The Oldsmobile Connection

BigBlockOlds · Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Posts: 171 Location: Ohio

Well, I have been spending some time mocking up a sub box, amp enclosure, and panels that will hide the drivers side inside 1/4 panel, wheel wells, and the spare tire.

Here's a picture of the sub box so far:

The speakers will eventually get changed out to something better but I'm going to see how these do. I'm not a huge bass-aholic like some, and prefer everything to be well rounded. But do like to turn the bass up every now and then.

The Oldsmobile in the center oval will be lit up from behind when the trunk is open and I may do a rocket symbol just below it with the same effect. I don't plan on even showing the amp(s) and so just hiding them but I may change my mind. I'd kind of like to keep everything fairly simple (as far as asthetics go) so there won't be huge amounts of guady neon, or anything like that. I'd prefer it to look like something the factory would have installed.
Now I just need to buy the MDF, work out a few more of the measurements and get to work. :)

Brando · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 3067 Location: Michigan, USA

Yea...I dunno about those Legacy subs...are those 8"? It looks pretty good so far, having that oldsmobile lit up behind...are you going to engrave that in plexiglass?

I'd recommend the Dayton 8" Quatro Series 4 Ohm Subwoofer, but you'd have to wait a little while as they aren't in stock...

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BigBlockOlds · Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Posts: 171 Location: Ohio

Brando wrote: Yea...I dunno about those Legacy subs...are those 8"?

No they're 10". They're rated at 200W RMS so I guess we'll see what happens. LOL I wanted something cheap to just get the system off the ground and see how it functions. Later if I decide I want to spend more money on it I will. I'd prefer to have a pair of JL's or Infinity's.

Quote: It looks pretty good so far, having that oldsmobile lit up behind...are you going to engrave that in plexiglass?

No, I figure the easiest way will be to mask off the parts I want to stay clear and then paint the rest of the plexiglass/acrylic black. Thats actually what I did in the above pics. I just put a piece of white paper behind the acrylic so that the Oldsmobile would show up better.

Here's a couple more pics:

I cut out the recess because I though it was a little too plain the way I had it before. It would be nice to mount an amp there but its really just too small. I think I'll probably mount my amp on the drivers side 1/4 panel trim piece I'll make. Same for my 12 disc changer.

BigBlockOlds · Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Posts: 171 Location: Ohio

Well, my dad and I spent Saturday shopping for 3/4" MDF and a few other things to build my box. When it comes to woodworking my dad really comes in handy.

Any way, I bought a sheet of 49"x97"x3/4" MDF for $18.00. I didn't think that was too bad. Also bought a box of wood screws that are used for ceder/pine. Garaunteed not to strip, break, rust or stain the wood. Not that it all really matters on the box once its covered in carpet but they really are nice screws.

So here is what we got done today:

In the first pic I was messing around some with the center cutout where I think I will mount my amp along with the lit up Oldsmobile cover. Most of that was just done in cardboard.

I had a top cutout and made for the box but unfortunately, I took the width measurement from the wrong edge and it ended up a 1/4" too short. DOH!!! So I'll have to wait and make another top later this week.
I also need to put the box in the trunk and figure out where the notches will need to be made for the 6x9's I have back there.

I also moved the speakers so that they are now pointing straight back instead of slight up like before. But I will still have the center area at a slight angle.

Now I just need to get a higher wattage amp than the one in the pic and I'll be set. Well, except for the cheapy speakers. I plan to get a pair of JL Audio 10W0 at some point down the road.

Brando · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 3067 Location: Michigan, USA

Looks like it's turning out pretty nice...

Ever think about putting 2 - 10" Adire Audio Brahmas in their? :twisted:

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BigBlockOlds · Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Posts: 171 Location: Ohio

Brando wrote: Looks like it's turning out pretty nice...

Yeah, its getting there.

Quote: Ever think about putting 2 - 10" Adire Audio Brahmas in their? :twisted:

I had never heard of them. LOL

I really like the way my brother's JL's sound so I'll probably go with something from JL. When I can afford it.

BigBlockOlds · Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Posts: 171 Location: Ohio

Just a few more pics of the finished box:

Just need to do a little sanding on some of the joints, take it all apart, glue it together and then seal all the seams. Then apply the carpet and it will be done. :)

Here's a picture of the box in my trunk before I finished it completely. I was just seeing how the amp looked where I had placed it:

Brando · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 3067 Location: Michigan, USA

BigBlockOlds wrote:
Quote: Ever think about putting 2 - 10" Adire Audio Brahmas in their? :twisted:

I had never heard of them. LOL

I really like the way my brother's JL's sound so I'll probably go with something from JL. When I can afford it.

Check this topic out:
http://forum.sounddomain.com/forum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=11;t=062505#000001

http://www.adireaudio.com/mobile_audio/drivers/brahma_series.htm

Personal opinion...if I had the choice of getting the the JL Audio or the Brahma...I'd definately choose the brahma...XBL2 Technology allows them to get loud and still sound good, same technology as the "dual gap" that Orion has (appeared AFTER the brahma :lol: )

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88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2407 Location: Canada

NICE box man!!! That thing looks sweet! You've done an excellent job with all the corners. Much more intricate than mine.

I love your oldsmobile logo... are you going to light it up with neon? If you do, you should put a piece of white paper or the like behind the plexi, so the neon will disperse its light more evenly, and the letters will show up a lot brighter... Just a thought!

BigBlockOlds · Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Posts: 171 Location: Ohio

88delta88 wrote: NICE box man!!! That thing looks sweet! You've done an excellent job with all the corners. Much more intricate than mine.

I love your oldsmobile logo... are you going to light it up with neon? If you do, you should put a piece of white paper or the like behind the plexi, so the neon will disperse its light more evenly, and the letters will show up a lot brighter... Just a thought!

Thanks. I've actually scrapped the idea for the Olds logo on the box. It just wouldn't have looked right with it plus the amp there. The amp has a red light that comes out from all four sides of the center JBL logo and I just thought that would have clashed with the Olds logo.

I plan on doing a false floor and may incorporate the logo there. And like you said I will paint the wood behind the logo white for better light dispersal.

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2407 Location: Canada

Sweet man... I'm all about the little custom touches... :-)

BigBlockOlds · Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Posts: 171 Location: Ohio

Its funny but I have more money in just the wire I bought for the subs than I do either one of them. LOL
I just bought the speaker wire and all terminals to finish it off along with 3 yards of black speaker carpet.
I'm using 10ga speaker wire for the subs and bought enough to rewire the rest of the car. I'm also using gold plated banana plugs for the connection to the speaker terminals and then for the connection for the speaker terminals and subs I'm using gold plated .25" disconnects .
I figure I'll spend a little extra money on the wiring (with what I saved on my subs) and then later down the road it will be setup for a pair of better speakers. And I have a feeling that will be sooner than later. LOL

Brando · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 3067 Location: Michigan, USA

You might wanna check out these subs:
http://www.sounddomain.com/sku/HIFHW10

They're a great subwoofer, I've heard one of the 12" subs before...they sound really good, and at only $59.95.... 8)

Some guy reviewed it at SoundDomain too....

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BigBlockOlds · Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Posts: 171 Location: Ohio

I received a new PartsExpress catalog with my order that had a few new items in it. One of them was this: MA Audio Sub
Not a bad price and will handle all the power I expect to put at them. Although I must admit, I've never heard of MA Audio. But then again, I haven't heard of most of the brands that some of the audiophiles are into. :)
I priced a JL Audio 10W3V2 at $159.99 for one. I personally can't see myself paying that much for a sub let alone ever wanting to. For $300 I could have my aluminum intake setup for EFI with the fuel rails and bungs. :D

Brando wrote: You might wanna check out these subs:
http://www.sounddomain.com/sku/HIFHW10

They're a great subwoofer, I've heard one of the 12" subs before...they sound really good, and at only $59.95.... 8)

Some guy reviewed it at SoundDomain too....

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Brando

Brando · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 3067 Location: Michigan, USA

Yea...MA Audio...an Anaba group company, mediocre equipment....
The Hifonics would be helluva lot better than those MA Audio subs, and cheaper too! 8)

You don't always need to spend a bunch of money to get a lot, some equipment is overpriced for what you actually get *cough* JL Audio *cough* :lol:

Oh yea, and the Adire Audio Shiva compares to the JL W3s, $115 shipped for a shiva, but that's a 12".

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