Stealth Subwoofer Box

[LivNLo94]

I installed a Kickey Key 500.1 and a Kicker L7T 12” Subwoofer in a custom built box downfiring above the spare tire. The box is sealed around 1cubic foot. There is a couple of inches between the subwoofer and the spare tire when mounted in place. Sound deadener was installed in the entire spare tire well. Then I ran the Kicker bass knob up to the dash panel. The stock subwoofer is still hooked up. The box has finger pull straps for easy removal and lifting. Everything is hidden away and looks factory.

 

[SoySauceSoakedSaltine]

 

[UNBROKEN]

Running the stock sub with an aftermarket sub is a great way to get phase issues and cancel out frequencies. Unless you did some RTA work to verify what’s going on it’s a bad idea in general.

 

[LivNLo94]

Running the stock sub with an aftermarket sub is a great way to get phase issues and cancel out frequencies. Unless you did some RTA work to verify what’s going on it’s a bad idea in general.

It’s fine.

 

[UNBROKEN]

It’s fine.

Unless you ran an RTA and measured it you cannot know that. Phase cancellation is real and measurements are the only way to know for sure.
You could also get more output by venting the sides of the top cover portion of your enclosure. Just flush in the mesh of your choice and cover with carpet.

 

[LivNLo94]

Unless you ran an RTA and measured it you cannot know that. Phase cancellation is real and measurements are the only way to know for sure.
You could also get more output by venting the sides of the top cover portion of your enclosure. Just flush in the mesh of your choice and cover with carpet.

Yeah. I’m thinking about up firing the subwoofer when the new mesh grill is released for the subwoofer in early 2025.

 

[banniar]

Nice job! I'm a big fan of the stealth and utility you maintain with this down-firing box. I have a very similar setup (pics at https://www.explorerst.org/threads/custom-enclosure-pics.6164/post-78840), but running a JL 12TW3 in mine. @UNBROKEN s comments on dual sub frequency cancellation are valid, but with decent power to your new sub, it likely overwhelms the factory sub significantly (which is reason enough to disconnect it). Since you kept the factory sub, you must have tapped the its signal to drive an amp. I expect you have a huge gain in the 40-45 Hz range with a fall-off below 30 Hz. I think the factory amp signal is far away from flat, but this gain may be due to the tire well itself. You will also notice the bass drop out when you play at loud volume (>15, but this appears to depend on power to sub). I ran that way for quite a while, but eventually upgraded to a full factory amp & speaker replacement with aftermarket DSP. The sound quality is soooo much better now, but man did it come with a cost.

 

[LivNLo94]

Nice job! I'm a big fan of the stealth and utility you maintain with this down-firing box. I have a very similar setup (pics at https://www.explorerst.org/threads/custom-enclosure-pics.6164/post-78840), but running a JL 12TW3 in mine. @UNBROKEN s comments on dual sub frequency cancellation are valid, but with decent power to your new sub, it likely overwhelms the factory sub significantly (which is reason enough to disconnect it). Since you kept the factory sub, you must have tapped the its signal to drive an amp. I expect you have a huge gain in the 40-45 Hz range with a fall-off below 30 Hz. I think the factory amp signal is far away from flat, but this gain may be due to the tire well itself. You will also notice the bass drop out when you play at loud volume (>15, but this appears to depend on power to sub). I ran that way for quite a while, but eventually upgraded to a full factory amp & speaker replacement with aftermarket DSP. The sound quality is soooo much better now, but man did it come with a cost.

I’m running the Kicker Key 500.1 amp. It uses a AI-driven DSP to dramatically improve the audio quality. Using Kicker’s test tones, with the press of a button the KEY automatically analyzes the audio being fed into the amp. Once this signal has been analyzed, the amp will automatically fix peaks in the signal coming in and restore the low bass that is typically missing. In a matter of moments, you get a clean, even bass response.

 

[nellynel2020]

I likey that subwoofer box.

 

[BrooseDaMoose]

Nice box! Where are you pulling your input signal from?

 

[UNBROKEN]

Yeah. I’m thinking about up firing the subwoofer when the new mesh grill is released for the subwoofer in early 2025. View attachment 26749

Downfire works well for these cars. You just need to vent the sides of the panel you already have.
This panel looks like nothing is there but it’s vented for a pair of 12’s and the amps underneath.

 

[LivNLo94]

Nice box! Where are you pulling your input signal from?

I tapped into the factory subwoofer wires at the factory subwoofer enclosure behind the panel.

 

[BrooseDaMoose]

I tapped into the factory subwoofer wires at the factory subwoofer enclosure behind the panel.

So does the amp actively compensate for the reduced bass level at higher volumes (above 15 I believe)? The problem people were having by tapping into the wires going to the OEM subwoofer was that the factory system reduces the bass level when the volume is turned up.

 

[LivNLo94]

Yes sir.

 

[ShadowTrooper]

Very nice and clean install! Love that you were able to keep the spare. Do you find that the sound deadening really helped road noise back there?

Recently installed the powered JBL BassPro Hub my ST since I got it for a ridiculous deal and absolutely love it. Wasn’t sure initially if I’d like it so didn’t bother doing sound deadening. I should prob go back and do it though…