't have remove the steering at all, any bigger and you will have to.

[bergermaister]

I'd be a little concerned about that box bouncing around and cracking something or breaking loose when you are running through the chop or rough water. The L bracket appears to keep it balanced up in there but is there anything else holding it from taking a bounce after a hard hit?

[Hoopskier]

Well the hardware is all install. I know some of the pictures are repeats but who doesn't like pictures. I added suppport under the box from the top of the foot hump. Some screws from the inside of the box going outward. The L-brackets are pretty strong before the support under the box. Everything is pretty well tied together, so this box isnt going anywhere.

I just need to get tuned it. Which will be the last time for a while that I crawl under the dash.

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt201/hoopskier/005.jpg
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt201/hoopskier/004.jpg
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt201/hoopskier/002-3.jpg
http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt201/hoopskier/001-3.jpg

Hopefully this will help others out with how to fit a subwoofer in an outback with no lose of usable space.

[Clamcakes]

looking at the pics, it looks like the Outback hump isnt as high as the hump in the LSV.