GolfGTIforum.co.uk

General => Car audio => Topic started by: l55lee on 07 May 2007, 18:06

Title: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: l55lee on 07 May 2007, 18:06
Hi Guys

I've got a mk3 GTI and am looking to add some more bass to my ICE, without losing boot space. It therefore looks like I'm limited to storing a subwoofer under the seat/s.

I have an Alpine CDE-9850Ri head unit and the speakers that I'm using are In Phase XT 6c in the front and In Phase XT 62 in the rear. The device has one pre-out which is not in use at the mo.

It would be good if I could find an "all in one" (amp and subwoofer) solution but if somebody can suggest an alternative, I'm all ears.

The most suitable products that I've been able to find so far are......


http://www.alpine-europe.com/typo3/index.php?id=swe-1000&L=16

http://www.alpine-europe.com/typo3/index.php?id=swd-1600&L=16


Any suggestions or guidance gratefully recieved!

Cheers

Lee
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Len on 08 May 2007, 12:03
Lee there is a sticky up the top of this section that gives a sub solution in the rear of the nearside wheelarch, which only takes up a bit of boot space. You can also hang your amp on the opposite side.
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Len on 08 May 2007, 12:08
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=31055.0


http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=35556.0


Or this was my solution. Click on the links above.
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: l55lee on 08 May 2007, 13:51
Cheers Len - after I posted the entry I noticed the sticky.

I thought that I'd leave the posting to see if anybody had an alternative solution.

Thanks for your advice!  :cool:
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Len on 08 May 2007, 13:53
There was also thoughts of using the spare wheel well but never seen any results of that.
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: tommk3cab on 10 May 2007, 21:28
nice one len! got any pics of it in and finished?
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Len on 11 May 2007, 08:53
Surely you've seen the pics of my set up Tom?

Or do you mean the wheel well? Coz I aint done that, there was a thread about somebody doing it or at least a discussion about how to go about it.
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: tommk3cab on 11 May 2007, 12:57
ah i thought it was you! na i havnt seen yours anyway! pm me a link or something so I can stop thread jacking!

is this yours?

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=35556.0
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Len on 11 May 2007, 14:01
Yes. Thats the amp fixing but I think its got the finished pics at the end.
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Len on 11 May 2007, 14:04
Here's the link to the sub in wheel well thread.

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=51232.0
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: giffy1988 on 11 May 2007, 15:13
this is prob bit random but there is a sub (might b pioneer) that is really thin and would b ideal as a space saver but i dont know how good it is.
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Len on 11 May 2007, 15:36
With subs its the size of the magnet that counts plus the strength of the chassis.
Pioneer aint bad.
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: l55lee on 11 May 2007, 17:25
this is prob bit random but there is a sub (might b pioneer) that is really thin and would b ideal as a space saver but i dont know how good it is.

Thanks giffy1988.  :wink:

I've stumbled across a Pioneer sub and Kenwood have just released one as well.

They're all pretty much similar products from an output perspective. I guess that it's just down to personal preference at the end of the day.

I may well investigate taking the route suggested by Len.

Cheers

Lee
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Len on 11 May 2007, 20:09
Which one of the two though Lee?

Personally there is only one way to go and thats wheel arch as the spare wheel well is impractical for several reasons as you want to keep a usable boot.
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: tommk3cab on 13 May 2007, 14:30
yours looks sound len, one of my mates had a sub in his spare wheel well, it never sounded right and like you said without some kind of very strong mesh or grille over the sub it defeats the point of trying to save space because you still cant use your boot, unless you want your sub wrecked. they sell protector bar things but they are pretty useless I reckon. They should make subs with like a protective front, i know of loads of subs that could have been saved by this.
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Len on 14 May 2007, 12:50
Thanks Tom. Its not bad, just enough uuummmmf when I want it! :grin:
I can think of ways to protect a wheel well speaker but if you are going on a journey with a full boot whats the point?
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Overseer on 14 May 2007, 17:03
eer why didnt anyone mention.... stealthboxz ?

http://www.autoacoustics.com/sbn-vg033.htm
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: l55lee on 14 May 2007, 20:51
Wicked! Thanks overseer.......

This solution will save me soooooo much work.

I'll definitely be investigating this further.

Cheers

Lee
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Overseer on 15 May 2007, 08:23
i just won one on ebay yesterday  :grin:

expect i'll have it fitted in about 2/3 weeks once i've picked an amp n sub.. still gotta work out amp fitment somehow

up till now i've had a box i custom made for my old polo wedged in with a chunk of foam.. problem is.. the box sits across the back seats so they wont go down.. is 2 8"s and a amp... the new one is just a 10"


a mate's just got a polo the same size.. i've flogged my old set up to him.. i';ve been dying for a stealthboxz for ages :)
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Len on 15 May 2007, 09:12
I thought they were rather expensive?

But then if you won it on ebay 'Seer I guess it wasnt too much! :wink: :grin:
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: l55lee on 15 May 2007, 12:13
i just won one on ebay yesterday  :grin:

expect i'll have it fitted in about 2/3 weeks once i've picked an amp n sub.. still gotta work out amp fitment somehow

up till now i've had a box i custom made for my old polo wedged in with a chunk of foam.. problem is.. the box sits across the back seats so they wont go down.. is 2 8"s and a amp... the new one is just a 10"


a mate's just got a polo the same size.. i've flogged my old set up to him.. i';ve been dying for a stealthboxz for ages :)

Looks like I'd better keep my eyes open then!  :wink:

I'd appreciate it if you could let me know how you get on with your amp placement.

Cheers

Lee
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Len on 15 May 2007, 13:02
Well I hope you find one on ebay for considerably less than the £190 quoted. :shocked:
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Overseer on 15 May 2007, 15:01
got it delivered for £111 :)


once its here i can choose a sub (need to know depth from hole thats poss)

looks like its gonna be another 200 ish for the sub/amp depending what i go for..


and yeah i'll get pics of the lot up..  :cool:

have had suggestions of mounting the amp under the passenger seat, or possibly on the other side of the boot.. if theres room (i think the auto acoustics site uses 12" ones in the pics..) i may be able to squeeze the amp on the same side...

i;ve only seen one actually "done" install pic off the stealthboxz site and that one had put the amp on the back of the seat next to the box...

they do also make a thing called "ampboxz" for amps.. check their site out..

Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Len on 15 May 2007, 15:37
It says in the blurb mate (website) that max depth is 170mm.

That looks like a CD changer on the back of the seat!

It is possible to site an amp on the opposite side - either the way I did it with metal brakets or on a board like some guy did recently.
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Overseer on 15 May 2007, 16:25
oh rtaelly.. never really noticed the blurb..  just realised its coz of how i'm getting to the mk3 page...
funny how i linked the page with teh right info on, yet been goin in another way...

was gonna poke something in to measure  :cool: will prob still do that..

170mm.. nearly 7 inches...  sweet

just came back as i'd dug through my internet history and found the pic from earlier..

its as 12" in the larger size box in a leon (which is a golf really..)


(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/craig_c23/Picture62.jpg)

source : http://www.seatenthusiasts.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=49620&page=2





tell ya what.. i'll take a pic of mine offered up in the car before i buy subs etc...  :cool:
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Overseer on 15 May 2007, 17:33

oops...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180113875928 (stealthboxz)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220111481734 (sub+amp)

Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Len on 16 May 2007, 10:02
170mm is not 7 inches! approx 6 and 3/4 inch.


So the quoted mounting depth of the speaker of 6 1/2 inches means that speaker will be a tight fit in that cabinet!

Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Overseer on 16 May 2007, 10:09
errr

according to google 170 millimeters (17cm) = 6.69291339 inches
and my ruler agrees too! 

6.5 inchse for the speaker.. sweeeeet..  (the infinity site actually states 166mm )

so there should be 4mm.. so nearly half a cm at least.

if it doesnt fit.. i'll just bump it out a touch with a ring of MDF.. no sweat! :)


i've got a very cunning plan for the amp mounting... gonna be gorgeous!


(had actually ordered the speakers already.. the guy was selling multiple lots..)
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Len on 16 May 2007, 10:10
was correcting myself as you posted! :embarassed:
Yea missed off an inch somewhere! oooops!
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Overseer on 16 May 2007, 10:17
the box volume is 0.65, the speaker is 0.75.. BUT.. its a VQ sub..

check this text from the auction out.

Quote
My test of the this ten inch version was a simple, sealed box at a scarcely believeable .75 cubic feet - the manual suggests you can go down to 0.3 cubic feet but for goodness sake this bass box would be so small the speaker would only just fit!!! The only time I've seen box sizes this small is using aperiodics! Anyway, with my .75 cubic footer this thing just blew my head off


i was originally going to buy the next sub down in the range.. till a coworker spotted this bargain auction

basic plan for the drivers side arch is as follows..

 - prototype a carboard template big enough so when translated to MDF it'll have a hole to sink the amp through

 - mount the amp sunken by having two metal bars / battons across the back raised on battons of MDF. this'll auto handle most cabling issues as they can be run behind and i assume this may be better for cooling (actually a mdf plate behind wouldnt be too hard either..)

 - for mounting this assembly to the car... shaped blocks of foam glued/zip tied or whatever to the back side of amp plate thingy and in turn.. carpetted over + velcro'd to the car itself (just like how the stealthboxz does its sh!t the other side)..




i already have the MDF + box carpet to match my car + spray glue etc. will just need the velcro.

and i've already checked that theres enough length in the exiting cabling to reach.. theres loads of slack hidden away.. the earth lead may be a lil short.. but we'll have to see about that.. and i'll have to run speaker leads from the amp to the sub...

nothing too strenuous really...

i am gonna need some kinda grille for the speaker though as my boot regularly gets filled with skateboards

Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Len on 16 May 2007, 10:35
Could try grille mesh.
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Overseer on 16 May 2007, 11:10

yeah autoleads do one apparently so should be able to pick one up locally easily
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Overseer on 16 May 2007, 12:58
the stealthboxz is here..

its under 170mm :O.. its more like 162mm deep.. carpet etc may add some height...

its looking VERY tight now lol...


need the sub to be sure..

worse comes to worse i add a MDF ring.. if not.. who knows..
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Len on 16 May 2007, 13:31
Yea an MDF or plywood ring would be your option.

Thats why when I made mine I angled it out from the bottom which still allowed me to lift the carpet on that side.
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Overseer on 16 May 2007, 13:58
hopefully the sub spec is equally or even more so under length..

guess that'll be here tomorrow as its due through the same courier this came by
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: tommk3cab on 16 May 2007, 22:06
never knew auto leads did protection, ive seen some cheap and nasty plastic grilles on some cheap and nasty oldschool paper cone subs but not anything recently except those dodgy bar things. good to know some people at least make some protection, even if few people appear to use it!

if all else fails overseer you could consider mounting the sub back to front, shouldnt stick out that much from the depth you say and protection then would not be much of an issue.
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Overseer on 17 May 2007, 08:41
i've seen a nice looking pioneer grill.. gonna get the sub fitting issues tackled first (if there are any)... then worry about amp mounting.. then grill :)

Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: Overseer on 17 May 2007, 10:44

in light of hijacking this post i've made my own now..

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=59475.0
Title: Re: mk3 golf subwoofer suggestions without losing boot
Post by: dTEA on 26 May 2007, 18:21
Gotta say that you CAN install a sub and still have a useable boot space...also custom fit and making your own is easy enough unless you going down the FibreGlass route...here's mine: Its a full on sub enclosure utilising the space behind the AMP mounting as enclosure space, with a 15" Kicker Comp Sub, plus a side cubby for the CD Changer.  This is now being fitted into my MK2 as it is in 3 parts: The main body of the enclosure then the side cubby and then the upper cover...plus its angled to look a little more pleasing to the eye and it cost just £15 for the MDF from a timber merchant and £20 for the enclosure cloth  :smiley: oh and £5 for the body filler to plug the joints inside and out of the enclosure!!!
(http://www.dtea-ter.demon.co.uk/sub-install-b4.JPG)
and after...sorry but this was on my phone!! and the other was a proper camera!!!
(http://www.dtea-ter.demon.co.uk/sub-install.jpg)