[Miata] amplifiers

[fred dagher]

FWIW, the sound system in my car is an ongoing project.  A few years back, I replaced the head unit, door speakers (8" 3-ways IIRC), headrest speakers, and installed a power amp.  It was an improvement over the 95 stock system, but still not good enough.

The next move was to install a 10" powered sub in the trunk (it's easily removable for times when I need the space).  Again, there was some improvement, but the bass did sound like it was coming from another car.

The next thing I did was sonically (and thermally) insulate the trunk and the tunnels with a fibrous, aluminum backed, insulating material Keith and others recommended.  The reduction of the muffler and road noise that resonates in the trunk and through the tunnels to the cockpit made a big improvement.  A makeshift wind screen attached to the roll bar eliminated more extraneous noise and made a further improvement.  Maybe it's my imagination, but it seems like reducing the outside noise placed the bass frequencies a little closer to my car.

The next, and hopefully last step -- maybe this summer -- will be to insulate the cockpit floor, doors, and probably the rear bulkhead with a quality sonic insulating material.  At the same time, I want to cut ports in the panels that close off the cockpit ends of the tunnels to provide an unobstructed path for the bass frequencies from the sub in the trunk, and get rid of that 'sounds like it's in another car' effect.

I know that none of my efforts will make much difference when I'm driving on the freeway at an indicated 80mph, but it already sounds pretty good when I'm cruising around town, and at red lights, it's awesome.

FD



-----Original Message-----
>From: Jones <jonesmb at gmail.com>
>Sent: Apr 10, 2007 1:52 PM
>To: miata at realbig.com
>Subject: Re: [Miata] amplifiers
>
>> I've done the tube in the trunk thing.  It seriously sounds like the car
>> next to you is supplying the bass.  I wouldn't pay money to have it done.  I
>> had the tube from a previous car.
>
>I did the trunk thing too. The tube came with the car, installed by the
>previous owner. It was not optimal, but it was much better than nothing. Bass
>from next door is better than no bass, no? I am not an audiophile so the sound
>doesn't have to be perfect. As long as I can hear the bass from Snoop and Dre
>I am fine :-)
>
>My biggest problem with it was the amount of space it took up in the trunk.
>One day it stopped working and I am glad to have the space back, but I do miss
>the bass. What I am planning to do is install speakers on the rear deck or
>behind the seats to provide the missing bass. There are pictures of such an
>install somewhere at miata.net.
>
>jmb
>
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