I currently have all my air stuff on a rear seat delete, and my entire hatch filled with a sub box with 2 15'' subs. I've already pulled the equipment, and I'm now deciding on how to put it back in.

I'm rebuilding the entire setup with a single 15'' sub, all in the trunk.
I have built two design ideas and want some opinions.
The cylinders are 3 gallon air tanks, and the boxes are air compressors for my air ride system.

The first setup is 4.3 cu.ft ported to 22 hz.



The second setup is 2.2 cu.ft ported to 25 hz. The back will be a plexi window to view the back of the sub from the front of the car.




Which do you prefer? Any other ideas of recommendations?

9/17/2009 8:53:05 PM

I like the first design. Can you angle the sub up some? That would look badass.

[Edited on September 17, 2009 at 9:20 PM. Reason : The plexiglass idea is sick as well. Both good designs. ]

9/17/2009 9:19:24 PM

I could to a fiberglass mound or a a straight up wedge in the first one. The wedge to lift the sub towards the 'front' would probably fit the design better.

9/17/2009 9:26:57 PM

Oh yea, duh me, I forgot you've got a hatch. I like the ida of the angle towards the 'front.' The glass idea would be sick, but can you even see the back of the sub unless your looking directly into it? It will be dark anyway...right? You could put some lights up in there unique whips style. What does the back of the sub look like?

9/17/2009 9:32:58 PM

Yes, I'm in a hatch, and no wall between the cargo area and the front seats.
By angling the sub, it would be towards the hatch, so it would be on display more when showing.

I had the idea of 'hiding' some orange or white cold cathodes in the round box to show the sub at night. Or, hiding the CCD lights under the tanks in the rectangular setup to backlight the tanks.

9/17/2009 9:38:47 PM

Oh, now I know your orientation. How about angled 1st design and the back facing the front of the car still plexiglass, or the whole thing plexiglass (or would that faggish?) not sure. Just throwin out ideas. You would still get the best of both worlds and you can throw some cathodes in there if you wish.

I love the way the back of that sub looks!!! I would personally show that off! Curious, what you powering that wheel with? This one right \/? You just using that same amp you got?

Memphis M3 Mojo 15'' sub
Dual 4ohm voice coils
1000W RMS
2000W+ peak

9/17/2009 9:51:21 PM

The first box is all MDF. The port channel would block all view of the sub, and the size requires wood as plexi wouldn't be rigid enough in the thickness I have for large spans.

The second box would be CNC cut on a table router in 3/4'' thicknesses and then stacked and finished.

The boxes would be finished on the outside with black suede.
The second design would either have black suede on the inside, or be finished out and color matched to the car.

The amp is a Memphis Big Belle
1000+W rms on the sub channel
The sub is actually Dual 2 ohm.

[Edited on September 17, 2009 at 10:04 PM. Reason : .]

9/17/2009 9:57:10 PM

Makes sense. Some serious sound and vibrations coming from that thing. I'd like to see that when your done to, or if you need some help I'd be glad to lend a hand, I'll bring some beer over

You using 3/4 MDF or do you have to order thicker?

9/17/2009 10:04:24 PM

3/4 will be fine for either. The round box will be plenty strong, at 18'' think when finished.
The square box has internal bracing to keep the spans solid.

9/17/2009 10:06:13 PM

i like the idea of the plexi glass. what about hiding the tanks and buildin the box with mutiple plexi windows . i.e. glass on the front and sides of the box but covering the tanks so they are only visable by looking through the front -> then sides of the box?

9/18/2009 12:22:40 AM

Because of the height of the tanks, they don't hide well. Also, the air lines that come off the tanks prohibit this as well. I have thought about it thought.

9/18/2009 12:38:23 AM

What did you use to calculate the port parameters?

9/18/2009 12:59:58 AM

a calculator on http://www.the12volt.com and verified on another web calculator. I stopped doing that shit by hand years ago.
On the round box, I will have port noise at higher volumes, but I really don't give a rat's ass.

[Edited on September 18, 2009 at 1:08 AM. Reason : .]

9/18/2009 1:08:07 AM

Yeah, thats what I was getting at. I don't know your t/s params but I can imagine generally what they are and just from the model you can tell those ports are much to small. They'd probably need to be at least double if not triple diameter and probably twice as long? I haven't done the calcs or played with a designer in a while to know exactly, but my gut just told me that didn't look right.

9/18/2009 2:33:31 AM

For the volume I listen to it at normally, the ports will be fine. If/when I really turn it up, there will be port noise, but I'm not really concerned with that. This isn't a SQ or SPL car, and as long as it looks good, I'll be fine.

9/18/2009 4:37:34 AM

Images of approx how it would look in the trunk.

9/18/2009 12:49:28 PM

I know more of you have an opinion on which you think looks better.
lets hear it.

9/18/2009 4:03:35 PM

daryl you got any tan carpet for a box?

9/18/2009 9:29:17 PM

I think the 2nd one looks way cooler imo.

9/18/2009 10:10:00 PM

so how many layers will the round one require? am I understanding that you are laminating the entire thing?

9/18/2009 11:29:20 PM

Nope, no tan carpet.

The round one is 24 layers, and would take 3 full sheets of MDF.

9/19/2009 2:00:16 AM

Daryl i need your number- need a real simple box ASAP

you interested??

9/19/2009 6:07:18 PM

pm sent

9/20/2009 8:18:05 PM

pretty cool stuff but all i can think is don't set it on fire

9/20/2009 9:22:43 PM

IMO the round setup looks a lot cleaner.

I'm sure theres a better way to do the tube though... Imagine a hotwire-cut cylinder of foam (covered in packing tape) the size of the inside of the tube. Fiberglass over that, then strips of 3/4" mdf or wood glued around that as a core, then more glass on the outside. Assuming your poly resin does not attack the tape (as you know it will melt the foam) it will release cleanly from the inside of the tube... Works a charm with epoxy. Then you don't have to use 3 whole sheets of MDF

9/21/2009 1:20:00 AM

So, I'm just going to make this my build thread.

Here is shot of what the router will cut out:
The blue circles are speaker spacers for 6.5'' speakers for MK4s.



And the assembled view:
As you can see, I have cut out some hollows in the bottome to decrease the weight.



Overall, it is 19'' tall, 25'' wide, and 21'' deep.
The ports are 3'' in diameter, and 15'' long, tuning it to 30hz.
I'll be using some 3'' port tubes slid into the holes.

9/30/2009 7:49:46 PM

you should make the back of it contour to the shape of your trunk door so it sits flush and doesn't waste any space

9/30/2009 8:02:10 PM

My trunk/hatch area is 29'' deep, and this isn't going to be near it, so no need to contour.
The compressors will be between the front face of the box and the hatch door.

[Edited on September 30, 2009 at 8:08 PM. Reason : .]

9/30/2009 8:06:33 PM

set up the mastercam files today.

Cut the pieces tomorrow.

10/13/2009 6:52:58 PM

gonna build it out of legos?

10/14/2009 2:04:00 PM

10/14/2009 4:49:27 PM

I want one of those.(No, I'm not a student any more.)

10/14/2009 5:01:56 PM

..........................................interesting

10/14/2009 9:16:58 PM

that looks heavier than fuck

10/15/2009 12:33:51 AM

about 40lbs if I had to completely guess. It very well could be less. Not really that bad, considering almost 200lbs+ is what I started with.

If you look at the third picture that I just posted, you will see what the inner layers look like. There isn't a lot to it.

[Edited on October 15, 2009 at 12:50 AM. Reason : .]

10/15/2009 12:49:54 AM

sweet dude!

lookin forward to the rest.

that your router?

10/15/2009 1:09:51 AM

Design School router.
Having a Minor in Industrial Design gets you access to some fun stuff.

10/15/2009 1:24:40 AM

that looks heavy as shit though

10/15/2009 9:29:38 AM

good. Maybe people wont try and steal this one.

10/15/2009 3:18:57 PM

you are just maiking yourself a target

10/15/2009 4:19:26 PM

When this thing gets put in, I won't even be able to get it out in under 1 hour.
Smash and grab doesn't stand a chance.

10/15/2009 4:43:47 PM

i can still piss on it

10/16/2009 12:57:05 PM

you should make recessed hooks in the case that latch into your rear seat mounts

10/16/2009 1:12:57 PM

junk in the trunk

10/19/2009 8:07:33 AM

10/20/2009 2:15:30 PM

Is that MDF? (heavier than plywood)

You spend your money and time on silly things.

10/20/2009 3:37:51 PM

surface consistancy of mdf >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> plywood

10/20/2009 3:46:28 PM

^^his money, his choice?

10/20/2009 4:02:01 PM

You don't build boxes out of plywood.

You always use MDF, or if you are really baller, Birch.

This is because of the inherant resonance of the wood. Its density and composition makes it unreactive in the sound ranges that it is subjected to.

10/20/2009 4:07:23 PM

lol that looks pretty damn cool

10/20/2009 4:10:05 PM