I'm just looking for a little more bass reinforcement in my 96 TE Magna but I can't afford any room in the trunk cause I lug around lots of gear (I'm in a band). I noticed there's an 8" mount in the parcel shelf towards the passenger side which I would like to put a sub in. Has anyone ever used this efectively? What sort of gear am I looking at to get this happening? I bought a new head deck (a Kenwood 4020) which has power amp outs. I'm assuming cost etc. depends on what kind of output power I want. Did the Veradas ever come with a sub in this mount?

Thanx.

There was an option apparently in the XI Verada for a subwoofer, very small though and im not sure if they put it in the parcel shelf. When i put my 6x9's in i noticed that void. Im not sure what its for but im sure you could use it for your sub no problems.

If you don't want to use your parcel shelf, you could allways build a small box for your boot and have the sub facing through the ski hole opening. Wouldn't take up that much room, look good for passangers and would really fill the cabin with bass. this would also allow you to go up to a 12" sub.

As far as costs go it depends what power output and what bran of sub amp you use.

you can get away with an 8"sub and a cheap amp for 220 easy.

Thanks for the idea, I might try the ski hole if all else fails, could probably get a square Kicker sub in there. How hard is it to get the parcel shelf down?

not hard, from memory its just 2 bolts either side, disconnect the wiring and the whole thing should just drop down.

I remember askin the guys that did my system what that sealed 'what seemed to be apparent' sub hole was all about, and after a bit of stuffing round, they concluded that a 10" will prolly fit the part.

I only wish the hole was 15" and the 6x9" held 2x 12" subs :cry:
Then id still have a boot... :wink:


Ben

then what would you do with your 6x9's?

hahaha, sounds like you got a nice system booya, got any pics?

I havnt pulled my shelf out for a good few months now...but to fit a sub wont you have to cut metal away for it? I think i remember there being metal below it...

not a good idea to start choppin metal away :)

The hole is a pretty strict 8" mount (I just measured it's diameter). It's already cut at the factory, they have just put a speaker shaped cover over it that is screwed into the parcel shelf (as you would do with a speaker cone). So, it's pre-cut and there are screw down points already there. Sounds like a dream fit.

i don't know how well 8" subs handle bass but im sure if it's in the cabin you'll know about it!

Well I don't need to shake the car or compete with anyone, but being a bass player I like to feel the vibrations. Anyone know any good 8" inch subs? Or, better question: I am looking at spending between $400-500 dollars. Anyone know of some setups they would recommend?

id reccomend a good quality sub like alpine or MTX with a small kicker amp

youd have a very nice system then.

After doing some more searching I have found out that mounting a sub in the parcel shelf (while very appealing) is a really, really bad idea. It will not only cause rattling noise but will seriously screw up the sound quality. Apparently the frequencies generated by the sub driver cause the 6x9s to change their own frequency output, thus causing cancellations, comb filtering etc. So mounting the sub on the same surface as the 6x9s is highly advised against.

The ski-hole idea is my next option. I've decided that I would love to get a sub and basically mount it as close to the opening as possible. I am going to have to build a box for it and most importantly it will have to be removable, in case I need to fill the boot. I know 12" subs are considered a minimum size but taking into consideration my shoestring budget and limited space in the boot, does anybody have any suggestions for products, box building advice or a good, affordable combination of 10" or 12" sub and amp. I am willing to put a 10" in if it's gonna save room and money. Hell, I was gonna put an 8" in my parcel shelf so a 10" in a box coming through the ski-hole is gonna kick arse!

Sorry for the long reply, but one more thing. I know a guy who can get me Clarion products at wholesale price. Any opinions on this brand, esp. subs and amps? If there's something more worthwhile out there then I will definitely check it out and maybe even (gulp) buy it from a retailer.

Thanks go out to everyone who has helped me out here!

If you're going to have a sub in, there's really not much point to the 6x9s anyway, but either way, the 8" would sound crap... A couple of guys on CAA have tried it before and failed miserably, although there was one guy who was considering just putting an 8" in there just for show... Very expensive rice.. =P

As for products, depends what you want and what your budget it... Go listen to a heap of stuff and find out what you like best...

Well, I started looking/listening to subs today and you're right, even a 10" just didn't cut it (God knows how an 8" would've gone). So a 12" will be pumping through my ski hole as soon as I decide on a brand and a price I like. It was funny, the guy at the store advised me against the ski hole idea saying I should point the subs towards the boot lid for more response. I know as well as him that bass frequenices are non-directional but he just couldn't understand how cool it's gonna look, if I do a good job that is.

Sorry, just coming back to something you said earlier, Night, why would the 6x9s have no point if I put in a sub? They serve totally different frequency spectrums. I was always under the impression that the sub was there to reinforce the low frequencies that the 6x9s couldn't handle sufficiently.

Well, they're not totally useless, but the mid-bass out of the 6x9s should be coming from the front of the car, not the rear... It'll drag your sound stage backwards... If that's your thing, for some reason, then by all means, go ahead, but others have told me it has sounded crappie.. There's a few friendly people on CAA (http://www.caraudioaustralia.com) that'll help you out... They should be able to explain it better than I can.. I think killbilly would know more about this than I would too..

Hi all just FYI - if you still read this post

the ED XR8 (i know for sure dunno about others) came out with factory optioned complete stereos - all alpine with 6x9's in the parcel shelf and a 8" sub in the parcel shelf as well - but no amps - just running off an alpine centre unit - Ford had a thing with Alpine. My mate bought one which happened to be fully optioned - red, 5spd manual - all stereo factory optioned - it was okay - but after driving the 1600 Ks home with it blasting the whole way it was recked - the reverberations of the sub on the same solid surface as the 6x9's screwed the 6x9's as they were vibrating at different speeds due to the different frequencies they put out - just to let you know.

the reason the guy told you to mount your subs facing boot up is so to maximise the amount of free air the sub impacts on in the boot - when mounting them face up it gives you a flatter larger area to pump the air around - whereas if they are mounted either facing the front or rear of the car - like most ppl do so that they can maximise their boot space - don't get as much of the bass as the other mounting option - however the difference is negligable in a daily driver - and most ppl only do this for competition cars!!

therefore - fo what you wish to do a 12" sub would be the best way to go!!

Other options which I have seen done would be to put an 8" sub in either rear door - requires a bit of fiddlling but is possible - this wil leave your boot completely available for you to utilise - and the effect of two 8' face to face isnt too bad!!

if you went and listened to 8's 10';s and 12's were they in a car or in a shop display - remember in a shop display they have no where near the same effect as they are not in an enclosed area such as a car - and dont give the same ooomph!!

just a few things to remember - but again - if all you can afford is one thing - then dont waste your money!! can use it on other things!! you can sometimes spend big big big bucks on an install - when you dont need it!!

Hope it all works out - let us know how you go!!

Manual

Hey Manual, thanx for the post. I've heard about the Ford subs. My Pa's gone through a few Ford's over the years as company cars and I've always been impressed with the standard stereos in them (which is probably why I hate the VX Commodore he has now, plus it's not my Magna!). In fact I was thinking of checking out the wreckers for some ex-Fairmont/Fairlane speakers to whack in the front doors of my car.

The back door idea isn't too bad actually, but it does sound like a lot of cutting and stuffing around. When I listened to the subs in the shop they were all in those ready-made enclosures you can buy and, yeah the guy told me, "It'll sound completely different in your car" - I'm into my second year of a degree in Audio Engneering so I knew that anyway, hehe.

As for cost, there's lots more to be done to my humble TE so that's why I'm not wasting my entire savings on a huge system but a nice sub that will help relieve my 6x9s of all those low frequencies (well, some of them). Plus if I spend more money on a sub and amp than I did on new tires then I'd have to slap my own face.

Thanks for the advice though, after doing some more shopping I now know how easy it could be to just whip out the plastic and say "I'll take one of each thanks" but that ain't gonna happen, because, as you say, I don't need it! However I do need a sunroof, new exhaust, new paint, new tinting...sigh.

You bet I'll let you guys know how it goes and I'll get some pics when the subs in the ski-hole!