sub box under driver seat

[rodltg2]

does anyone have any pics of their sub box under drivers seat. i want to build or have one built . i want to put two tens in my 197. one under the observer and the other under the driver. anyone do this ?

[JimN]

You don't mean that you want to install the woofer in the floor, do you? Don't cut into anything structural. The floor is honeycomb aluminum and once you break the membrane, integrity is decreased.

What speakers are you thinking of using? If you want a free-air, MC is shipping with JL. JL also makes drivers for small boxes, too. Kicker is pretty well known for their SoloBaric drivers and they work with a really small box. I don't think it will sound as good with 2 locations as it would with one. You will have phase cancellations that will make it sound really weird. Inside a house, a larger room sounds better with 2 locations for the bass, but that doesn't apply here. In a vehicle, you're trying to overcome a lot more ambient sound than in a home. Phase cancellations will cost you a lot of output.

[H20skeefreek]

You don't mean that you want to install the woofer in the floor, do you? Don't cut into anything structural. The floor is honeycomb aluminum and once you break the membrane, integrity is decreased.

What speakers are you thinking of using? If you want a free-air, MC is shipping with JL. JL also makes drivers for small boxes, too. Kicker is pretty well known for their SoloBaric drivers and they work with a really small box. I don't think it will sound as good with 2 locations as it would with one. You will have phase cancellations that will make it sound really weird. Inside a house, a larger room sounds better with 2 locations for the bass, but that doesn't apply here. In a vehicle, you're trying to overcome a lot more ambient sound than in a home. Phase cancellations will cost you a lot of output.


Jim, is there anything you don't know a lot about?

[JimN]

I dunno. There's a lot I don't know much/anything about.

[rodltg2]

no, not in the floor , by the footrest. i have seen some mc come stock with a clarion woofer there.

[JimN]

OK, I took it literally when you asked about subs under the driver's seat. The JL and Kicker subs will still work in that location, JL now being the supplier for the stock MC system. The SoloBaric will only work in a very small sealed box. Well sealed. Any leak will change the woofer's behavior and reduce its power handling capability. If you want a free air woofer, look at one of the new boats and see what/how the sub is installed. Make sure it's well protected from water and feet.

[aprgriggs]

Go with a ported box...the sound is great and you don't loose the base.

This is in my X10

[JimN]

You won't lose any bass just because the box isn't ported. The box won't be as big, either. Vented enclosures tend to put out more SPL, but they aren't as sonically clean. You aren't losing anything with a sealed box, you just aren't getting as much. A sealed box of the correct volume for a speaker that is designed for a sealed box will be the cleanest sound, but not as loud at a given power level. The key is to have the right box. You won't get good sound if a specific woofer is in the wrong kind of box. Period. The box in the photo may sound fine but how much foot space did it take up? I suspect space is the reason for the inquiry into putting it in the footwell. Looks like a decent box but I can't tell the brand/model of the woofer. If there's enough room for feet in the boat with this setup, great. Pesonal preference should win here. Also, if the system puts out too much bass, you'll have a harder time balancing the sound. It will require less power output to achieve a given SPL, however. Does it sound better with the neon? :D

Speaking of neon, and I'm being serious now, someone I worked with had neon along both sides of his last boat and because it was green, he swore that he had less mosquitos than without neon or with other colors. We went out in it in fall during MC training in 2000 and had no problems with them, while the other boats near us did.

[SteveO]

aprgriggs, A women with a knowledge and appreciation of stereos and a hardcore Mastercraft owner. You get my vote for the unofficial TMC woman of the year.

[Stritt]

Believe it or not, even with the Polk/Momo sub installed on my boat by MC, they installed it without any enclosure. It never sounded like it should. I removed the kick panel and made a box for it and installed. Also, needed to make a new kick panel due to the sub location had changed. No big deal. With that said, it is VERY tight behind the kick panel. I do not have a heater (which would take more room) and needed lots of patience to get installed. Result, was night and day. I also had an extra amp and Infinity 10" that I installed under the observer's seat towards the back. Again, created another "panel" to front the sub box and make it look integrated. It does add to the bass feel, in a large way. Seat on the observers seat and its like having a vibrating seat............hmmmm.......maybe that is why my wife.......back to the subject. The sound is loud enough for me with a good clean thump when needed. Sorry, I don't have pictures. It can be done and is worth the time though. My next issue is battery power. The system will drain the battery pretty quick. Thank god for the low battery alarm.

[mitch]

Rod, Quickly found this. http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/3183/206165.html?1105797832

Poke around on wakeworld, there are some sick stereo's on that site, and I recall a few threads ' show off your stereo' etc. You should get some good idea's.

[aprgriggs]

You won't lose any bass just because the box isn't ported. The box won't be as big, either. Vented enclosures tend to put out more SPL, but they aren't as sonically clean. You aren't losing anything with a sealed box, you just aren't getting as much. A sealed box of the correct volume for a speaker that is designed for a sealed box will be the cleanest sound, but not as loud at a given power level. The key is to have the right box. You won't get good sound if a specific woofer is in the wrong kind of box. Period. The box in the photo may sound fine but how much foot space did it take up? I suspect space is the reason for the inquiry into putting it in the footwell. Looks like a decent box but I can't tell the brand/model of the woofer. If there's enough room for feet in the boat with this setup, great. Pesonal preference should win here. Also, if the system puts out too much bass, you'll have a harder time balancing the sound. It will require less power output to achieve a given SPL, however. Does it sound better with the neon? :D

Speaking of neon, and I'm being serious now, someone I worked with had neon along both sides of his last boat and because it was green, he swore that he had less mosquitos than without neon or with other colors. We went out in it in fall during MC training in 2000 and had no problems with them, while the other boats near us did.

Ok, a sealed box is good if you listen to classical music. This box gives you a tight bass sound...the sub must be designed for a sealed box

If you listed to country, rock, or rap a ported box is often used. This box gives you a booming sound.

A free air sub is like MC currently installs in there boats. It is cheaper to install and is good for listening to mixed music styles, but I believe you loose the bass when you are moving.

Maybe this will help....your decision should be based on what kind of sound you are looking for.

[aprgriggs]

Also, if the system puts out too much bass, you'll have a harder time balancing the sound.

For this I would install a bass volume knob. It is nice to be able to turn it off.

[nattylightmike]

I don't know if this is what you are talking about but I made this set-up for my 90 prostar. I put a Boston Acoustic 10" 4ohm sub in it. If I remember right this sub only needs about .6 cubic feet of air, that's why I got it. I just made the wall and attached the right size box to the back of it and sealed it up. I had to remove the piece that held the heater vent so I just ran it through the side of the wall where there was no box.

[rodltg2]

that exactly what i want to do, thanks