Jumbo bass

jumbosrule

jumbosrule

Fully FX Invested
Premium
Location
Redondo Beach, CA
Car
2003 FX35T
Name
Brad
Couple weeks ago I had an amp & sub installed in the trunk. Took out the spare tire & old Bose sub and had a custom enclosure made. The Epicenter is actually under the amp, mounted to the sub-floor & hidden. Here's the finished look:

IMG_0806.jpg

IMG_0807.jpg

I do use my trunk pretty often - carrying around my clubs, my kid's stuff, tailgating at the Texans games, etc. So I wanted to retain the use of the floor without worrying about the gear. Since the enclosure was entirely custom, I still have the OEM trunk "floor". I removed all the hardware and added Stand-offs to clear the gear. Super simple.

IMG_0808.jpg

All the OEM accessories still fit - the floor liner and organizer can still be used.

IMG_0810.jpg

IMG_0811.jpg

The gear can still be powered up because there is plenty of breathing room under there. I wouldn't worry about heat even with the trunk fully packed.

IMG_0813.jpg

The Epicenter comes with a volume control knob that mounts up front under the dash by my knee. The OEM equalizer still works on the sub as well - I can just add sub power with the knob without overplaying the Bose components. I'm pretty happy with how it all turned out.:smile:
IMG_0806.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0806.jpg
    IMG_0806.jpg
    79.2 KB · Views: 98
  • IMG_0807.jpg
    IMG_0807.jpg
    51.1 KB · Views: 105
  • IMG_0808.jpg
    IMG_0808.jpg
    71 KB · Views: 64
  • IMG_0810.jpg
    IMG_0810.jpg
    84.8 KB · Views: 65
  • IMG_0811.jpg
    IMG_0811.jpg
    113.3 KB · Views: 61
  • IMG_0813.jpg
    IMG_0813.jpg
    105.3 KB · Views: 61
  • IMG_0806.jpg
    IMG_0806.jpg
    79.2 KB · Views: 55
  • IMG_0806.jpg
    IMG_0806.jpg
    79.2 KB · Views: 73
There is about 2.5 inches of space between the custom floor and the panel above it. The amp is actually partially countersunk into the floor, so there's plenty of space above it. Also, I bridged the mono amp and when setting the levels, have the gain set to about 50%. I'm just not taxing the amp enough to get it hot. The Epicenter really packs the punch - I think I really could have gone with about half the wattage on the amp. It's very easy to get it way too loud (for me).

The installation, amp, sub and custom enclosure parts & labor was $900 at Unleashed Autosports here in Houston. I bought the Epicenter separately about five months ago. I did all the mods to the floor to make it work over the gear. Cost me about 12 bucks in hardware.
 
Last edited:
You have been very busy Jumbo! I really like the functionality of the install. I'm not too much of an audio guy but if I was to do something like this in the trunk this would be a great direction to take. Nice mod!
 
Thanks Doc - yeah, I'm definitely a streaky modder. I go full bore for a couple months, then sit on it for a while. Guess I'm just on a kick right now.:wub:

The functionality was the whole key for me. Losing use of the trunk was just not an option. It's one of the reasons I got an SUV in the first place. This is sort of the best of both worlds and I'm glad I did it. Originally I wanted everything counter-sunk into the floor so that the OEM panel could be used in the exact same spot as usual. But then the panel would be directly on top of the amp and sub - making them un-usable while the floor panel was in.

The installer didn't like the amp recessed for both heat dissapation and looks. So he tilted it up, exposing the heat fins on the back. I was looking for simple. I didn't want to have to move a bunch of stuff every time I want to use the trunk. Using the original floor peices, it was easy. Plus this gives me a nice hide for the gear - even better than the cargo cover (which I don't have).
 
Looks good! I like the fact that you still have the floor, and it looks like the standoffs are able to support a decent amount of weight.
 
Just returned from the Texans-Jets game (we lost) and used the new trunk floor with all our tailgating gear - four chairs, a pop-up tent & a large cooler in the back + 4 people. No problems - even kept the stereo playing while we were tailgating. I left the two passenger side doors open with the pop-up and chairs directly in front. It felt no different than the past few years (other than the improved bumping stereo system), so functionally the trunk utility is all there. The sound was a little muted with the cover, but turning up the Epicenter knob about a 1/4 turn totally compensates for the effect of the cover.

It's performing soildly so far. The sound quality is really good. Plenty of punch, but when the levels are dialed in, it's clean and crisp. No distortion or resonance vibrations in the car. It's all about setting the levels to get it to blend with the OEM system. I like the thump, but it needs to be appropriate for the music. If you can't hear the lyrics over the beat, what's the point? So there are some songs/bands like jack johnson or john mayer where I don't notice the sub, so I turn up the Epicenter till the full range is obvious, but not weighted towards one end of the frequency spectrum. Then with songs from Daft Punk or Black Eyed Peas, I need to dial back the Epicenter because the bass in those songs distorts in the car. Setting the gain and filter options on the amp so that the Epicenter would be all the control I need took a couple days, but it's there now. If I hit a song that is just recorded with ridiculous bass (dj magic mike), then I have to use the OEM EQ in addition to the Epicenter. But I usually keep the OEM EQ on about +3 bass to make sure I have full range in the OEM speakers, so I have breathing room.

If I had it to do over again, I might go with a little less power - maybe a smaller sub. What I have now is overkill - it's capable of much more than I demand. But that's not really a bad problem to have.




I'm enjoying my improved personal space - every day!
 
Last edited:
My sunroof rattles like crazy on some tracks with low bass notes, have you noticed this on yours ...To be honest its above my head and im too lazy to investigae the cause of it
 
def looks good & def a good way to go & not loose trunk space. I was considering either building into the sides or maybe even overhead to not loose any valuable space but theres not all that much to work with. did you sacrifice your spare for this?
 
turbocad6 said:
def looks good & def a good way to go & not loose trunk space. I was considering either building into the sides or maybe even overhead to not loose any valuable space but theres not all that much to work with. did you sacrifice your spare for this?
Click to expand...

Yes, I did sacrifice the spare. I bought my FX new in 04 and have never used the spare. And now that I have written that down I'm sure I'll get a flat tomorrow.

After the BBK, the spare wouldn't fit on the fronts due to caliper clearance, so I've lost 50% of the chance I'd get to use it in case of a flat - unless I get a spacer of some kind. If I were road tripping it someplace, I'd consider laying the spare on the new floor, with some kind of rigid tie-down.

There is actually quite a bit of room under the floor if you remove the formed separators (where the jack & OEM tools are). More than enough for as much gear as I would ever need (maybe not for some sound-competition folks). It just takes a little bit of creativity to retain the functionality. I still think a creative way to countersink the gear so that it can be covered and still used would be the way to go - so the floor remains at the OEM level. You would need some vents for air circulation, but with a little carpentry and some upholstery work, it can definitely be done.

I'm satisfied with my setup - but it's not perfect. I'll either get completely comfortable with it quickly, or a couple little details will eat at me until I have to do something about it. Hopefully another project will distract my attention...
 
Last edited:
The sunroof only rattles really loud when the cover isnt closed but when it sunroof is open or covered theres no rattle

---------- Post added at 06:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:25 PM ----------

Trust me on this i prob have the loudest SPL (maybe even db) wise on the forum
 
J3FF3R$0N said:
My sunroof rattles like crazy on some tracks with low bass notes, have you noticed this on yours ...To be honest its above my head and im too lazy to investigae the cause of it
Click to expand...

No rattling problems for me - so far. Sunroof only makes wind noise as far as I can tell.
 
Jumbo..I really like what you did with the system..looks great. My ONLY criticism is, I would have flush mounted that amp.

I just can't see myself putting in and out of the car the piece you guys created to be able to carry stuff/ put stuff on top...although ingenuitive, I just can't see myself doing it...without feeling like a hassle.

Your installer didn't want to install a pair of fans in a push/ pull config and keep the amp flush?

Dont get me wrong, it looks great...but just cant get over the amp sticking up.
 
That's fair. I'm with you, but I can get over it. They actually did try it flush mounted first and it just didn't look good. You have to leave area cut out beyond the rear of the amp for fin clearance/cooling and that gap looks strange from the only viewing angle you really have. I was away on business when the installer made the executive decision to tilt it up and when I first saw it I had the same reaction as you. But after a few days, the idea of covering it bothered me less and less.

Also - I don't move the floor, unless I'm showing off the set-up. It stays there as a gear hide because I park in a garage every day, have a golf league every Monday, take my kid to school every Friday, etc. So I need that floorspace often. The same plastic hook under the cover still works to tilt up the floor and attach it to the frame so I don't have to take out the floor to show off the setup, but if going to a meet or something, it's gone without a trace and I like that option.

It's not totally without compromise, but living with it functionally so far has been just fine and the HUGE improvement in sound quality keeps giving me positive reinforcement I made the right choice. Of course if I ever do get tired of it, I can always make the changes to the sub-frame the installer built and sink the amp.
 
How many watts would you say your pushing?

---------- Post added at 06:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:43 AM ----------

Also what type of wire was used? (Brand/Gauge)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top