subwoofer on rear shelf.. or in the boot?

[AU3 HERROD XR8]

Hey guys, I just wanted to ask that i relised under my parcel shelf in the centre there an extra whole, I'm guessing its for a sub. Now would I be better off cutting a hole in my rear shelf which I'm not quite open to considering it's a nice looking shelf:P lol and fitting a sub in there, or should I just go ahead with installing a seperate one inside the boot and maybe throw in an amp or two etc etc

cheers

[jimt3te50]

depends how far you want to go- don't cut the shelf as you don't need to.

Fit a basic 8" sub in the shelf from the top (you can even fit it (or a 10") from the bottom if you're too lazy to take the trim off the top of the shelf) but it will just sound ordinary at best....... too many rattles and there's lettle you can do to fix it.

I was told this and was adamant I could to prove everyone wrong and I failed. Bought a great 8" RF Punch sub and tried everything to make it work, but separate box in the boot is best bet by a country mile

[Whoosha]

that hole is for the factory sub.. cutting holes in parcel shelfs is a big no no with insurance companys so put them in the boot be hind the seats then box the rear across

[AU3 HERROD XR8]

OK then looks like im keeping the shelf i was never pretty warm with the idea of cutting a hole in my shelf, and was told by a mate like you said also too many rattles etc. I was hoping i could get the sub in there for satisfying sound and still make it look clean and mean without having a big box laying in the boot etc. I don't want to go over board and make it a competition sound system but like i said, something satisfying..
All opinions and ideas welcome

[JC]

Try screwing the sub into the middle part of the backrest, facing forward. It's out of the way then, and you will still get the sound, without the metallic rattles, through to the cabin.

There's a good reason for not cutting the parcel shelf - it's a structural part of the car, so cutting it would weaken it. It's not like older cars where the parcel shelf was a bit of MDF that could be replaced at will.

[Whoosha]

heres one we prepared earlyer .... was reasonable cheap & easy to do .a bit of chip board .carpet .& 3 hours later . the only down side is you loose your rear seat access to the boot

[xr8man83]

go the boot you can make a good box and have grat sound cutting the parcel shelf aint a good idea but do some homework on the box cause they have to be spot on for the best sound and it all depends if you want boom boom or a bit of s.q on how you design the box

[XR6-VCT-2000]

Originally Posted by xr8man83

go the boot you can make a good box and have grat sound cutting the parcel shelf aint a good idea but do some homework on the box cause they have to be spot on for the best sound and it all depends if you want boom boom or a bit of s.q on how you design the box

So true ! , also the type of wood used for the box / and the length and size of the port ( if you add one ) makes a big difference too ( i know this for a fact from experiance making and using quad boxes over the years for electric guitars ) .... chipboard is crap ! - it absorbes alot of the bass/bottom end and you loose alot of the punch , 12 to15mm (or thicker) mdf has been proven to produce the best base/ bottom end .

[AU3 HERROD XR8]

OK, thanks for the ideas guys, looks like i'm going for the boot then. Just a matter of planning and getting everything ready now

cheers.

[AU3 HERROD XR8]

how does something like this look..??
plus i still get to keep my boot access from the rear seats:P

[JC]

Looks great to me - but expensive. Just throw an 8" in the parcel shelf and see what you think. When I had mine, it was certainly nothing great, but was better than not having one there. Now with the gas tank in the way, I have no choice but to not have one in the parcel shelf. One day I'll get around to fitting it to the back of the back seat.

[duaned]

For sure in the boot will certainly provide better bass response than the parcel shelf. Here's a pic of mine...

[AU3 HERROD XR8]

true it's better than not having it at all, but then again i think i should just save up a little more and try and do something with the boot, loll i love my rear shelff too much to see it cut:P plus like you said cutting it would just weaken then shelf.

[AU3 HERROD XR8]

Originally Posted by ddarby

For sure in the boot will certainly provide better bass response than the parcel shelf. Here's a pic of mine...

that looks great! mate i love how you made the boot look so clean with the carpet etc i want somethign like that

[Hords]

Originally Posted by ddarby

For sure in the boot will certainly provide better bass response than the parcel shelf. Here's a pic of mine...

Any difference to SQ with the sub facing rearwards? Most I've seen point towards the front of the cabin.

[JC]

Originally Posted by AU3 HERROD XR8

true it's better than not having it at all, but then again i think i should just save up a little more and try and do something with the boot, loll i love my rear shelff too much to see it cut:P plus like you said cutting it would just weaken then shelf.

An 8" fits with no cutting required. But it depends on whether you REALLY want lots of bass, or like me, you just wanted more than the crappy factory speakers can provide. I certainly didn't want the doof, doof effect, so the parcel shelf one suited my purposes.

[AU3 HERROD XR8]

i'm not really after the doof doof stuff lol but just something above average, maybe an 8" is the answer, keep in mind i still want my boot as clean as possible so i think at this stage i'm going to either use the 8" or do something like the pics i posted earlier (but more simpler) and theres also the choice of leaving the sub and getting high quality speakers.... hmmm very tough choice

[HLC]

how about this set up? :hihi:

fully sick, uleh?

[AU3 HERROD XR8]

Originally Posted by HLC

how about this set up? :hihi:

fully sick, uleh?

mate.......WHAT HAPPENED TO IT, lol you're giving me second thoughts about even touching my boot now used:

[AU3 HERROD XR8]

haha don't tell me thats your boot HLC lol

[HLC]

Originally Posted by AU3 HERROD XR8

haha don't tell me thats your boot HLC lol

that is totally my boot. except now its full of 5hit and it doesnt have the sub in it : the rubber has pretty much all fallen out/perished so my free speaker is dead. still got the box.

am looking to sell it as i dont want a 12" sub. its perspex. and SOLID (in structure- its at least 15mm perspex all around- might be 20, i forget). will consider any reasonable offers.

[ClassicAU]

seriously, how often do you have to fold down the back seats anyway! i just booked my car in to get a custom boot install. i say go a good 10" in a box in the boot.

[duaned]

Originally Posted by hords

Any difference to SQ with the sub facing rearwards? Most I've seen point towards the front of the cabin.

Rear loading seems to be more popular these days. You get the effect of rear loading which increases bass output in the cabin of the car. But you should experiment at which method you prefer.