I have seen many posts about subwoofers. Most of you seem to be putting the subs in the deep recess of the tunk well.

Has anybody put one in the well where the soft top retracts? I've had my car all apart for new a component speaker system and a 400W amp, and like Rick's recent pictures show (on another string), there is a large volume of space back there BELOW where the top retracts (the space is in the trunk). There is no metal to cut into whatsoever, just that plastic floor that a lot of us are covering up with a group-buy carpet. The black plastic floor of the soft top cubby is simply the plastic top to the area above the fuel filler neck and over the spare tire. Even if I don't touch the spare tire, there is enough space for a 10" sub mounted behind the driver's seat, pointing toward the sky. I simply have to take out the plastic panel, cut a hole in it, fabricate a simple brace on each side to hold the weight of the speaker (the plastic is too flimsy to hold the weight of a subwoofer for any extended period of time), and thats about it. I guess to get a better response, I need to partition off the area to the trunk better to make it more of a true "enclosure".

I'm nearly positive that there is plenty of space for the top to be retracted even with a speaker grill sitting in there. I already have lined the bottom of this space with 3/4" super dense sound deadening foam (from the aerospace industry - very good stuff) and there is no problem with that thickness of material. I still get my pool noodle in between the folding window to protect it from scratches.

I have to think that having the sub "in the car" will sound better than if its in the recesses of the trunk. Yea, I know that its really low frequencies, non-directional, etc... but I kinda think that if its behind my chest as I'm sitting in the driver's seat, I should get an even better sound (feel?). Heck, I may be able to get a great response from a smaller 8" sub rather than a biger one in the trunk.

I'd like to see what everybody else thinks about this. Surely somebody has already done this...???

 

Well, It does seem like a good idea, however afeter my soundshop suggested this we tried a "demo" by putting an enclosure in thier running 250 watts and a ten. The end result was that it sounded like something unholy was trying to get out of the trunk. Bass frequencies are non directional, however the enclosure and shape of "air" surrounding your enclosure really are the components that add up to good bass response. Nothing will beat the trunk for volume of air and acoustic properties.
It would have been great though....simply from the space saving viewpoint. My advice would be to go full out with the proper power and sub if thats your thing.(it'll Cost!) Or if not use a good mid-bass driver/sep for your doors with at least 100watts a side to get a stereo you can hear and feel with the top down on the freeway. P.S. I tried just about every speaker on the market, and m.b. quartz "Q" series are absolutely the most amazing ones without a doubt. But expect a price tag of about a 1000.00 for speakers alone.