Considering adding a little bump to the trunk, Update: Decision has been made!!! Options

[Alex2013GT]

So I am going through the arduous process of determining what my first mod will be to my GT. I have considered a CAI and have also considered adding a little bass to the stock stereo. I think the stock speakers sound pretty decent, so adding something in the trunk to add a little bass would cover anything I could possibly need from the stereo end. The only issue is I don't want to take up the entire trunk space in the hatch. Basically that brings me to either using a shallow mount enclosure or a single sub enclosure and just keeping it on one side of the trunk. I like the idea with a shallow mount enclsure, except I have never used one, nor even heard one in person before. I have had several different types and levels of systems in the past so I am looking for something that sounds good at normal volume, yet won't disappoint if I crank it up a bit. Has anyone used a shallow mount enclosure and if so what have been your opinions and how have they compared to a normal sub enclosure?

To give you a brief run down, some of the speaker systems I have run in the past are 3 MTX 6000 10" subs in a loaded enclosure, 2 MTX 12" 6000 subs (after one of the 10" ones blew) in a loaded enclosure, 2 12" dual subs in a bandpass box, 1 12" sub in a basic sealed enclosure (can't recall the sub brand but it was a cheap system), and 1 12" Kicker Solo-baric L5 in a sealed enclosure.

I don't need anything that will set off car alarms anymore, but I do want it to sound good. Also, I would like the setup to look nice.

One that I liked is this Soundstream shallow mount sub. The box certainly has a very unique look to it and it fits the bill in regards to price and size. But I have never used Soundstream subs so I don't know how well they are built, and as mentioned I have never used a shallow mount box, so I am a little nervous that the bass won't sound quite like what I'm expecting/hoping for. Feel free to throw out any recommendations for either shallow mount or single sub enclosure systems that you like. I would not be opposed to an amplified enclosure either as long as it sounds good.

Here is a pic of the sub I linked above:

[Alex2013GT]

I'm not sure if that would work or not. It would certainly be close. As I have it now (once the amp is secured) I have complete access to the right side undercargo storage if I want to put something in there. To get to the spare tire compartment if needed is just a quick disconnection of the two speaker wires into the sub and lifting the box out. I will certainly be playing around with it more at night and this upcoming weekend.

[hyundave]

Looks good and that price is a steal! What are the specs?

[slowgls]

Looks good man. Here is what i would do. Is there a storage compartment under the sub box? Or space to put the amp were the spare tire should be? If you mount it down there it will hide it and clean it up a bit in the back. Then i would fire the port at the rear glass, like flip it up at the roof. May sound better, idk. Lol.

[Alex2013GT]

There is a storage tray under the carpet that the amp would fit in and be completely out of site. I am considering putting it down there, but my concern is that the amp could overheat. Without much air flow and limited space I just think it would trap heat. Thoughts???

[slowgls]

Don't think it will get that hot. If i dose you could add a small computer fan to the amp.

[hyundave]

Don't think it will get that hot. If i dose you could add a small computer fan to the amp.

I was just gonna say that. Add a relay with your remote turn on wire and power a small fan onto it. Really simple and it displaces the heat.

[Alex2013GT]

Looks good and that price is a steal! What are the specs?

Here is the product description for the package:

Product Description
This 800 watt system includes 2-10" MTX Magnum subs, a perfectly matched MTX Magnum mono block amplifier, and a MTX Magnum dual 10" sub box enclosure. These two high powered 10" subs come loaded and pre-wired (at 4 ohms) in the heavy duty trapezoid enclosure which saves you from having to spend an additional $80 building your own box. The 800 watt high powered mono block amp is perfectly matched to this enclosure and has both high and low level inputs with a built in crossover and bass boost. With the variable crossover and bass boost options, this subwoofer/amplifier package lets you customize the bass response to your vehicle. It also has 3-way Protection circuitry (Short/Thermal/Overload) which makes this amplifier virtually impossible to blow.

Here is a link to the MTX Magnum 800watt Package on Amazon. From my research it seems most everybody has been very happy with the package. A few reviewers mentioned replacing the amp with a more powerful one (say 1000 watt) which really makes the subs hit hard. Quite frankly, I don't have any need to replace the amp and they get plenty loud for me. I do still need to play more with the amp settings and once I do, I will post some updated feedback.

For the price, I'd say you can't beat it. I've spent $1,000+ on sub and amp packages and while they did get a little louder, I would be hard pressed to explain the cost benefit relationship between a $1000 system of my past and this $200 system. For me I'd rather save the $800 and use that to tint the windows, order a CAI, and replace either the headlights or taillights. I won't set off car alarms with this setup, but I can annoy the wifey

[Brad M]

In regards to the overheating thing if you put the amp in the spare tire well, you'll be fine. Every system I have done, the amp always goes into the spare well. I've had much more powerful systems that I used to compete with that went into there with no problems at all.



The main benefit of going to a more expensive system, is the same for the higher cost home audio systems, WAY better sound quality. Once I get around to it, my door speakers will be components of some kind, just haven't decided which ones to go with yet though.

[LeMeez]

Alex, what about making a black screened cover for that lid of the storage bin to keep air flowing around the amp? Very nice setup!

[Alex2013GT]

Alex, what about making a black screened cover for that lid of the storage bin to keep air flowing around the amp? Very nice setup!

That could certainly be an option. I dropped it in the compartment tonight and will check what its like after my 20 or so minute drive to work tomorrow. I figured that would be a good test to see how warm it gets prior to doing any longer trips.

I still keep looking down at the wheel well where the spare tire is and thinking how much room is down there. If I had time, I would pull the spare out, and fabricate a sub to put down there with something like a plexiglass cover. Here are some pics of the wheel well