[tshrey]

Just finished this today and set the system up. The driver is a Kenwood Excelon KFC-XW1000F, rated to 250W continuous, installed in a fiberglassed enclosure that fits inside the spare tire. The only downside is that you lose about 1.5" of floor depth - the woofer sticks up so you have to space the false floor panel up to prevent it from hitting the speaker. Enclosure volume is .6 ft^3; with the woofer parameters that gives a Qtc of just under 1.1 and an f3 of 43 Hz. With the gain of the cabin space you wind up with a nice tight, hard-hitting sub that goes reasonably low, especially for its size (30 Hz is the low end of operation). I'm driving it with an old school Soundstream Reference 500. This thing sounds fantastic and no one can tell it is there.

An unexpected bonus is that if you have a tuning CD that plays individual tones you can sweep through the tracks and locate rattles that you otherwise have to try and diagnose while driving

Just thought I'd share.

[WRXGuyInUSA]

Sweet!

I'm hoping JL comes out with a stealthbox for the STI... *crosses fingers*

[solovus]

Originally Posted by WRXGuyInUSA

Sweet!

I'm hoping JL comes out with a stealthbox for the STI... *crosses fingers*

I ****ing love JL...I just can't wait to get my hands on one of these:
JL Audio: TW5 Subwoofers

It will be perfect for a similar application to the OP...and probably enable JL to seriously expand their stealthbox line.
I bet these things will be heavy as hell though.

[tshrey]

I agree, that is a sweet looking unit, but what is up with JL's driver efficiencies? 85 dB for a 12" driver?

I looked up the 12" version of the shallow mount Kenwood that I have and did the box calculations - using the same box size the 12 would have an f3 of 32 freakin' Hz! All in a .6 ft^3 airspace. Lower frequency, higher power handling and higher efficiency. It's already ordered...

[solovus]

Originally Posted by tshrey

I agree, that is a sweet looking unit, but what is up with JL's driver efficiencies? 85 dB for a 12" driver?

I looked up the 12" version of the shallow mount Kenwood that I have and did the box calculations - using the same box size the 12 would have an f3 of 32 freakin' Hz! All in a .6 ft^3 airspace. Lower frequency, higher power handling and higher efficiency. It's already ordered...

Unless Kenwood has dramatically improved the quality of their speakers in the past few years I find it incredibly unlikely that they produce a product that is even competitive with let alone superior to a similar JL product.

I have to hear the comparison to make a decision.

[Szumita]

nice job man

[tshrey]

Originally Posted by solovus

Unless Kenwood has dramatically improved the quality of their speakers in the past few years I find it incredibly unlikely that they produce a product that is even competitive with let alone superior to a similar JL product.

I have to hear the comparison to make a decision.

I'm not saying it is equivalent to the JL driver - based on the 600W power handling of the unit I would have to imagine the JL unit is a better driver. But better is relative and highly dependent on what you need. My beef with JL's in general is efficiencies in the mid 80's. To get the same output level from a driver with an efficiency of 85 dB compared to one that is 91 dB you have to quadruple the power going in.

I also hear you about Kenwood - I've never seen a Kenwood product that I would have in my car until this. But the unit is beefy, has plenty of power handling and has the right suspension system and cone stiffness to work in a box as small as the spare tire allows you. Prior to this I've only ever used Soundstream or JL subs. Does it sound better than a pair of JL's driven with twice the amp power in a box four times the size that would cost me at least six times as much? Probably not, but then again the whole point of the exercise was a stealth install that didn't use up cargo space.

The rest of my system is Polk SR6500 components up front, MMC650's in the rear driven by a McIntosh MC431 4 channel amp, so I do go through considerable lengths not to listen to crap equipment.

[solovus]

I definitely want to hear this Kenwood sub now...

Also, since we get free roadside assistance with our cars...maybe it would be ok to make a removable enclosure that occupies the entire wheel recess in the trunk floor.

[tshrey]

We get free roadside? For how long?

I could have saved myself quite a bit of time if I knew I could just pull the spare tire and make a box that uses up the whole wheel well area...

[solovus]

Originally Posted by tshrey

We get free roadside? For how long?

I could have saved myself quite a bit of time if I knew I could just pull the spare tire and make a box that uses up the whole wheel well area...

Yup, but I am not sure for how long. Check out all the things that came with your car...it is probably in there. If not ask your dealer...

[solovus]

Originally Posted by My.Subaru.com

Found it on my.subaru.com Here it is:

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

NATIONAL TOLL FREE NUMBER 1-800-261-2155


Subaru Roadside Assistance is free and standard on every Subaru from model year 2000 forward. Coverage is automatic; there are no forms to complete. Subaru Roadside Assistance is available anytime during the 3-year/36,000-mile Subaru Limited Warranty, whichever comes first. **

• Towing to the nearest authorized Subaru dealer if you cannot safely drive your vehicle.
• Jump-start if your battery is dead
• Gasoline delivery if you run out of gas
• Flat tire change to install your spare
• Emergency lockout service
• National Subaru dealer locator service, with phone numbers and location of the nearest dealer anywhere in the U.S. or Canada

National toll-free number: 1-800-261-2155

EXCLUSIONS

Specifically excluded from Subaru Roadside Assistance coverage are service requests or claims resulting from: accidents, vandalism, acts of God, violation of any laws, or vehicle modifications not recommended by the manufacturer.

** See your dealer for details

So I guess you cannot take out your spare....darn.

[GilMikalian]

well, if you look at bullet point one, you cannot safely drive the vehicle with a flat so they should tow you to an authorized dealer if you don't have a spare. dunno, just reading b/n the lines.

[solovus]

Originally Posted by GilMikalian

well, if you look at bullet point one, you cannot safely drive the vehicle with a flat so they should tow you to an authorized dealer if you don't have a spare. dunno, just reading b/n the lines.

I see your point, but I am not sure that would sell well with the company paying for the tow since it was the deliberate removal of the spare that made the tow necessary.

Also
EXCLUSIONS

Specifically excluded from Subaru Roadside Assistance coverage are service requests or claims resulting from: accidents, vandalism, acts of God, violation of any laws, or vehicle modifications not recommended by the manufacturer.

[tshrey]

I put the 12 in tonight. Good god does it hit hard. Better low end frequency response and much louder for the same amount of amplifier power. It does look a little silly with a sub nearly the same size as the enclosure it sits in, but since no one can see it I'm not too concerned

[Rum]

Originally Posted by tshrey

I put the 12 in tonight. Good god does it hit hard. Better low end frequency response and much louder for the same amount of amplifier power. It does look a little silly with a sub nearly the same size as the enclosure it sits in, but since no one can see it I'm not too concerned

Can you get us a couple of pics? I am curious how it all looks when all is said and done. Do you keep the false floor and carpet in place at all times? If so, does that cause muffling/rattling? Or have you cut out a hole in the carpet?