Subwoofer & Amplifier Location Options - 2003 SAN

**Mikeski** · 08-23-2011, 02:55 AM

If I had your boat I would install 2 downfiring 10" subs in a sealed box behind the driver like Wakejunky and others have done. You can also install a 12 in front of the driver but's more difficult. I have seen 6 amps installed against the gunwale...

**muzz88** · 08-23-2011, 04:54 AM

I ripped the standard sub and mount out of my 02. I then mounted a single 10" Alpine 'type R' into the dickie seat where i modified the inside so it had a sealed box. I used 'anderson' plugs to connect the wiring, and have one plug at the drivers feat for when the seat is in the walkthrough, and another plug behind the driver seat at the side for when the seat is back there.

It sounds alot better than factory set up, and uses no extra space at all......

**core-rider** · 08-23-2011, 06:10 AM

Or there is always this option... http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=789366

I have 2 - 10" subs mounted behind the driver's seat down firing. I've been toying around with new locations, but there are pros/cons to every situation. I'm probably going to rebuild the box for hopefully more output and look good while doing it.

**EarmarkMarine** · 08-23-2011, 10:15 AM

Chopper,
As stated above there can be pros and cons to every location. But there are a few absolutes when it comes to the acoustics of an open field boat and acoustics in general.
The rear lockers on each side of the engine and behind the rear bulkhead should be eliminated. You'll incur 10 dB of losses trying to overcome the confines of the compartment. You'll get boom, rumble and lots of boat shaking from this location but nothing that sounds musical. You'll get next to zero midbass, tonal construction, transient response or attack. Both the amplification and woofers will be overtaxed and this usually leads to reliability issues.

Close downfiring in the closed cabin of a vehicle works well because you are loading into a much more rigid air mass so losses are minimized and the floor or sole acts as a reinforcing plane. A boat is a little different scenerio. If you reduce the bass radiation path via the vent area below the surface area of the collective woofer(s) then you will see losses. The idea would be to elevate the woofer off the sole by around 5-inches on a 12-inch woofer. You'll get the benefit of the reinforcing plane just as you would side-firing against the hull but won't have the reduction.

Loading a woofer enclosure inside a large locker and exhausting the bass radiation through a comparatively small vent is like placing a sub inside a bottle with a small neck. The lowest bass may survive but the upper bass that forms the tonal characteristics and contrast will be largely filtered out.

You have got to take the best option that the boat gives you and some boats will not allow you to escape a compromise.

Its an open field environment where the bass energy dissipates rapidly unlike a vehicle or home. So you need all the leverage you can get. It definitely matters how much woofer surface area you have but that is secondary to how much air you are displacing. Choose a woofer/enclosure/orientation/location that best fits the opportunities that your particular boat presents based on the above guidelines.

David
Earmark Marine

**Cam003** · 08-23-2011, 07:46 PM

as far as the down firing subs idea, i have done it and it sounds ok, but i have to agree with david@earmark in the the fact that if you dont elavate the sub far enough from the floor your bass will fade at high volumes. this is a problem that i am currently experiencing and i hope to resolve with a shallow mount sub like a TW5 from jl. take a look at my install in the link below and let me know if you have any questions our boat are basicly identicle in hull and seat layout. you can fit three amp under the passenger seat and not lose storage room. good luck

**Mikeski** · 08-23-2011, 10:03 PM

http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=777879

**Chopper** · 08-24-2011, 02:00 AM

Some interesting installs there.

I'm not wanting to go over the top with the install - just want something neat & I want to use the three amps I currently have sitting around for now.

Amps:

Kicker KX650 - Tower speakers
Kicker KX350 - Internal speakers.
Rockford Fosgate Punch 250M - Subs.

The KX650 is quite a long amp, and isn't an easy fit, but I do like the idea of mounting up under the driver side, however they aren't marine amps, & their life span may be limited there. The KX350 & RF250M will be OK to find a home for.

Is everyone running 10's for space / enclosure size reasons.?

**Cam003** · 08-24-2011, 07:43 PM

Air space for me but like i said i am in the middle of changing them to 1 jl tw5 13.5

**core-rider** · 08-25-2011, 10:47 AM

So how much airspace would you recommend for 2 down-firing 10" subs David? I'm thinking about 2 inches. Also, I vent the pressure towards the cabin space. Would I be better off keeping that side closed and venting towards the outside wall of the boat so the sound bounces off there?

**Chopper** · 09-15-2011, 10:57 PM

Ok so I decided to locate the sub box in place of my port side cooler. I knocked together a "test box" over the weekend.

I've used MDF for the test mule. I'll coat in glass & resin to protect it a little, but if it ends up sounding Ok I'll remake one with some water proof material.

I've built it for 2 downward firing 10" subs, and to negate the clearance / elevation issue, I've angled the subs. I have 5-6 inches clearance at the front, and an inch or so at the back. I was restricted to the dimensions of the cooler, and I lost a bit with the angled section, but it still works out to around 1ft of air / woofer, which should be OK.

I'll post up some pics of the progress.

**muzz88** · 09-16-2011, 05:18 AM

Nice Chopper, i was thinking the same thing about angling the sub/s seems like the best choice.

What subs did you go with?

Keen to see the pics

**Chopper** · 09-16-2011, 06:33 AM

They are just 2 old MTX 10's that were sitting in a mates shed.

I really want 12's though and might have to go shallow mount.

If it ends up sounding 1/2 decent, I'll get some better subs & amp.

I'll get some pics over the weekend when I get some shed time.

**Texan1554** · 09-16-2011, 08:29 AM

Sounds interesting, look forward to seeing the pics.

**Chopper** · 09-18-2011, 01:46 AM

Sub box

Here's a couple of pics of where I'm at with the box.

I made it with legs to space the bottom of the box up off the floor, but they are slightly too long. I'll trim them up before final fitment.

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