FS: Loaded Custom Color Matched Subs

[LarryB]

Chuck- What are your thoughts on doing a box for the JL 6W3 subs? Have a 8" JL sub with a couple of hundred watts running through it right behind the driver seat of another mid-engine car... moves more air then I really need.

Have upgraded the front and rear speaker in the Elise (6.5" rear) with a amp. For a while had a self powered 6.5" sub in the other car, so know it wouldn't give me the very low end, would be happy with decent bass from a 6". Plus smaller, lighter weight and maybe could be offset to only take ~1/2 of the back shelve.

Jer- behind the seat maybe, under doubt it.

[Johnny B]

Jer, I have a Lanzar Opti amp that fits nicely behind the passenger seat. I use it to power the Sticker City sub box that I currently have. My only complaint about that box is that the seat touches it when it's all the way back. I've put a piece of rubber between the box and sub, but I prefer Chuck's solution.

I will sell the Sticker City box when I take it out of the car.

[Surferjer]

hmmm yes behind the passenger seat would be great. I put a component system in and upgraded my front speakers, that really helped with the top end, but left me kind of tinny and not rich music. I'm ready for more!

[chuck_risen]

The JL sub finally arrived today and it is one nice speaker. There should be no problems with seat movement as my box will be more shallow than the Sticker City but will fill the package area so I will have full seat movement, harness bar ability, and will closely match JL's recommended internal volume requirements for a sealed enclosure. Plus it will be painted to match your color.

Johnny B: No up charge on your BRP color. I found a 2 stage formula for the paint.

LarryB: I could do a JL6W3 design that takes up only the right side of the rear panel. I have to check volume requirements to make sure. You will be left with a small section behind the passenger seat. Basically I would make the box fit in the recessed section. I could fit the JL 8W1v2-4 back there in the same configuration but the volume would be a little on the low end. I am not sure how the sound would be with only around 650 cuin of volume on a speaker recommending 854 cuin. I am sure it would still sound good but not AS good. I could even fit two back there but the volume would be way to low for that. Making room for the bar and the seat movement means I had to stay as wide as the 10" design due to making it more shallow.

All of the design and re-design that went into this has brought up the price some but I think the results will be much better and more user friendly with people as they decide later they want a harness bar or let someone taller that needs the last seat adjustment notch drive their car or anything like that.

[Surferjer]

No harness here- I want the cheaper price! Anyone want to buy my harness? LOL

[LarryB]

Chuck- in the process of getting the car set up with a harness bar, to go with a HANs type device, might have to use a Sector 111 V-Force bar. Thinking worst case, could you do a 6" enclosure for the passenger foot well? Already have a vertical mount for my amp there, so it would have to be stepped out a good 3" from the "fire wall" Am fine losing the footrest. Looks like the JL spec for the 6" is .15 cu feet. If so let me know what kind of numbers you come up with for it and I'll check what it means to the passenger leg room. That is one thing about the Elise- very little unused space.

[chuck_risen]

Originally Posted by LarryB

Chuck- in the process of getting the car set up with a harness bar, to go with a HANs type device, might have to use a Sector 111 V-Force bar. Thinking worst case, could you do a 6" enclosure for the passenger foot well? Already have a vertical mount for my amp there, so it would have to be stepped out a good 3" from the "fire wall" Am fine losing the footrest. Looks like the JL spec for the 6" is .15 cu feet. If so let me know what kind of numbers you come up with for it and I'll check what it means to the passenger leg room. That is one thing about the Elise- very little unused space.

I am sure I could work something out for the foot well but it will be at least two weeks before I can get to it. Before I take on a new design I want to finish up another project that I am working on while keeping up with painting. Send me a PM and I can start thinking about options.

[chuck_risen]

The new mold for the 8" design is well on its way and I should have it completed in the next few days. I hope to be building the boxes by the end of this week or beginning of next week which means they might be in primer and ready for base coat and clear coat as early as the end of next week. I will post again when the mold is completed and I begin making them. I am excited to get the first completed.

[Johnny B]

Thanks for the update Chuck.

[chuck_risen]

Update here everyone.

I had a little delay the past few days I am kind of embarrassed about. I did a complete stereo job on my Supra with a custom box I made for it and during the install I sliced the heck out of a few fingers reaching into the dash. I had so many band aids on I could not get my protective gloves on for working with the chemicals necessary to complete the mold. They should be healed up by this weekend and I plan to work through it to try and make up the lost time. Everything is worked out and I have all of the materials, including both speaker types. Once I have the mold I should be able to make a box in a matter of a few days verses more than a week and I plan to have more than one going at a time.

Sorry for the delay. I also bent a front rim on that car hitting a pothole so I can't even enjoy the new sound system except while sitting in the garage.

[Johnny B]

Chuck, you've had a run of bad luck!

Heal up, take care of yourself, and let us know how everything works out.

[Andrem]

This is amazing! Nicely done. Wish we could know the weight though.

-Andre

[chuck_risen]

Originally Posted by Andrem

This is amazing! Nicely done. Wish we could know the weight though.

-Andre

Thank you for the compliment. Being an artist I tried to make something that fit with the car. I like what I do to look like it belongs or came with the car rather than looking like they are "upgrades".

As for the weight it would be impossible to guarantee due to the fact they are hand made. Even though the 8" JL is a pretty light sub when you add the amp you are still talking about a few extra pounds even without the box. Of course I could lose 10 off my gut and help out there but I have been lazy in that area for the past few years. The misses never forgets to remind me of that fact. The difference in sound with the 10" I made is amazing so the extra weight never really bothered me. I have not heard the 8" JL yet in the car but plan to try it out once I have the first box - unpainted of course. My car is already stripped and ready for me to pop the 8" design in. I have to double check fit and clearances anyway. JL makes good subs so I am sure it will sound great too. To tell you the truth I am not a good enough driver to notice 20 or 30 lbs and without seeing it or hearing it I couldn't tell you if it was in the car or not. You could always take it out when you go to the track I guess but I didn't bother. Besides, listening to tunes while buzzing around was kind of fun last summer and the instructors never noticed the "extra weight". Probably not for people that are in to competition or who are on the Lotus weight loss diet plan. If I was in to that I wouldn't even have a back panel so it would be a moot point anyway. Most component speakers are poor at handling much under 80 hz and running them through a high pass cross over really cleans up the sound. Having a sub for the lows through a low pass cross over makes for a nice combo and I can not hear distortion even at high volume levels. I guess it is all about preference. One reason every Lotus is not Saffron Yellow for instance or for all of the different options available from the factory. I also use mine as a daily driver in the summer months so I "need" the tunes. The 80g iPod is a must have for me as well. I love driving it now that I have it set up the way I want, even more than when I first bought it. The excitement really has not faded for me I guess. Of course, I still need that supercharger... might make up for the weight eh? Anyway, I have heard from more than one person that they would consider getting one just for the style improvement.

I am excited to finish the 8" and put one in my car. The new 10" is going to be cool too as I originally wanted to go with the Rockford but it was not released to the public on time so I try not to get as excited about it.

[MB SC Elise]

Chuck, I'm also impressed with your work and am interested in seeing the completed 8" JL. I've been looking for a sub box that I can place behind me and will eventually be adding a harnass bar. So, your set-up may be perfect. Can't wait to see (& hear) the final product.

[thegoat]

Any updates on the 8"?

[chuck_risen]

I am finishing up a 10" first and then I am moving on to making two 8" boxes. I was delayed about 2 weeks due to some crazy virus I caught. I was coughing too much to wear my respirator so I could not work with the paints and resins plus I had almost no energy. I guess I better get used to since the "boss" is working at a pharmacy now with all of the sick people needing meds. I will post more as things progress with the boxes. They are coming!

[thegoat]

How deep of an 8" sub do you think your box will allow?

[chuck_risen]

Originally Posted by thegoat

How deep of an 8" sub do you think your box will allow?

Nothing deeper than the JL 8W1v2 that it is designed for. It has to be a tight fit for the driver side seat to have full motion and for the harness bar.

[chuck_risen]

Quick update:

I finished the rough mold for the new design. Tomorrow I will do the final sizing and shaping and then I will be able to start producing the first test box. Finally coming along now that I feel better!

[thegoat]