Ok here is what I am thinking... please read my thoughts before flaming me for doing one 8" sub.

I have a regular cab 04' F150. I am wanting to get a little bump, on the littlest budget, while having the smallest footprint. I am not into the earth shaking, neighbor pissing off, can't hear crap after I have had my stereo cranked up for an hour type stereo system. I just want a little more range out of my music. I would also like to still be able to fit my golf clubs behind my seat without having a problem. This is why I am going with one 8" sub.

I have thought about doing the center console sub box and have not ruled that out. I did find an 8" sub that only needs 150 watts RMS and requires an enclosure demanding only 0.554 cubic ft. Vas for under $50. Check it out:

http://www.tb-speaker.com/detail/1230_04/w8-740q.htm

I am going to be designing this in CAD and will keep you guys up to date as I go along and show you guys some screen dumps from CAD to get your opinions (if I end up doing this).


I am looking for a descent amp that will put out 150-200 watts RMS @ 4ohms. Any suggestions? Oh, and please don't suggest one of the worthless bass tubes. I have heard them and they sound like junk.

Thanks,
Greg

 

Ok, big fish, here we go.... if its just one 8 and you already mentioned the center console. take the center console out and fabricate you own box out of MDF. Pick a good 8 that meets your power and cube requirements. Something in a dual 2Ohm or 4Ohm voice coil, this will give you some flexibility on the amp configuration.

Take a look at what I did with the same thought pattern as you. Except my center has 2 8's.





good luck, hope this helps.
No matter what just have fun doing it!!

 

skiptemp,

I saw your project and that is what sparked me to do a center console sub. Very nice job by the way.

I am still leaning towards just the one 8" sub. I would like to find an amp small enough that I can incorperate into the center console as well (and still have my center console function like a normal center concole (allow for an option 3rd passenger, serve and an arm rest and allow for storage).

I guess first, I need to take the center console out and play around with it to get a feel for what my limitations are with it.

Thanks again, and great job!

Greg

 

Oh yeah skiptemp, one more thing. How big of a pain was it to remove the center console? I have the same one you do.

Greg

 

Greg;
Its very easy. 4 torix T50 bolts. 2 in the front, and grab the seat from the front and pop it open (this is the secret compartment everyone is always talking about) and there is the 2 back screws. takes about 5 min. and that is not stretching the truth..
Skip

 

Thanks for the comments Greg;
This would be very easy to do. Just create a chamber for 1 sub and one for the amp. Remember mine has one sub that fires down and one firing front. If you choose the down fire method, remember to raise it off the floor far enough to clear the sub cone movement and the Seatbelt activation box in the center of the floor(apx 2.5" total will be good). You can see the square piece of carpet in my photos.

Skip

 

OP:

don't go with the tang band driver, they are uber cheap and very odd drivers, I've was running a single ED 9kv.2 in a ported box with about 450w for a while, and it was ALMOST enuff, I would recommend one of these in a ported box with alot of power:

jl 8w7
ascendant audio assasin 8
ddaudio 1508
soundsplinter Rl-i 8

your really at a disadvatage running a single 8, they really have a hard time moving enuff air under 35-40Hz, and abouve that they still have a hard time keeping up unless you run them with alot of power in a ported enclosure. I would recomend a single 10 or 2 8's sealed instead.

 

1st, great looking console above!

2nd. I'm with styxnpicks. I'd get a more capable sub or you may be let down. Those TB subs can be fun in multiples but for just one I would go with some of the above mentioned 8" subs that can get quite a bit louder. I know both the rli-8's and the dd1508's get loud, just depends on what your looking for and how much space you end up with.

 

Ok, now you guys have got me thinking a bit. I am still looking to do a single sub in the center console space. My plan all along was to go with a ported enclosure.

I am looking at possibly doing a JL 8W3v3 (dual 4ohm if they come in dual voice coils) sub and the JL A1200 amp. That should be plenty of power for that sub (275W X 1 @ 2 ohm, 14.5V; 200W X 1 @ 2 ohm, 12V).

Again, I don't want to go deaf listening to my music. I want a nice clean and hidden install. I am considering a downfiring sub. Should I be puting the port out the rear of the bow towards the bed of the truck?

Thank you all for the suggestions and the help.

Greg

 

ported is obviously the way to go with one 8, what music do you listen to? a 8w3 with bout 200ish watts might be enuff if you don't listen to rap or hip hop

 

I listen to just about everything under the sun. I mainly listen to country and rock. I do listen to hip-hop and techno when in the mood.

Greg

 

Here is what I did recently in my truck, I too went with just one 8". For me it was the lack of Rap/Hip Hop Music, SQL > SPL, and SQL > Annoying. I wanted a sub that would stay fairly clean, fit in a tight place, and I really didn't want to "notice" the sub. Would a 12 or anything else for that matter have yielded me more bass, yes, but for me this was just enough. I also went with a sealed enclosure on mine, but again, I was after a very specific performance.


-another angle to consider...

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...63#post3069763

And if I can recommend anything it would be to get one of the subs that Styx listed, and if you can maybe get 2 8's. I am happy w/ my one, but it really doesn't have anymore to offer than I'm asking of it now.

if your the kind to wanna play and really crank the subs up every now and again, you might consider a larger sub...

 

Greg;
look here is the bottom line as I see if;
Fact 1: You listen to a wide variety of music; And all at different levels!

Fact 2: You are looking for a all around sub that will play in with the music and pound it hard on your command.

Fact 3: Throughout all of fact 1 & 2 you want to keep it low key appearance.

Remember this one important rule. regardless of the speaker you choose, the one thing that makes a speaker a good pounding sub is the type of enclosure its put in. All subs are designed to be loaded in a sealed or vented enclosure. Some even choose to ride the center line therefor giving the consumer the option to put the sub in almost any box and still obtain good-very good sound. You can take a piece of S#$T speaker and load it down it a awesome designed box and make it sound like a million bucks. (This is BOSE secret to success).
Take a look at the "hellboy"; this box designed by Perter Kulicki. It will fit behind your seat and deliver all the versatility I think you want. This man is a genius when it comes to box designs. Hes like the little BOSE design guy,



here is his web site:

http://www.hexibase.com/

Good luck
Skip

 

Thats a pretty cool idea. Very space saving too

When I was thinking of downgrading, I though about trying to squeeze an 8 in each little back door.... Would take some work, but could probably be done.

 

Yeahhhhh right you'd be lost without those mags. Try going without them for a week...