X5M E70 - Subwoofer (Invisible but not Stealthbox)

[kaput]

My brother built a custom shaped box in his 2006 Rabbit. We replaced the under the floor styrofoam panels with a wood box, the same height and installed a pair of Kicker 8" woofers.

I know it is not 100% true, but 2 8" woofers = 1 12" woofer. It is powered by a 500 watt mono block amp and can thud when needed. We are musicians, so we are all about SQ. He is running focal 3 ways in the doors, Sony Mobile ES separates in the rear and the 2 kickers for bass. The system sounds immense and clean... Like, really clear and tight.

We did analyze the system with a flat response room mic, and made adjustments using his old Audiocontrol EQS to make it as flat as possible.

All I am saying is, you can use 2 8" subs in a box made for them (sealed and separated) and still make bass. Funny enough, without the subs, the locals still play stupid low and loud, like 40hz loud. They still need help, but can do without them.

If it were me, I would go the small approach. The box will be lighter, and easier to remove if needed, but will be under the floor, so you have the cargo area. Install the amp in the same cavity, but not on the box, so you can remove the box if needed. Then again, you can always go for bigger if you think it is better. I personally love bass to be tight and accurate.

[master1917]

Originally Posted by kaput

My brother built a custom shaped box in his 2006 Rabbit. We replaced the under the floor styrofoam panels with a wood box, the same height and installed a pair of Kicker 8" woofers.

I know it is not 100% true, but 2 8" woofers = 1 12" woofer. It is powered by a 500 watt mono block amp and can thud when needed. We are musicians, so we are all about SQ. He is running focal 3 ways in the doors, Sony Mobile ES separates in the rear and the 2 kickers for bass. The system sounds immense and clean... Like, really clear and tight.

We did analyze the system with a flat response room mic, and made adjustments using his old Audiocontrol EQS to make it as flat as possible.

All I am saying is, you can use 2 8" subs in a box made for them (sealed and separated) and still make bass. Funny enough, without the subs, the locals still play stupid low and loud, like 40hz loud. They still need help, but can do without them.

If it were me, I would go the small approach. The box will be lighter, and easier to remove if needed, but will be under the floor, so you have the cargo area. Install the amp in the same cavity, but not on the box, so you can remove the box if needed. Then again, you can always go for bigger if you think it is better. I personally love bass to be tight and accurate.

Thanks kaput. This would mean cutting/drilling holes in the lid I guess. I am thinking 8 inch 1 or 2 of them not sure. As easiest try it seems a flat prefab'd sealed box. Often comes with 10. Like Audioson. It may rattle the lid though. May need to try - too bad there iz ni demo for audison where i am.

[master1917]

I was told by one shop that Rickford or Alpine amps are much better than JL Audio dollar-for-dollar. Apparently JL RD 500/1 series is not worth considering vs Rockford R750-1. I was surprised, but read good reviews for both amps. The shops here sell them for C$400-C$450 while Amazon has them cheaper..Amazon US for $199-$240 which at 1.3 exchange is still much cheaper. Funny that Rockford 1200 is just $240 which looks like a very goid deal. I want to consider it while concern to iverliad my elecrrical system. My X5M has a weather package which I understand comes with a more poweful alternator... 220Amp I believe. Not sure if there is a way to find out befire installing. Shop says no problem... but they do want you to go for it so not always objective

[crystalworks]

^If you want even better value/$$$ try out RE Audio amps. Used them in customer installs and haven't had a disappointed one yet. Not sure if they are available in the great white north though. I usually buy them from Sonic Electronix.

Your factory alternator should be more than enough for a lone sub amp, even a power hungry one.

[Skyline]

Originally Posted by master1917

Just visited another audio shop today (for the total of 2 over the last week) and nobody is keen to install a sub under the lid. The preference is to stick a box into the trunk. I really liked the look and feel of the all-across-shelf style box with 2 downfiring subs, but it blocks the ski hatch, prevents me from lifting the lid and prevents me from using the space if I need to fold down the seats. Started considering a box in the trunk and thought of 8" W7, but the owner told me it's too much of a speaker and its inefficient and for me as to sound good I would need at least a $1000 amp and for a cheaper amp (~C$500) I would need a different speaker, like Alpine or at least something more modest. I was also told that JL RD500/1 is by far inferior to Alpine and Rockford dollar-for-dollar and was offered a 750W Rockford for C$400or a 1000W Alpine for the comparable to JL RD $450...

The best part is that I got quoted $500 labour for amp install + $100 for wiring.. I was rather shocked as even though I want the knob wired to the front, the battery is in the back, the stock amp with connections is in the trunk area (left hatch). I was told 8 hrs of work.. not sure it's true. Another place quoted me $200 installation (all in) but not sure if it's the same quality work.

Overall when I imagine a big box in the trunk now seems like more of a burden than anything else... when I think that I also have to pay for it my excitement disappears! Back to the concept of a flat sub under the lid...

Back to the original decision - will the difference be worth C$1.5k - C$2k? for a sub given I am running premium system to begin with.. kind of gamble.

I ran an 8" W7 for years with a mono JL 300w amp. It was great, plenty of power with a 300w amp; as long as it's a good amp.

Not sure of the cost on one of those; I got mine from a "non-dealer" on eBay. JL tries, (unsuccessfully,) to control retail prices at "list price" on their products. Some non-authorized dealers will grind off serial numbers, voiding any warranty. Basically, authorized dealers let stuff go out the back door to makes sales, (at greatly reduced prices,) and anything bought from a non-authorized dealer is supposed to not have a warranty. But as long as you've got a serial number on the item, you will get warranty service.

[kaput]

Originally Posted by master1917

Thanks kaput. This would mean cutting/drilling holes in the lid I guess. I am thinking 8 inch 1 or 2 of them not sure. As easiest try it seems a flat prefab'd sealed box. Often comes with 10. Like Audioson. It may rattle the lid though. May need to try - too bad there iz ni demo for audison where i am.

Not true. I think you could get away without drilling anything honestly. I think a little dampening of the lid might be in order, but it can't be that hard. Maybe a sheet of dynamat placed above where the woofers are, or in strategic places. Also, it might be possible to raise the floor 1/8 of an inch with rubber supports to let the air flow and cut back on vibrations, while still having the floor operational.

If it were me I would either do that, or attempt to create a custom box under the front seats. The room is there, but I don't know how the seat moves and how much room there actually is to add to it. It can't be as tight of a space as the sedans. Some woofers don't need a lot of space. Maybe look at a free air sub, or something that can take .33 cubic feet of space and play loud, like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-TS-SW.../dp/B00JQTU434

I can see 2 of these being installed under the front seats, with a bit of custom box work, you could lose no room and get great bass. Just a thought.

[snrbrtsn]

I can’t speak much for upgrades, I was lucky enough to stumble over the Individual Audio system (Dirac) however I believe there is pleasing results from bavsounds upgrade

[Skyline]

Originally Posted by kaput

I can see 2 of these being installed under the front seats, with a bit of custom box work, you could lose no room and get great bass. Just a thought.

To each his own I guess, but I'd never want a sub under the front seats of a car. I really seriously doubt you'd have room for those in an e70 under the front seats anyway. I still think a low profile speaker like that would be perfect for the panels covering the audio equipment and the rear fuse box at the very rear of the car. That way, you're only cutting up a removable part of the car, and not affecting storage capacity.

[master1917]

Originally Posted by Skyline

To each his own I guess, but I'd never want a sub under the front seats of a car. I really seriously doubt you'd have room for those in an e70 under the front seats anyway. I still think a low profile speaker like that would be perfect for the panels covering the audio equipment and the rear fuse box at the very rear of the car. That way, you're only cutting up a removable part of the car, and not affecting storage capacity.

Thank you. I have looked into this but there are only a fee millimeters under the seats and thats why even upgrading the eistinv under seat woofers is a problem as the space for them is very shallow.

[master1917]

Originally Posted by kaput

Not true. I think you could get away without drilling anything honestly. I think a little dampening of the lid might be in order, but it can't be that hard. Maybe a sheet of dynamat placed above where the woofers are, or in strategic places. Also, it might be possible to raise the floor 1/8 of an inch with rubber supports to let the air flow and cut back on vibrations, while still having the floor operational.

If it were me I would either do that, or attempt to create a custom box under the front seats. The room is there, but I don't know how the seat moves and how much room there actually is to add to it. It can't be as tight of a space as the sedans. Some woofers don't need a lot of space. Maybe look at a free air sub, or something that can take .33 cubic feet of space and play loud, like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-TS-SW.../dp/B00JQTU434

I can see 2 of these being installed under the front seats, with a bit of custom box work, you could lose no room and get great bass. Just a thought.

Thanks. I think my startimg point will be totry sticking a .33 sealed box Audison APBX 10 DS in the trunk under the lid without any mods to test if I like it and if it rattles. If need be I may try dampening the lid or even moving that box into the trunk firing downwards and using it as a shelf.