Need help buying/placing subwoofer

[Ronnie]

ok guys, it's as the title states.

I am thinking about buying a 10" kicker subwoofer in a box and placing it under the copilots seat, no vent. I have a 6 channel amp and plan to bridge channels 5&6 to power the sub (either 250w rms x 2 at 4 ohms Or 400w rms x 1 at 2 ohms). The installer suggestEd that I only use one channel so I don't blow the woofer. I Don't understand the ohm impact or how to select it. Also Don't feel like cutting or drilling anymore holes in the boat this year so I'd like to go the lazy but still effective, relatively inexpensive route.

What should I expect out of this setup? Muffled sound and a shaking seat or a good supplement to the other speakers (and a shaking seat)?

If it is going to sound crappy I'll scrap the idea and go the distance and mount it in a wall/bulkhead but I'm hoping this will do for this season.

Thoughts?

 

[Glassman]

Hi Ronnie,
I can't comment on that box specifically, but I can tell you that I have a :
Infinity BassLink
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-L3MkvI...l?showAll=N&search=infinity_basslink&skipvs=T

It is stuffed in the port cabinet in front of the passenger seat. It can shake the whole boat if I turn it all the way up, obviously much louder with the door open, but still subtly effective when closed. I don't need uber bass.
I like the separate remote to control the level.

So if the box you've selected bumps, it could work just fine. Any chance you can return it if it doesn't work out?

 

[Ronnie]

They are selling them for $150 at best buy, I could buy the extended warranty in case I fry it but they may be smart to that kind of behavior on sub woofers.

 

[Glassman]

Well, you already have the amp.
Buy one, neatly open the box, save everything, try it out in the boat and if you you don't like it bring it back.
I'd just say I didn't like the way it sounded.
I don't think that would be a problem, do you?

 

[txav8r]

@Ronnie , you used the term, "sound crappy". If it is under a seat and not ported, it won't sound at all musically, you will just hear and feel the bass thud. That may be what your after. But nothing contained will reproduce music accurately. Bear in mind, that some feel it is "feeling" the music that is important, and granted, that is part of deep bass, but it is also supposed to carry the low frequency range...it can't do that inside a closed compartment. You can do this and test it. Place the box outside and see what you get, then place it under without a vent or port. It will be self explanatory. Again, this area is subjective. If your not wanting the sub to carry any of the low frequency load, it can just shake the boat for you. But the main reason to have a subwoofer, is to free up your coaxials to only have to carry the highs and mid range, so they can be driven harder and be more efficient and clean...if they don't have to also perform the low end work. Hopefully, you can find a happy medium!

 

[Ronnie]

Thanks guys. @txav8r , I figured as much but was just hoping to be wrong (like when I wanted to double the power to my squirt gun pump to double the pressure, lol).

I figured it out and will end up buying and installing two of these in the pictured spots. I'm thinking about putting the starboard speaker on the side of the foot well but wonder if it's Better to have it shake my seat instead of my feet?

Got a good deal, $125 and plan to pick up another tomorrow now that I know it will fit in the port side location.

 

[tdonoughue]

Ain't gonna work there under the seat on the starboard side. I tried it. There is a huge chunk of aluminum under there, embedded in the biggest piece of fiberglass you ever seen...

Mind you, it may be different in the 2010, but I am doubting it. Proceed with extreme caution.

 

[Ronnie]

@tdonoughue , thanks. I will triple check the location and drill some test holes before I run down to buy the other sub. I've seen some pics of a sub installed there but don't recall the model or year of the boat.

Where is the metal in that location? What's its purpose? I'm thinking it just reinforces the area the metal block and post the seat anchors to when it's upright.

 

[tdonoughue]

It appeared to be a big plate of aluminum, about 3/4" thick. If you look carefully from the aft underneath the seat (stick your head in by the batteries and look forward), you can make it out in the glass. If I recall it was about a 10x10 square. I think it is to reinforce the seat post there. I was less worried about the anchor function than actually drilling through the thing. I tried to do a 1" pilot hole from which I would then use the scroll saw to drill out for the 10" sub. Never was able to get the pilot hole drilled all the way through. The center bit got through, but I couldn't get the 1" part through. That is when I investigated further and found the plate...

 

[Ronnie]

I saw it when I looked under the seat but didn't realize how thick it was until I drilled a test hole. Check out how long the piece of metal is in the pic, that is just half of what came up and I didn't drill all the way through. I am not going to try and cut through that to force a sub in there. Too bad it would have fit perfectly there.

 

[kthrash]

I had a marine Bazooka in the rear compartment of my AR210 that thumped the boat pretty good.. I would almost put it on par with the 10" in my 212X now..

 

[txav8r]

Also check the depth you need even on the helm side, the hull tapers in, and the sub has some depth to it. Also, check that the sub you bought is a "free air" or "infinite baffle" by design. If not, it is going to have to have an enclosure to move that big magnet and reproduce the sound it is capable of.

Agree, under the folding lounge seat support is no good. We are limited to placement of a sub in our boats and it will be a compromise. But some compromise is better than others. @Ronnie , I made a gauge out of wire, with enough length to reach to where the sub or speaker would mount, and a barb the depth I needed on the end. I could then reach back or up, depending on location, and "feel" where it met the outside hull and the inside wall, to gauge the depth I had to work with. I think it will fit starboard side where you have it, but again, make sure the sub is an "IB" sub.

 

[txav8r]

I just looked it up...it is an IB sub!

 

[Ronnie]

Yup, went with the free air/ib but learned a little from the last sub I installed so I won't be building a box around this one. I checked the depth by drilling a small hole at the lowest point of the grill and pushed a uncooked spaghetti noodle though until it touched the hull. I made it with just a 1/4" to spare in the lower location but am thinking of moving it to the footwell because access is better and so is clearance.

I also have a lead on a used 10" Polk on a box for $60. If I get it I will put it in the compartment under the copilot's seat and will add a vent if needed. My amp already has a free channel for the second sub so installation should be a breeze.

 

[tdonoughue]

I saw it when I looked under the seat but didn't realize how thick it was until I drilled a test hole. Check out how long the piece of metal is in the pic, that is just half of what came up and I didn't drill all the way through. I am not going to try and cut through that to force a sub in there. Too bad it would have fit perfectly there.

My experience exactly. Except that I didn't know it was there in the first place. I just kept drilling and drilling and drilling. Ruined a perfectly good 1" bit before I decided the same thing. And my 10" sub would have fit perfectly there, too!

Now, if Yamaha would just put a stock JL sub there and redesign that stupid piece of metal... hint, hint...

 

[jawsf16]

@Ronnie I have a ten inch bazooka under the passenger lounger and added a vent. Sounds great and fills,in nicely...