Subwoorfer Location

[rclayton12]

I own a '73 240z and was trying to get some opinions on the best location to mount the subwoofer. It is a SAS bazooka bass tube. In the manual it mentions to mount it in the right rear corner of the car, but I was thinking maybe mounting it just in front of the shock tower on the right side, as I want it to be seen. What are your opinions?? Where would I get the best sound from?

-thanks

[DeesZ]

My guess would be that you will get the best sound from where the manufacturer suggests that you mount it. I assume that this is a desirable piece of equipment to some folks, and from my experience mounting something like that in a spot designed to be 'seen' usually leads to it being seen and going missing (along with some of your glass). If you wish to keep it for a long period of time cover it up - or buy two of them.... the second to replace the first after it gets liberated.

[TomoHawk]

stick it out the back withthe hatch open. Turn the volume up and you'll have

liftoff!!

Or at least an extra 12 Hp, which equates to about 10MPH.

[Zs-ondabrain]

Subwoofers sound best when located as far from the driver as possible, especially in a small car. Bazooka tubes as well as almost any subwoofer sounds best when it has had time to "Bounce" off of the walls of the vehicle before you hear it.

The reasoning behind this is "Distortion Elimination" The more area that a bass note has to expand before you hear it, the less distortion you'll hear. You drive on the left front of the car. They say "right Rear" to get it as far away from you as possible. Mids and tweeds need to be aimed at you because of the way a frequency reacts to a small space. The higher the pitch, the tighter, more narrow the beam of sound, hense the aiming. Subs have a WIDE band and can be heard even under a load of groceries. Thats why you hear the neighbors BASS before you see his car.

Think of an Earthquake. Those are sub-sonic low frequencies. They start miles under the earths crust as a small rubbing of techtonic plates and by the time they reach the surface, the rattle the hell out of the whole city. Because they low end frequencies expand over time and space.

Aim the subwoofer towards the rear of the car. You can still see the SAS Bottle but also get the most out of your sub.

I've been installing subs and stereos for over 20 years. My sub is in my whell well and you can see it in my gallery. I can load groceries on top of it and it still sounds great. My sub is aimed UP towards the hatch. Where it reflects off the hatch then finally makes its way towards my ears. If you look at Show cars, The subs in a hatchback are always aimed backwards, toward the rear. This increases the distance the bass travels before it reaches the front of the car.

http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=6901&cat=500&ppuser=4921

Nice sub by the way,

Dave.

[rclayton12]

Thanks alot for the help Zs-ondabrain... do you think i should mount it vertical with the speaker towards the rear, or horizontal with the speaker pointed towards the right side of the car??

[Zs-ondabrain]

If you still want it to be seen, Mount it with the sub pointed towards the rear of the car. If you don't care if it's seen except by theives, mount it parrelel to to tail light cover with the sub aimed at the right rear quarter.

Leave at least 12" between the sub and what ever you aim it at. If it's too close to a wall, it'll sound like arse.

I actually like the Bass tubes that Bazooka's making now-a-days, They used to be just round tubes that did'nt fit in very many places. They look much better now.

Let us know what you finally go with, and how it sounds. Is that the one with a built in amp? if not, where did you end up putting the amp?

Dave.

[Mike]

In the car, the lower part of the audio spectrum works the best by shifting air. Z's has it right, you don't want the thing pointed at your head, but, you do want the speaker to move air within the car. In a Z, you're going to feel it anywhere you put the thing. I don't see many options for a subwoofer like that other than running it parallel to the rear hatch.

[rclayton12]

It does have the built in amp, thats why I really specifically chose this one. It should be here on friday and i'll try to get it in this weekend and let ya'll know how it sounds.

-thanks

[240ZGL]

Sorry, But if your going to be rattling windows with that thing I would mount it somewhere in your garage.

[rclayton12]

Just because I am getting a sub, and like high quality music does not mean I am going to be rattling windows??

Sorry, But if your going to be rattling windows with that thing I would mount it somewhere in your garage.

good one

[sblake01]

I hear ya. I have a 12" Kenwood in the back of my 78 but the gain on my amp is only turned up about half way. And I seldom turn the system volume up beyond 1/3 to 1/2. It's not about having that 'thump-thump, doof-doof' sound so that everyone around you can hear it.

[Zs-ondabrain]

2 things ........

1) If it's too loud, you're too old. period.

2) Mids and tweeds will never reproduce a good low end bass note, Therefore, a sub is needed in ANY higher quality system. Especially if you actually enjoy music the way some of us do.

Mine is a MTX 12" 6000 series sub-woofer. It booms and it'll rattle your windows but it does'nt mean I always listen to it that loud.

Dave.