opinions on speaker/amp placement

[jim97gst]

I have a speaker box with 2 10s and an amp that's maybe 10" X 10". I previously had the speaker box mounted to the trunk floor by running bolts up through the bottom of the trunk floor and through brackets I attached to my speaker box. It's held down with wing nuts so I can pull it out without tools if I need to get to the spare. The amp was mounted in the back right part of the trunk floor. The problem with this setup is that on big bumps, the whole package, box, trunk floor, and amp would bounce up and down.

I am addressing this by doing the same basic thing with the trunk floor. I cut a piece of medium density fiber board into the shape of the trunk. I ran 4 bolts up through the bottom of the car in existing holes to go through holes in the new trunk floor I made. I can secure it with wing nuts. The problem is, one of the bolts goes up through where I previously had the amp. I really want 4 bolts, and I don't want to drill any holes through the body, so the amps gotta move. The only place I seem to have room for it is attached to the speaker box. Where on the speaker box do you guys think would be best? On top of the box looks kinda doofy. The right side seems like it will be OK, but my exisiting brackets are in the way, but can be moved. The back of the box seemed like it might be nice because it would be kinda hidden.

Any opinions/other ideas greatly appreciated!

 

[ampad2]

Why don't you mount your amp to the back of your seat?

 

[realhp=turbo]

Try attaching it differently. Instead of bolting it to the floor put tabs on the sides that sort of clip the floor piece down. If you need to remove it for anything just roll the two tabs out of the way. Just a thought
mike

 

[jim97gst]

Instead of bolting it to the floor put tabs on the sides that sort of clip the floor piece down.

I don't quite understand what kind of tabs you're talking about. Could you elaborate and/or provide pictures?

 

[realhp=turbo]

Build your floor piece in partial so that you can attach 2 or 4 tabs ( just a small piece of steel is what I would use) to the bottom of the car. Drill a hole on one end of each piece of steel and bolt that to your trunk floor so they hinge or turn or whatever. That way you can place your board and lock in your tabs bam your done.

 

[Chuckster]

If you want your amp to live for a long time, I don't suggest attaching it to the sub enclosure. Morning Pad2 had the right idea: put it on the back of the seat.

If the original bolts and wingnuts were tight, why was the enclosure rattling?

 

[LILPOOT17]

As said above I would, I did, put the amp on the back of the seat after awhile. I had my amp on the floor at first, then I mounted on the back of my box. All the rattling from the bass screwed up my amp. Well thats what Audio Express said. I had them fix it then mount it on the back of the seat. six months no problems. I don't know if this really helps but thats my exprience with putting the amp on the box.

 

[jim97gst]

If you want your amp to live for a long time, I don't suggest attaching it to the sub enclosure. Morning Pad2 had the right idea: put it on the back of the seat.

I looked on a bunch of sites (RF, circuit city, crutchfield, panasonic), and couldn't find anywhere that said not to mount it to the box. Some of the sites actually recommended the speaker box as a possible mounting location. Do you guys really think the vibration kills the amp? It's going to get some vibration from being in the trunk with the speakers anyway. Plus it's in a car which is naturally going to have vibrations.

One thing I did find is that most of them recommended to NOT mount it directly to metal as it might cause some noise.

The back of the seat is metal, but I suppose I could put a piece of wood on the back of the seat first. Things I don't like about the back of the seat are:

1. Puts holes in fabric on the back of the seat. Then if I decide I don't want it there anymore, I've torn up that fabric some.

2. I have the back seat sometimes up and sometimes down, so the cables would have to be arranged such that they have some slack and don't get caught on stuff. I'm sure this can be done well, but I'd have to think about how to make it a nice clean installation.

If the original bolts and wingnuts were tight, why was the enclosure rattling?

It wasn't really rattling. The speaker box was tightly secured to that thin piece of junky wood that covers the spare. But on big bumps, the speaker box AND piece of wood would bounce up and down. I've tried putting carpet padding under there and securing it with velcro, but nothing has seemed to work that well.

 

[jim97gst]

Well thats what Audio Express said.

Hey, I just noticed you're from Tucson. Me too. So you went to "YOUR HOME OF THE ONE DOLLAR INSTALLATION!!" Did Audio Express do the original mounting to the speaker box? Did they charge you to fix the amp? What kind of amp was it?

 

[realhp=turbo]

I once took a small piece of fuel line an cut it into four equal little pieces. Take those pieces and put them under the mounting holes of the amp. Then put your screws or bolts through the holes and sinch it down. Now youll have a little suspension squish for your amp, that and it keeps the amp off of whatever you mount it to for extra cooling capacity.
mike

 

[Grn95GST]

Here is my box/amp setup, it doesnt move at all when going over large bumps, or speed bumbs as my other one did The box also wont come out unless I remove the strut bar due to it needs to be lifted up then out. Any questions let me know.

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[jim97gst]

Grn95GST- That's a nice setup. It doesn't work for me for a couple of reasons.

1. I already have my speaker box. I don't really want to build a new box that wedges itself under the rear STB.

2. That setup requires at least a few tools in order to get that box out and get to the spare tire. I want to be able to get to the spare without any tools.

 

[devlish]

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thats where my amps are mounted. another M350 on the other side just like that one that is visible. and the one sunk into the floor is the component amp.

as for mounting the amp to the box, i've worked at an audio shop now for 4 yrs, and been doing car audio for almost 10yrs. haven't yet been able to pin an amp malfunction to being mounted on the both. that said, PERSONALLY, it's not my top choice though, and due to that reason. although it probably will be OK, i keep thinking that over time it may do slight damage. who knows??

you could try using rubber grommets (like the fuel line mentioned above), or just making a small amp rack on a side panel, or mounting it to the rear panel of the hatch.

good luck finding your solution!

 

[chorpie]

Go here: http://www.cardomain.com/id/chorpie and scroll down and you'll see how my amp is mounted to the back of the seat. It doesn't move, and is out of the way. I don't think that it would be a good idea to have the amp mounted to the box. The box itself is going to have a lot more vibrations than elsewhere on your car.

Jim, This is what realhp was talking about with the tabs...

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[Slipstream]

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thats where my amps are mounted. another M350 on the other side just like that one that is visible. and the one sunk into the floor is the component amp.

I don't think I've ever told you how great your setup looks....absolutely gorgeous!

 

[devlish]

hey, thanks man. it's a lot of work, but i feel it's paid off nicely. i'm happy with it too. still improving all the time too. will be more custom interior items this winter!! woohoo.

sorry off topic

 

[Chuckster]

Hey Jim, I didn't make up that statement about ruining an amp by mounting it on the enclosure. Funny how you went to all the sites that SELL amps and they didn't mention this!

http://www.bcae1.com/
#23 on right menu at almost halfway down is "amplifier mounting".

 

[Grn95GST]

As far as that mounting an amp goes. My box is braced, and is made out of 3/4" MDF, But i guess it all depends on what works for you and what not. Good luck.

 

[realhp=turbo]

Thank you chorpie you describesd that one to a "T". As far as mounting an amp to the box I personally have never popped an amp that way. I used to do that alot in high school too.
mike

 

[chorpie]

hey, no problem realhp, must do something when bored at work, right? :laugh: