Subwoofer Project FINISHED!!! (Enclosure Dimensions Included)

[carlgo]

The speaker in place with the new upper bracket and showing the wire terminal. They only cost a couple of dollars, are air tight, allow for easy hook-up and look professional.

Yes, that is my blood.





Here I used a drawer slider attachment bracket because I have a few in my junk drawer. Lots of other hardware store solutions would work. Note that when you remove the fuse assy there is a bracket with a big hole in it, and this is in a very handy place to attach a bracket. I slid a speed clip on so a sheet metal screw would work, but a number of solutions would work just fine.

The bolt that attaches the bracket to the box is an ancient VW 10 mm sheet metal screw that is threaded into the MDF. Apply torque carefully! Again, just to illustrate that a bracket is a good solution.

To hold the bottom in, I put door insulation foam peel-off tape on any area that might touch and then some in between that big plastic trunk floor support and the front face of the speaker.

It is all good now on even the deepest sounds, although I do need to put some tension on the access door for those "special audio moments". Heh, heh.

[TwinsPoppa]

Originally Posted by carlgo

Yes, that is my blood.

That's persistence. Great job and thanks for sharing!

Originally Posted by Essam Khafagi

There is a lot of rattle when the door is in place and it is coming from the door plastic lock!

Try to take some thin foam or cardboard and cut a slot in it. Then use it as a gasket in between the lock and the surface. Ya get what I'm saying?

[sleepless]

The bolt that attaches the bracket to the box is an ancient VW 10 mm sheet metal screw that is threaded into the MDF. Apply torque carefully! Again, just to illustrate that a bracket is a good solution.

To hold the bottom in, I put door insulation foam peel-off tape on any area that might touch and then some in between that big plastic trunk floor support and the front face of the speaker.

It is all good now on even the deepest sounds, although I do need to put some tension on the access door for those "special audio moments". Heh, heh.[/quote]


.Hey Carlgo....... how did you attach the screw to the MDF ????? don't you think this would come loose since MDF material will loosen up after time.....

[carlgo]

Originally Posted by sleepless

The bolt that attaches the bracket to the box is an ancient VW 10 mm sheet metal screw that is threaded into the MDF. Apply torque carefully! Again, just to illustrate that a bracket is a good solution.

To hold the bottom in, I put door insulation foam peel-off tape on any area that might touch and then some in between that big plastic trunk floor support and the front face of the speaker.

It is all good now on even the deepest sounds, although I do need to put some tension on the access door for those "special audio moments". Heh, heh.

.Hey Carlgo....... how did you attach the screw to the MDF ????? don't you think this would come loose since MDF material will loosen up after time.....[/QUOTE]

I just pre-drilled slightly undersize and carefully threaded it in. MDF is hard! I don't expect any problems. If it does come loose, I will use a threaded bushing or JB Weld.

I am pretty sure just properly pre-drilling and using any reasonably hefty straight-shank screw(s) will work just fine. All the forces are on a shear, not on a pull like a hinge or drawer front situation. And the bracket is just to keep the box from shifting out so that the speaker doesn't contact the access door. There isn't much clearance. I don't think the forces involved are very violent and it has held up so far, despite my best efforts.

[Essam Khafagi]

If we assumed 11.5cm depth and 27cm width, the volume will be roughly 12.4 liters (outer diameters) ... still acceptable

[Essam Khafagi]

looks awesome
I will do the bracket but I need to find a strong 90 degree bracket somewhere

[X5-limo]

Originally Posted by Essam Khafagi

Philly X5 and X5-limo ... what's the progress? Anything installed yet?

.....just got in from a 1-1/2 hour cruise listening to some sounds. I had just finished installing and wiring Essam's box in this -12F (windchill) weather - probably the same where Philly X5 is! Inspite of the frozen fingers and cajonas.....thumbs up to Essam, his box and amp hookup rocks as advertised!!

The installation was as smooth as silk. I have DSP - kudos again to Essam for his help!

There's no way I'm going to put the hatch door back on - No way Jose! The sound is busting out of the amp! I've found some fabric that almost matches the beige interior dead-on, so I'm going either cut a nice large square hole in the hatch door and stretch the fabric over it and the entire door or cut a circular hole and install a grille if I find an appropriate one.

Now, and like Carlgo, I'm going tackle a speaker upgrade to really enjoy the sounds. I'm going to do the F/R midbasses first and then look into the midranges/tweeters (as my $$$ allow).

Originally Posted by Philly X5

I did not have original Alpine white connector for the speaker wiring. Do you think this RCA adaptor will influence the quality of sound, should I just eliminate it, splice the wires and connect the RCA wires from Alpine directly to the BMW wires?

I found and used the 4-pin connector....it made the installation sweet and simple!

[Essam Khafagi]

Philly X5 and X5-limo ... what's the progress? Anything installed yet?

[Philly X5]

Originally Posted by Essam Khafagi

Philly X5 and X5-limo ... what's the progress? Anything installed yet?

Man, I am jamming

This was a real fun but the system ("Essam Box") is installed now and I love it
I tried several options - with the cover open/close, with the sub mounted on the cover and the best sound is - without the cover. I will be making an opening in this cover and all I need now is some fabric to stretch over the cover or maybe I will make a speaker grill - went to Home Depot and already have some ideas.

X5 limo- where are you getting the fabric Can you share the secret

Also where you got the Alpine connector from?

[X5-limo]

Originally Posted by Philly X5

Man, I am jamming

This was a real fun but the system ("Essam Box") is installed now and I love it I tried several options - with the cover open/close, with the sub mounted on the cover and the best sound is - without the cover. I will be making an opening in this cover and all I need now is some fabric to stretch over the cover or maybe I will make a speaker grill - went to Home Depot and already have some ideas.

X5 limo- where are you getting the fabric Can you share the secret

Also where you got the Alpine connector from?

that shows the 'cousins' that we are - the 'Philly sound' vs the 'MoTown sound'

......don't laugh, but Walmart's fabric department, (of all places!), sells a $3.00, 50" x 70" fleece throw! It's brand name is 'Main Stay'. They are sold in rolled up bundles like mini blanket rolls. If you can't find it, I have enough to cover several hatch grilles.....just let me know. So what design/technique are you coming up with?

I was thinking about just stretching some of this material over a cut out in the hatch door but, thinking ahead, I'm figuring it may be more practical, in my situation, to cover a wire mesh across the cut out as this can help protect the subwoofer from any bumps from future pieces of cargo.

...I think you can order the (4-pin molex) Alpine amp connector from their parts distributor, PacParts, Inc., ask for Melissa Marin, (Customer Service Representative) (800)421-5080 Ext. 154 - (800)782-5747 Fax. It's their 'Speaker Input Cord' - P/N 01E11136S01
http://www.pacparts.com/model.cfm?CF...tion=list_part