VW Passat Project - 3 AA 10s SPL Dynamics amps - TermLab on page 3!

[teamSPB]

Hey everyone! This is the latest project ive been working on recently hence why Project D*FN U has taken hold for now! For those that dont know D*FN U, we are running 4 AA SMD 18s walled, soon to be around 25-30kwrms, has a car PC, internet access, air ride, Carsson rims, 8 AA Carbon Fibre component kits, 16v charging system, 10 (for now) XS Power D1400's etc etc...build can be found here http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/83854-walled-4-smd-18s-25kwrms-teamspb-project-dfn-u-termlab-scores-last-page/

So back to this build!

Had Mana's Passat in for the last few days cracking on with an install for him but only been able to work on it for a couple of hours everyday so progress is a little on the slow side!

The plan was to make a simple yet effective install in his Passat...but typical of me...kept throwing ideas at Mana who kept lapping them up...making the job longer and longer LOL! NOT his fault in the slightest as he has allow me to get as funky and creative as I like really...and ideas keep coming...SORRY MANA!!! haha!! Before you know it...it'll be on air ride, supporting a set of shoes...and rocking to the sound of our 265hp conversion hahaha!!!!!

So, after a brief sit down, we decided the install could consist of either;

1 15

2 12s

3 10s

4 10s

4 8s

Originally, 2 12's were decided upon....basic entry level Ascendant Audio Assassin line of subs...250wrms per driver....a simple system that would get pretty loud...basic in boot layout...subs and port facing towards tailgate...

That lasted about a week until we next met....when I suggested 4 10's ported...measuring tape out...TOOOO tight to fit....

Plan 3....4 10's sealed....sounded a good idea...now I decided to really help Mana out as he's helped me out considerably in the short time I have known him...I started throwing ideas at him...'lets fire the subs forward...lets introduce some perspex into the mix....lets light things up....' etc etc

I then took Mana out for a rip in the Focus....he fell in LOVE with my Ascendant Havoc 12....he wanted to replicate the sound...but being a Saloon...it would be difficult! But fear not! SPB to the rescue LOL!!! Mana's requirements went from something that sounded 'decent', to, 'something that rumbles and drops low like the Focus and play VERY smooth!'....The challange begun!

Back to the drawing board AGAIN! Now....4 8's were decided! 4 Ascendant Audio Assassin 8's...250wrms each, 16mm of xmax each way....we would be giving them 1500wrms between them! This would allow us to go ported to our spec's and get Mana that 'smooth' sound he was after! After having a right ball ache trying to get the 8's to fit in the space required it turned out the 8's werent going to be available until AFTER our deadline!! BUMMER!

By this time...we had already agreed a few things with the install....

- We would panel the sides off, yet still have access panels so you can still get into the voids at the side of the boot..and still get to the First Aid box area....this also gave the opportunity to change the rear bulbs easily should they ever need to be changed! BONUS!

- The amps would be located on the floor towards the tailgate under a false floor

- The subs would be firing towards the back seats and sealed off to ensure all the bass is firing INTO the cabin rather than the tailgate area

- The front end would remain the same for now as will the midrange amp...which will all get changed when money allows in the future

- There needed to be lighting in the boot area to highlight the install

- And the last...........I would be suprising Mana with MANY more ideas along the way LOL!!!!

With ideas coming thick and fast...we decided FINALLY upon 3 Ascendant Audio Assassin 10's being powered off an SPL Dynamics ICE 1500d running at 1.3ohm static load. The Assassin's are being custom built with Single 4ohm coils (rather than the D4's) and should be with us next week...cant say I dont help out ey Mana!

The rest of the install will be the same

Time for some pics!

Boot stripped out and side panels being made

Access panels marked out

Cut out

Sanded Smooth

They looked too plain in the boot, so to add some 'depth' shall we call it, I decided to add a trim panel

Rounded over (before it was hand sanded smooth)

[teamSPB]

The edges were then smoothed in

Then it was time to seal the MDF so it was a tight fit to all the panels in the car

Smoothed one last time (these didnt have to be majorly smooth as they will be covered in black carpet

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The panels were sealed and sprayed black (they didnt need to be sprayed, but im extra LOL)

Nice tight fit now! Just enough space for the carpet when we trim them up!

Now whats this doing out of the car??!?!?!??

Nice space hey

Before you all say im copying Pete...I aint...I gave Pete the idea about subs in the back shelf after seeing it done in another Passat/Bora

Answers on a postcard please....

teamSPB

[teamSPB]

The entire boot build will be trimmed in black carpet and possibly some vinyl trim bits...

Also discussing a few extra trim options with Mana, we have decided to trim one or two bits in carbon to match something else in the vehicle!

Carpeted bits will be;

Side panels in boot

Box

Floor

Basically everything in the boot!

We have more than enough carpet LOL!

Glued up ready to go

Trimmed up!

Time to crack on with the shelf me thinks!

[teamSPB]

Cutouts were made for power and RCA's...then rounded over

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The inside was then painted black just to neaten things up a bit

Time to fleece and FG!

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[teamSPB]

Shelf gets a quick lick of bodyfiller

Test fit

Can see the brake light here in this pic

Mocked up the box to make sure it fits the boot

We decided to trim the shelf in some thin scrim just to give it a bit of a soft luxury feel, rather than a hard feel!

The white stitching helps with the glue

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[teamSPB]

Audioscape glue

Applied in 3 layers over a period of around 5hours!

Wrapped in scrim...hopefully the vinyl will turn up this week so we can crack on with the trimming

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[teamSPB]

Molded the top panel to the shelf, and made the cover for the amp with a small bit of SPB embossing

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[teamSPB]

While we await trimming materials for the shelf, its time to move onto the box!

As said previously, we have settled on running 3 Ascendant Audio Assassin 10" subs...each rated at 250wrms, with a 2" voice coil and a rather healthy 16mm of xmax each way! These are custom built for us in a single 4ohm voice coil...in total, showing the amp approx a 1.33ohm final load static.

The problem with many saloons, is the fact they have MASSIVE boots and tiny openings...hence why we didnt go crazy and run a pair of 18s for example! We had to design something that could be removed if necessary, keep a nice amount of boot space free for the tesco shopping, and yet be fairly loud!

We had a slight dilemma of getting the box wide enough...for 3 10's you need approx 33" width + port width...we designed the box with 36" width in total otherwise it would have been a bit of a tight squeeze into the boot...

Measuring up the front panel

Using a router to cut out the circles

Jasper rig is a priceless tool!! Cant live without it!!

The result....

Testing the box to make sure it fits and where it lines up to etc

And from the front

The box mocked up

teamSPB