Subs..

[chinlai]

I am looking at installing a subwoofer into my ride, and am not at all keen in cutting up the rears to install it. Was wondering if anyone has installed a sub into the cavity under the rear seats.. Found this person who's installed it in an e28..http://member.rivernet.com.au/btaylor/BMWS...provements.html

Not sure about the sounds quality though..

 

[skycon]

I see two problems: 1. the sound will be absorbed/muted by the thick seating cushion. 2. Subbass is about how much air yr woofer can move. Under seat won't have enough volume of air.

 

[Vanquish]

Very true, Skycon. The other option is to mount the sub into a small enclosure and drop into the cavity ... but given the space available there ... doubt that it's possible. Chinlai ... why not try to mount them free-air on your rear parcel shelf ...

 

[saat]

The example shown, the sub is mounted in an enclosure if I am not mistaken. I am not sure about the volume though.

I have seen someone did this and yes the bass is absorbed by the seat cushion and you wont feel it at all.

I have tried my stealth sub over the battery but i think for the E39, the best is still 2 free air mounted under the rear parcel shelf. No cutting necessary at all, just pop 2 blanks over the 2 3" ready made holes on the rear parcel shelf where the subs are supposed to be mounted.

 

[wirelessjunkie]

Your female rear passengers will be getting orgasms all the time when you turn up the volume.

 

[Barry]

Nothing beats a separate enclosure with one or two drivers. And since your E34 has heaps of boot space, I'm sure you can sacrifice some of it for a solid nice bass. I've got a couple of 10" drivers in a box in the boot, and it sounds really 'pasar malam' hehe.

 

[chinlai]

Originally posted by wirelessjunkie@Apr 19 2005, 05:03 PM
Your female rear passengers will be getting orgasms all the time when you turn up the volume.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Oh they do get orgasms.. but not from pumping up the volume

 

[chinlai]

Originally posted by Barry@Apr 19 2005, 05:15 PM
Nothing beats a separate enclosure with one or two drivers. And since your E34 has heaps of boot space, I'm sure you can sacrifice some of it for a solid nice bass. I've got a couple of 10" drivers in a box in the boot, and it sounds really 'pasar malam' hehe.

Bro,

Don't want to cut holes ma..

Will shop around for the "free air" subs as suggested by saat. Anyone know how much they cost roughly nowadays?

Thanks guys for the tips/suggestions!

 

[saat]

Careful.

There are subs purpose-built free air subs and enclosed subs that can also be use in a free air installation. There are also many "installers" who tells customers that ALL subs can be used either as free air or enclosed interchangeably. I have seen many installation where subs that are designed spefically for an enclosed installation being installed as free air.

There are many free air subs but high end brands will have only one range of free air. You can get a fairly good mid range one for RM700-1K or on the higher bracket for 1.5K each. Off course there are the lower end at RM3-500. Remember, you will need an amp to power the sub.

 

[Vanquish]

All hail the new ICE Racun King in Town ... SAAT !!! Kidding je!

Chinlai, take heed from Saat. Not ALL subs are meant to be free-air mounted ... expect some loss of bass if this is done. Spend a wee bit more and go for some established brands.

If you spend some time surfing the IASCA or Lelong.com sites, you'll see a few good ones for sale at decent prices.

Cheers.

 

[saat]

Another alternative is an active bass sub-system - basically a self contained sub with its own built-in amp.

Examples:
a) Infinity Bass Link at slightly under 1K SGD
http://www.infinitysystems.com/caraudio/ca...ry.aspx?Ser=BSL
http://www.cardomain.com/shoplist~b~Infini...osed+Subwoofers

B) Kicker substation (may be hard to find in malaysia cos it is out of production but I know where there is one)

c) DLS ASB308 http://www.dls.se/english/index.htm

d) Clarion http://www.cardomain.com/item/CLASRV303

e) Bazooka Amplified Bass Tubes http://www.cardomain.com/item/BAZBTA10100

f) I think even Blaupunkt has one

 

[wirelessjunkie]

Saat, my sub is actually mounted in the same manner as your old way and is performing ok. However, I must admit that I am no ICE guru. The other day, Pussy and me was auditioning another Tehnichi setup with twin 10" direct to cabin mounted subs with custom enclosure. Boy oh boy, did we have a good time. I guess, there is no really correct way to mount the sub so long as you take into consideration all the required parameters. The owner told me that he prefers a certain kind of bass which requires that kind of mounting. The installer mentioned that that setup will ensure that the bass travels upfront at a much faster rate than reality which adds on to the effect. I am pretty convinced. I am looking forward to learning more about ICE so let's organise a mini ICE TT.

 

[saat]

If I were not considering selling the E39, I was definitely going to mount 2 10" freeairs mounted under the rear parcel shelf, powered by a separate monoblock. In still think SQ wise, this is the best way to go for the E39.

In my current setup, the bass does not reach the driver position satisfactorily cos I put in an MDB bulkhead behind the rear seat cushion and the good sound proofing in the trunk.

The newer BMWs are very hostile to ICE.

 

[wirelessjunkie]

Originally posted by saat@Apr 24 2005, 08:08 PM
In my current setup, the bass does not reach the driver position satisfactorily cos I put in an MDB bulkhead behind the rear seat cushion and the good sound proofing in the trunk.

Saat, I should let you listen to my setup. The lows really reaches the front as though they come from low down but then again your preference could be different to my preference. I did some demos with a pipe organ CD and the lows was really reproduced to where I was seated.

 

[skycon]

U could be "hearing" yr mid-bass producing those "low notes" instead of it coming from yr sub.

 

[affan66]

whoop dee dooo.. Saat's doing his thang again.

 

[Vanquish]

Some mid bass units can really go low. Makes the sub work less harder and provide you with a more 'upfront' bass extension .. personal favs wud be the Dyna MW160/180 drivers or the Reference drivers from SEAS Lotus.

Saat's doing his THANG, all rite ! Affan, kenapa tak join in ?

 

[wirelessjunkie]

Originally posted by skycon@Apr 25 2005, 09:59 AM
U could be "hearing" yr mid-bass producing those "low notes" instead of it coming from yr sub.

Definately not the 5+" midbass I'm on that is producing it as once I turn the knob for the sub to attenuate max, it's all gone. Unless I swap the OZs for a pair of PHD Firenzes then I'll hear the mid bass producing the notes.....*sigh* another Rm2k+ for those

 

[wirelessjunkie]

Originally posted by saat@Apr 24 2005, 08:08 PM
If I were not considering selling the E39, I was definitely going to mount 2 10" freeairs mounted under the rear parcel shelf, powered by a separate monoblock. In still think SQ wise, this is the best way to go for the E39.

In my current setup, the bass does not reach the driver position satisfactorily cos I put in an MDB bulkhead behind the rear seat cushion and the good sound proofing in the trunk.

The newer BMWs are very hostile to ICE.

Saat, you are correct about the new Bimmers being non ICE friendly. My installer told me that he was advised by BMW not to touch them as it's totally not advisable due to the wiring system, control units etc.....

 

[E34EuroTouring]

Talking about subs. I had a custom made closed-sub in my sedan which had a 12 inch Kicker XPL cone. It sounded good but took almost 1/3 of the trunk space. That I did not mind in the saloon.

But when I moved it to my Touring, the space compromise was too much. Child seat and baby carriage has no space, when I need those things. So last night, I took my Cambridge Audio passive sub from my bedroom and strap that behind the trunk to compare the sound. Wow, almost no difference in the music I like, so the huge Kicker box is out and the rectangular Cambridge sitting flat behind the rear seat. Great space saver for me. Will see how I like it after a couple of weeks. I have been trying to test a Bazooka basstube but had no time for it, maybe I don't need it if this config works for me.
Sub powered by bridges rear channel of RF 600a4 amp. It kicks at high volume!