Custom sub box build.

[ballisticram]

I started building a custom box to replace the factory Alpine unit. Or should I say poor excuse for an Alpine unit. I'm going the MDF frame and top with fiberglass bottom. I have the storage covers and would like to use the storage on the driver side still and I wanted the box to match the cover on the driver side.

I will be running one 12" Kenwood Excelon KFC-XW1200F 12"
Power by a Kenwood Excelon X700 -5 5 channel amp.

Then I will start upgrading my mids and highs little by little.

I'll try to take more pics as the build moves on.

 

[Thmupr]

Looking pretty sweet so far!

 

[Etroze86]

Very nice, should sound great when you are done.

 

[sullivan]

Clean wood work!

 

[BradKnob]

Nice clean start. Where are you gonna put the amp?

 

[ballisticram]

Haven't decided the placement of the amp yet. Maybe behind the seat out of site. If I raise the seat I might recess the amp in the box. I haven't measured yet but I may have room to build an extension of the box on the floor under the seat. The amp is a little over 7" wide.

So short answer is I haven't figured it out yet.

 

[ballisticram]

@ Etroze86

Hopefully it sounds good. The sub needs .8 cu ft. I am hoping to have at least that. I will check with peanuts and if I do I will leave it. If I don't I will add another 3/4 to the height. If I'm close I will add poly fill and see how that sounds.

 

[WhiteExpress]

Box looks very nice.

How do you smoothly stretch carpeting over an odd shapped enclosure like that?

 

[Havix00]

I wish these were produced more commonly. For our trucks especially, you need to utilize ALL available air space to get a decent sound from a respectable system. I bought a BBox from Atrend for the passenger side, but it only has 0.85 CuFt (if that). I had to cut out a port just to let my sub breathe a bit more.

I'm really interested to see how this turns out. How much money/time does a project like this cost you?

 

[ballisticram]

@WhiteExpress

Patience...... and thinner carpet.

 

[ballisticram]

NETAudio.com in Witchata Falls, Texas makes hybrid boxes for $250-$425 depending on if you get one sub or two. They don't match the storage compartment cover. Which is what I wanted. I fell it is a cleaner look. They stop at the cup holder so you have a big gap between the driver side cover and the box. They have a mold so they can make them quick, but any modification will cost extra. They specify that there shallow box has .8 cu ft. of air space. The height of there box is 1.5". They appear the be a well made box. They chop the mat and spray it. Reducing time to complete each box. But they have a two month lead time because of there work load.

I made my height 2.0" and it is longer so I should have more space.

The small compartment is why I choose a shallow mount with good reviews. It displaces less air space.

I will try to add up the cost of material and the time required. Should be able to knock it out in a weekend. I have 4 hours in it already and I am not savvy with wood.

I picked the 12" sub from Amazon for $104 and the Amp for $178 brand new.
Way under what the JL Stealth box will cost without an amp.

I priced having a audio shop in the area building a box similar and they were $1000-$1200 for material and labor.

A little research and some work and it can be done for a 1/4 of that price. Plus you get the bragging rights of saying "Built not Bought."

 

[Randon User]

I wish these were produced more commonly. For our trucks especially, you need to utilize ALL available air space to get a decent sound from a respectable system. I bought a BBox from Atrend for the passenger side, but it only has 0.85 CuFt (if that). I had to cut out a port just to let my sub breathe a bit more.

I'm really interested to see how this turns out. How much money/time does a project like this cost you?

You just cut a hole in a small sealed enclosure to let your sub "breathe"?
You and I have a lot to discuss about car audio, you have a lot to learn.

 

[Thmupr]

Box looks very nice.

How do you smoothly stretch carpeting over an odd shapped enclosure like that?

The carpet to use is thin and stretchable. Often called trunk liner. Parts Express and others sell it, much higher quality than the rolls at Autozone or Walmart.

Ballistic... You should easily have .8 cu ft. If that Kenwood doesn't play we'll try a Polk MM series. I've heard them sound really good in small sealed boxes.

 

[ballisticram]

I checked out Parts Express. They seem to have reasonable prices. It looks like the carpet may be a close match to the floor carpet. It is hard to tell from the pic.

 

[ballisticram]

I'm hoping to lay the glass this weekend but I don't know if I am volunteered for other events.

 

[BradKnob]

You just cut a hole in a small sealed enclosure to let your sub "breathe"?
You and I have a lot to discuss about car audio, you have a lot to learn.

I dont want to be a ****, everyone has to start somewhere i guess.....but I LOLd

 

[ballisticram]

Been awhile since I updated the install. Before I laid the glass I taped the area for the mold. I used three layers of painters tape overlapping by half and each layer 90 degrees from the last. The final layer I used duct tape. Then I used mothers carnuba car polish as a mold release. I ran the fiberglass up past the MDF. And I used staples to add some extra assurance when I glassed to the mdf. It doesn't have to be done but sometimes I over do things.

 

[ballisticram]

Here are the pics.

 

[Power247]

Coming along nicely ballistic All you guys building boxes for 12s really have me thinking...

 

[ballisticram]

Power247 go for it. It's rewarding in the end.