Cyberpunky

My front speakers lack midbass due to the factory limitation of using 4"x6" speakers. I wasn't prepared to do custom work and cut up the interior like I would in a lesser car(although I will be doing some custom stuff).

I fitted some Soundstream speakers that are about the best I could find in a 4"x6", and although they aren't to bad they are not up to my standards.

So how to get some midbass was the question. Here is my solution.

First I secured some 10 speaker under armrest pods from Sirlapsalot. Now these were Blue and tan. A can of spray dye fixed that


Black now


Now it's just the simple matter of fitting them
Before shot




The required parts. Note I did not need to replace arm rest but as the dyed one looked better than my original I did anyway

Cyberpunky

First removal of door pocket




Then I removed window switch



Door handle trim next



Etc till trim is removed

Cyberpunky

Then I cut a small hole in trim to feed cable through. I also cut a matching slit in weatherproofing plastic


Feed the cable through plastic. Door trim needs to be close to door at this point, as I had already fitted speaker terminals


Reaching through speaker hole I pull the cable through

Cyberpunky

Then I fed some vacuum tubing back though door jam into door and taped speaker cable to it. Note on other side I managed to feed cable through but it was a biatch so this door I got smarter





Then through the door jam into the footwell



I left a bit of extra cable in the door so I can remove the trim if needed

Cyberpunky

Fitting these 2 brackets is fun and I was forced to use a standard screw driver as I had no feel with my snap on racheting one making task almost impossible.



Next I sealed all the holes in the speaker baffle



I then put foam weather strip around all the edges. As a midbass enclosure, it need a really good seal. Higher freq drivers it's less of an issue but to get that midbass snap it is essential

Cyberpunky

These 2 screws hold the baffle onto the factory brackets that are fitted from the arm rest. Note I partially undid the speaker screws to ensure a snug fit of the baffle


These 2 lower screws required me to drill holes, as there were no factory holes)as pod was from a later model



Here you can see the block off plate I fitted where the factory had a 3 inch midrange driver.

Cyberpunky

Then the speaker cover goes back on and fits the holes from the original pocket



Door finished and looking very factory

Cyberpunky

I still need to fit amp and set processor(Alpine PXA-H100) to feed it a bandpassed midbass signal. Probably from around 80Hz to 200-300Hz

I then plan to do a custom build out where the 4x6s are now and fit Dynaudio 3inch mid-dome and tweeter. Will probably do it ina carbon fibre overlay

Paulyy

that will sounds real good!
Ideas on the amp you'll be using? I've heard some good stuff about the JL XD series amps. i've been planning on getting on for my car, just a simple 5 channel one.

Cyberpunky

Pauly I picked up a tiny and I mean tiny Phoenix Gold amp that is 2 x 75Wrms, that I will use but will probably swap that to midrange and use my current alpine amp to drive the midbass drivers once I get pods built.

Dino V

nice work

Arominus

You could cheat with an older alpine headunit that does active 3 way to split the midbass freq out. I also think the Pioneer prs80 can do it? As it is i'm thinking about doing something like this with my car but using an alpine 9813 do do the dirty work for the 3 way.

Nice work.

Cyberpunky

The PXA-H100 imprint module I am running with my HU does give me the capability to go 3 way active. It is not ideal as the HP(tweeters) only goes down to 1K but with a shallow slope(6dB) it should work OK. Id prefer to have fronts HP at around 200Hz and have midbass bandpassed from 70 Hz to around 150ish, but this unit will force me to use about 400Hz LP on midbass and with shallow slopes on front 4x6 they should play down to 500ish.

When I go back to using the Dynaudio mid-domes, I will probably go passive using Dyn X360 crossover, so the current set up will just be a stop gap till I get those fitted. I will have it all up and running tomorrow, and am super keen to see how it all sounds
peace
Cyberpunky

F18Rep

Cool post...B

Dougs951

Note you can buy the 968 cab door pods that come with the 3" speakers blocked off already. That is what I did.