Audio thump question

[AutobahnSHO]

So I miss the thump in my Subie when I'm in the Miata- I have a 12" woofer with amp in the back.

Looking around online for Miata solutions, some guy hacked the car all up to put woofers behind the seats. Wife says put my Subie setup into the Miata, but the trunk is totally closed off and a firewall/gastank would block any sound from getting to the passenger compartment.

For $200 there are superslim woofer/amp combos, but at 3" thick I really highly doubt they'd fit below the seats so would have to sit behind the passenger seat. (I have mine pretty much all the way back.)

But I'm also wondering about just hiding a 6 1/4" with decent enclosure under the passenger dash (remove airbag computer since it doesn't work anyway?)

And why is it we need such big woofers anyway? My living room stereo is a bookshelf system with 5" woofers, plenty loud and thumpy, although not as deep as the Subaru. My familyroom has a Bluray/all in one surround system, again a 5" woofer with a decent size box and it rumbles pretty good. I wonder if there's a way to take a small speaer and build a duct system coiled under a seat or something??

(in fact, trumpets and frenchhorns greatly amplify the buzzing of ones' lips to make a pretty loud sound...)

[Eye of the Tiger]

I know nothing about stereos, so
http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Performance-Part/11-1010.html

[hotrodalex]

How much room is between the seats? That's where mine is, against the back "wall". Obviously it's a different car, but same idea.

[Secret Chimp]

I know nothing about stereos, so
http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Performance-Part/11-1010.html

This is the correct answer.

[AutobahnSHO]

ACTUALLY,

I am very pleased with the exhaust. It is low without rasp or the fartcannon-crap. It's not loud or annoying while just cruising, in fact it's a little more tame than most people would like. But I love it.

My in-laws bought a Miata just a couple months before I got mine. Theirs is also pre-1994, red, with 160k miles on it. I drove it a little while on vacation, they had some kind of rattle and the tone was a little higher pitched. It made me appreciate mine all the more when I got home.

[AutobahnSHO]

How much room is between the seats? That's where mine is, against the back "wall". Obviously it's a different car, but same idea.

None. There's a console and just a few inches of firewall.

Searching for pics gave me some ideas of interior work (someday if I still have the car and more time)



--My seats are all the way back.



--I don't have rollbars, and it LOOKS like there's room under the seats but there is a metal plate under them. I might see if that's removable..



--The top tan piece above the seats is an optional bag. I don't have one, also don't have the cover over the softtop. (mine's just naked behind the rear deck). I almost consider getting some 6.25" speakers with boxes, but it would attract theft just sitting there. I considering a bazooka tube ina bag for concealment, with some way to permanently attach it down, but I dunno.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I was also going to suggest a bazooka tube. Not sure how else you can do it.

[hotrodalex]

Woofer in the steering wheel.

[AutobahnSHO]

I just worry about theft of anything sitting in the open. But the trunkis just tiny as it is, and actually put stuff in it.

HA found a better picture in my own flickr...

[AutobahnSHO]

Woofer in the steering wheel.

Not a terrible idea though! lotta work, I'm not an audio engineer..

[AutobahnSHO]

BTW have to wake up in 6hrs and just looking at pictures of car I want to go out driving. I haven't had this much fun since I was like 16yrs old. SHO is a very close 2nd though.

[VTEC_Inside]

Id just get some decent speakers to replace the stockers, but still run them off an amp, deck power is just meh.

[hotrodalex]

Id just get some decent speakers to replace the stockers, but still run them off an amp, deck power is just meh.

A decent pair of 6.5"s with an amp should be enough in a Miata. Not anywhere close to a subwoofer's thump, but much better than stock.

[AutobahnSHO]

space might be an issue...

[S204STi]

This is the correct answer.

+juan

[hotrodalex]

What size are the stock units?

[Rupert]

+ pedro


Also, best options if you really need a subwoofer are trunk (bass carries) or velcroed to the parcel shelf. Pretty hard to conceal anything on the parcel shelf. Like others were saying, I would just get the best possible speakers for the doors, add an amp, and then the best possible speakers for the headrests (Clearwater makes/made the standard, I have no experience with them).

[r0tor]

If you want thump, you need a resonance box... especially in a convertible where you can't make the in tire car interior a resonance chamber.  Do a search and you should be able to find the volume of box needed to be made for a select speaker...

[giant_mtb]

I just worry about theft of anything sitting in the open. But the trunkis just tiny as it is, and actually put stuff in it.

HA found a better picture in my own flickr...

Could you custom-mount a couple 8" or 10" subs on top of that parcel shelf behind the seats? 

[Cookie Monster]

Could you custom-mount a couple 8" or 10" subs on top of that parcel shelf behind the seats? 

Probably not a great idea for security if he ever leaves the top down...

[giant_mtb]

As if a convertible was ever a good security idea...?

[Cookie Monster]

As if a convertible was ever a good security idea...?

Yeah, but it's not like he should go ahead and bolt some expensive subs in plain view even with the top and windows up.

[Rupert]

He could probably figure out how it make them look less expensive. Point the speakers back instead of up, cover with speaker cloth, etc.

[giant_mtb]

Yeah, but it's not like he should go ahead and bolt some expensive subs in plain view even with the top and windows up.

[AutobahnSHO]

Guy custom installed 2 8" woofers in the back deck. http://www.miata.net/hakuna/subspeak.html
Put some thin carpet over them and no one would know..

Seems like it would take a TON of work, and if you didn't get the cavity size right woud be pointless. Seems like just 1 woofer would do it though, my one speaker in the subie sounds the same as the bigger box with 2 speakers (same amp and speakers). Plus I like more bass than my passengers usually.. 

I might consider this one someday..

[Eye of the Tiger]

Headphones

[Rupert]

Wow, that's a lot of cutting...

[Rupert]

What about small sub or subs with a thin box that takes up all of the shelf that the roof doesn't use, and then carpet over the speaker(s)? Only someone who knows Miatas would be likely to figure it out.

[AutobahnSHO]

What about small sub or subs with a thin box that takes up all of the shelf that the roof doesn't use, and then carpet over the speaker(s)? Only someone who knows Miatas would be likely to figure it out.

Yeah, I don't use that shelf for anything anyway. I'm thinking mount one upside down leaving a small gap under for the sound to come forward.  Almost like the way these work.


http://www.metaefficient.com/audio-equipment/best-subwoofers-under-500.html

Funny most of the woofers on that page are 8" drivers, instead of the massive thumps people buy for their cars.

[Rupert]

Yeah, pointed down should be fine.

Audiophiles want good sound, not dumbass thumping.