Bboytaktix's 2011 Subaru STI Modest SQ build

[97Jetta1637]

i like it so far. waiting for more.

thanks dude! amp rack may seem ugly but wait until I get the other amp mounted on the upper part then build the cover should be sexyyy!

i was going to throw my 2 cents in on the fuse holder, but i figured it'd be wrapped or covered again when you get to the amp rack.

[BboyTaktix]

i was going to throw my 2 cents in on the fuse holder, but i figured it'd be wrapped or covered again when you get to the amp rack.

lol yeah there will be a cover over the whole amp rack (similar shape) and a small plexi window over the fuse holder. The carpet I put to be sure that from every angle looking through the plexi window, you won't see bare MDF. There will also be two more small plexi windows on the amp rack cover, one for each of the amps, just enough to show the logos that light up but not the whole amps. Cleaner this way IMO.

[97Jetta1637]

very nice, can't wait.

[BboyTaktix]

couple of questions I have moticed my 4-ch amp getting quite hot after short periods of playing (20-30 mins and not really maxed out but still decent volume). I am wondering if this is normal or if I should worry. I am installing fans but need the time to do it when I do my sub install. It has been fairly hot here the past few days (like 30ish celcius). I have two fans, plan was to do one sucking in at one end of the amp rack and another blowing out at the other (top) end. Wondering if this is enough or I should have two on either side? Also, where/how do I hook up these fans to power? I know I shouldn't pull power from the Remote on wire (tapped into my fuse box under dash) but these things don't pull many amps so I don't want to have to pull yet another wire from the front to the back just for the fans and do the whole relay thing. Is there anywhere in the trunk I could get enough power to safely power the fans?

[BboyTaktix]

random small update and bump;

started working out dimensions of my sealed box, I am going to go with a 0.977 cubic foot box (not including sub displacement) since it seems that most people have had great results with around 1 cu.ft sealed for this specific sub. JBL recommends sealed enclosure of 0.75 cu. ft minimum incl. driver displacement so this should do.

Going with 3/4-inch MDF of course, and doubling up front wall of box (2 layers of 3/4''MDF). Also planning on flush mounting the sub by making the sub hole on the second piece a bit larger than hole on the first piece for the doubled front side. Should look clean

box dimensions are approx. as follows;

3x: 18''x12''

2X: 10.5''x9.75''

2x: 18''x9.75"

Total internal volume 0.977ft^3

this will also take up less than half the rear seat space of my car, so I can fold down passenger side seat and still have 24.5 inch wide opening for skis/snowboard etc.

Going to buy the MDF and stuff this week (probably Thursday) and will be building box and amp rack cover this weekend (hopefully Saturday all day, if weather is mediocre, otherwise if weather is nice, going riding on my motorcycle and push project to Sunday)

[BboyTaktix]

alright , here we go;

began by picking up wood for sub box. Decided on 3/4 MDF. Went to pick up the wood friday after work, literally the LAST sheet of 3/4 MDF (2x4 foot sheet) and only cost me $20 with cuts

I was worried about how I attached my grounds (metal screws) so I decided to do a better job with some bolts and locking nuts/washers. Now they are solid and will not ever come loose;

Then, I mounted my second amp (mono amp) where it is supposed to go. As you can see, there is not much space between that and the trunk swingarm. Just enough for a 1/2" MDF cover which will be done later;

Also ran the mono RCA's up to the mono amp, cut out a bit of carpet so they fit perfect and aren<t bent or stressed;

used the cardboard guide that came in the box with the W10GTI. It had two diameters, I used one of each on each piece of wood (double 3/4 MDF sheet on the front side of the box) this way, it will be flush mount in the box = SEX lol;

Then re-measured all my pieces, made any necessary cuts so all sides were ready to be assembled. Also had to drill a hole for the terminal connections to the sub on one side;

it fits!!

I used PL premium as my glue/sealant to hold the box together. Of course, this takes 24 hours to fully cure, so I used long but thin wood screws and pre-drilled (very important to avoid splitting the MDF) to hold the box together as the PL premium cured.

[BboyTaktix]

The box was SUPER sturdy even with just the screws, so I knew it would be good. I also tried to make sure the PL was in all corners of the box (like caulking joints) to have a properly sealed box (hopefully it worked lol)

JBL recommended fastening the sub to the box with the supplied hardware, so basically bolts that screw into these threaded things that grip the wood from the other side (forget what they are called). I had to pre-drill to the size of the threaded tubes so they would fit into the wood. They seemed to work well, but when box was done I ended up losing two of them in the box (they fell out of the wood) before I could get the bolts into them from the front side...so of course I had to use two wood screws for those holes lol (you will see later, don't judge )

then attached the front of the box, left the top for last!

test fitted the sub inside before closing to see how it fit and how far back it went (this sub is DEEP!!)

finished, unwrapped box;

[BboyTaktix]

I then wrapped the box with automotive carpet. Used 3M super 77 adhesive spray (GREAT stuff) to stick the carpet to the box. Wrapping wa snot easy, I think I did a good job for my first wrap job with carpet (was annoying to cut with the exacto) and seems are not too visible IMO;

test fit the box in the car to see more or less where it would go and make sure it actually fit

sub went in;

MMMM....FLUSH MOUNT!!!

Notice the two different screws, where the supplied hardware did not want to cooperate ;

then test fit in the car all loaded;

at this point it was still looking non-aesthetic (AKA shitty with all the wires showing etc) so of course I continued on. It was starting to get late in the evening (6ish) and I had to finish up what I could and head to my friends cottage not far away for some guy time/drinking lol. I started by making a side to my amp rack, where the fans will go. Notice the holes I did for the fans. I also wrapped it, need to do something about the inner edge of each hole though

this piece will not be too visible since the amp rack cover will overhang a bit.

[BboyTaktix]

I then continued by making the first piece of the amp rack cover to go over the JBL amp. Started with a piece of MDF the same width of the sub box, and made a hole for the <JBL< logo and light bars. I was not too happy with it until I wrapped it. I then decided to put a piece of plexiglass right away and see how it all looked. I was pretty happy with how it turned out, although I wish I had used a slightly larger diameter hole saw on the corner of the "window" cutout to get a more rounded edge;

I KNOW, it was dirty!!! Have to properly clean it all once I'm done!!

a night time picture;

I did not have time to do the piece for the mono amp cover (and window) plus another piece on an angle which will cover the distribution block w/ the fuses and also connect both covers together to make it one piece and easily removable.

So that's where I'm at right now! Hope you guys like it, I know it isn't perfect but I'm pretty happy with it for now in terms of looks. Keep in mind it isn't yet complete and will look much better when it is.

As for the sound, it's DEFINITELY a tight sounding sub, bass blends well with the music. The only thing I noticed is that the bass isn't prominent at lower volumes. I put the gain almost all the way up but don't want distortion either, it's at about 3/4 right now, still not a ton of bass at low volumes. I very slightly turned down my 4-ch amp gains for my highs to compensate, but I think I will also try putting my front component tweeters to -3dB on the crossovers to match them better with the volume of bass etc? Maybe I have more tuning to do. Or maybe I need to feed the mono amp a bit more juice (bigger battery under the hood and big 3 upgrade is coming soon!). Or, maybe I am used to two 12" in vented and not a single sealed 10", but this single W10GTI has more power than my two 12's did so it should slam well. Bass hits pretty hard when I turn it way up though, just need it to be a bit louder/on queue with the highs!!! And I don't want to turn the 4-ch amp gains down too low, they are already less than halfway down.

[BboyTaktix]

ALRIGHT so, driving home from work, I solved my issue

Now I don't know if it's pioneer decks or something, but I turned on "loudness" on the "low" setting and instantly made a decent difference. I then put loudness to "med" and the whole system came to life. Throughout my drive home, I switched songs and albums, putting it back and fourth to low loudness, med loudness and loudness off. When loudness was off, it sounded very dull and hardly any bass at all, especially at low volume. On "low" loudness setting, the bass was more prominent, the mids/highs sounded less cold. On "med" loudness, the bass really came to life, the mids/highs sounded much more full. The sub hits HARD. Different than my two 12's, more accurate definitely, and I'd say around the same volume although when I cranked it a little the clock display was dimming so I will obviously have a bit more power when I do big3 and battery.

I know some true audio guys may say that loudness should be set to off, and that it may send more distortion, but I really think it depends on the head unit, because honestly, the sound is so much better with loudness on. My last head unit (clarion double din) I had loudness off and sounded just fine but I think this one requires some form of EQ or loudness to get the sound right.