Mounting a sub in the boot of an 80

Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 6:38 pm

I have recently upgraded the speakers in my 80 and noticed that the headunit has a high pass filter and a subwoofer volume control. This would give better sound if I had a sub...
I drive 'enthusiastically' when I get onto a twisty road and can imagine a poor sub being thrown about while a proper drive was happening.
Does anyone have any recommendations or pictures of simple 12" sub and amp boot builds (it don't need to be pretty, just stop it from moving Laughing

)

Also, how easy is it do pass the wiring through the car neatly, i.e. hidden under carpet/door shut trims and through bulkheads and is any side prefferable for the power cable?

Dan

Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 9:11 pm

Power cable down passenger side. Wires go nicely into where there are wires already under plastic trim etc. you just have to make sure they dont pop out when you shove trim back on.

Dont know about wiring into the boot as I have a coupe and I just run mine under the rear seats.
I havent screwed my amp in anywhere and it seems fine.

If you have an amp its better to set gain up on there and the bass settings etc. Just remember not to go around screwing loads of crap everywhere, amp and subs really put buyers off. And it detracts from the Audi origionality.

To have a sub you have to have an amp. But its best if you get a 4channel one. then you can adjust volume front to back.

If your not bothered about looks id just cut some mdf type of stuff to fit nice and snug in boot then screw sub box onto that.
Anyway whatever you do dont make your audi into a chav mobile.

Sublty is the key. Dont go around playing all that boomy pneumatic drill nonsense either, or if anyone see's you off here we will have to slap you. Laughing

Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 10:58 am

Nog and I got it all in yesterday - I ended up buying an all in one Juice A12 active box

Plays 500W RMS (1200W peak) and is everything I need, plus its really easy to take out if I take the car camping or something.

Power cable went down the right hand side of the battery through a grommet with 4 nipples on it, we cut the end off of the biggest nipple (no sniggering at the back there...) and fed the 8 guage power cable through, then routed it underneath the door trim (it just pulls straight up) on the passenger side. The remote cable joined this power cable through to the boot going under the passenger seat.
The RCAs (phono cables) were a bit more of a bother, I needed to take out the tray/storage under the steering wheel (4x 8mm bolts) and the phono went over the steering rack, dropping down along the car in the same way as the power cables.

The clever bit.

The box has velcro holding to the carpet. This is not going to hold it through hard cornering so I have made 4 brackets which are screwed to the back of the seats, they are arranged so one is above the other and the same arrangement is next to it. Through these brackets I passed some 25mm webbing with a ratchet fixing, these 2 straps go around the box; once pulled tight it won't allow much lateral movement or longitudinal (braking, acceleration) movement.

The straps cost 3.98 each at B&Q and are the grey 250kg load bearing ones. The brackets are flat 125mm mending plate (about £2.50 for 4) which I have put in a vice and bent so they form a shape like a handle on a piece of furniture.

The box can come out in a matter of minutes, I'm sure the straps will come in useful one day and once the brackets are removed, you'd never know it ever had a sub in it! The total cost of materials was just under eleven quid, possibly cheaper than buying 15-18mm MDF, cutting it, carpeting/painting it and making a messy mess of your carpet!

Pics may follow if anyone wants a peep.

Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 11:05 pm

Love to see some pics.... how much was the sub if ya don't mind me asking ?????

Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 4:10 pm

I work in an Oldham school, could always meet you someplace after work and show you how it was done.

Bought at Manchester car audio centre on Great Ducie street - they did me a deal after I asked about website prices. £110 for the A12 and £35 quid for the 8 guage wiring kit; although you could probably buy the 5m RCAs, 5m of Power cable, fuse holder with 40a or 60a fuse, remote cable and 1m of 8 guage earth cable for less.

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 4:14 pm

my first car was a renault clio 1.4 that went at full throttle everywhere, to strap down my expensive alphasonic gear in the boot i used heavy duty velcrow straps. they adhere to the carper and to the sub box or amp then velcro together. this is great because i could just remove when un wanted and re stick when i did. i never had any 'tipping over smashing and generally causing lots of costly damage' incedents Smile

Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:54 pm

Some pics:

Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:01 pm

got me a thicker lead for the power after all dan, managed to get what i think is a 4 guage with a 80amp fuse! its about half an inch thick. time to save up for that 1000wrms amp and a double sub box to really shake things up haha! Twisted Evil