Center Console Subwoofer

[zlandquist]

My '99 TJ didn't come with a full center console. It was the one cup holder version.
I am looking to add a subwoofer and want to do it in the center console.
I was seeing used parts pulled from other TJs and it looks like there are full length center consoles with a subwoofer cutout.

Would that fit in my TJ? I found a few one piece ones on eBay that say they fit 97-05. There are also two peice ones with the sub cutout.

Also, there are center consoles without a sub cutout.

What should I be looking for? EBay and Davey's jeeps seemed pretty dry, so if anyone has ideas where I could get one, that would be great.

 

[zlandquist]

Bump

 

[tworley]

They'll bolt into your TJ. Its only 3-5 bolts that hold it in place. One at the shifter, two in the floor, and two I believe in the side between the passenger seat. The 06 console changed I believe with the 6 speed tranny but I could be wrong. Check craigslist--Every one that I come across is bringing money that I cant justify spending on a console.

 

[pagrey]

You could always check car-part.com, probably wont be cheap. There was one in my area for about $200.

 

[Ron505]

After you find the console, I'd suggest this. It will fit in the console.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IF9IIWK/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[thuddles]

I too have a 99. I made my own enclosure inside my center console, i had the 2 cupholder version but still no sub. A little fiberglass resin and some speaker rings worked nicely. I went with 2 - 6.5 inch Tang Band subs and had one facing to driver and one to passenger/floor. The sound is nice and clean, bass hits good, but its till not crazy bass since these things only can handle 50 watts RMS 100 Watt max. (in retro spect i probably should have tried for the W8 but i think i would have ran into clearance issues.

 

[98T33jay]

That’s awesome and just what I’ve been looking for. My 98 has the same console and I’ve been curious about adding a sub in the same location. Food for thought. My configuration might end up being a little different but the inspiration is the same.

Just out of curiosity, how wide is the bottom of that box and how many cu ft would you estimate the enclosure to be?

I too have a 99. I made my own enclosure inside my center console, i had the 2 cupholder version but still no sub. A little fiberglass resin and some speaker rings worked nicely. I went with 2 - 6.5 inch Tang Band subs and had one facing to driver and one to passenger/floor. The sound is nice and clean, bass hits good, but its till not crazy bass since these things only can handle 50 watts RMS 100 Watt max. (in retro spect i probably should have tried for the W8 but i think i would have ran into clearance issues.

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[thuddles]

That’s awesome and just what I’ve been looking for. My 98 has the same console and I’ve been curious about adding a sub in the same location. Food for thought. My configuration might end up being a little different but the inspiration is the same.

Just out of curiosity, how wide is the bottom of that box and how many cu ft would you estimate the enclosure to be?

Fill it with water and make a line. Determine your need for cubic inches, then convert it to fluid oz. i needed around the same cubic inches as is in 2 gal. this gave me about 2-3 inches at the top that i can put my phone or whatever i need. it actually sounds really good. not gonna shake the license plate or anything but it’s got nice punch and i can hear it on the freeway with my super loose half doors. If you don’t go with the 6.5 TB subs like i did, just go 1 10” sub facing to the driver side. it’s less fab work. any other 6.5” sub won’t give you the range that these have.

 

[thuddles]

That’s awesome and just what I’ve been looking for. My 98 has the same console and I’ve been curious about adding a sub in the same location. Food for thought. My configuration might end up being a little different but the inspiration is the same.

Just out of curiosity, how wide is the bottom of that box and how many cu ft would you estimate the enclosure to be?

you can see my 2 gal mark. i put a piece of MDF board in the bottom and as a cap on top. i ended up raising that line to compensate for the meh spaces of the boards and the speakers.

 

[98T33jay]

Fill it with water and make a line. Determine your need for cubic inches, then convert it to fluid oz. i needed around the same cubic inches as is in 2 gal. this gave me about 2-3 inches at the top that i can put my phone or whatever i need. it actually sounds really good. not gonna shake the license plate or anything but it’s got nice punch and i can hear it on the freeway with my super loose half doors. If you don’t go with the 6.5 TB subs like i did, just go 1 10” sub facing to the driver side. it’s less fab work. any other 6.5” sub won’t give you the range that these have.

Good to know. My TJ is loud AF on the road. Hearing the stereo and conversations is a challenge at 50 mph with a soft top, 35” MT, and external rack with cargo carrier. I’m on the fence about adding a sub but this is the way I’ll do it if I commit. The TJ is new to me and I’ve always had a modest sub in all my vehicles. Gonna start replacing the 4x6 dash and 5.25 sound bar speakers, add a mini amp, then consider the sub.

 

[98T33jay]

View attachment 219702
you can see my 2 gal mark. i put a piece of MDF board in the bottom and as a cap on top. i ended up raising that line to compensate for the meh spaces of the boards and the speakers.

2 gal ends up being .26 cu ft. There are a lot of 8” sub options. I’ve used JL and Image Dynamics subs in enclosures that small, but I’m currently running a ID8 ported in .6 cu ft in my truck. Used to install for friends and family but I haven’t cut wires or wood for 15 years

 

[redneckpunk]

I wish there was a good aftermarket sub enclosure that fit our center consoles. I've seen one, but it is not in stock... anywhere. Then agaain, I'd be cool with just a factory sub setup... LOL.

 

[voodooridr]

SSV Works used to make one for a 10" but I can't find anything else available

 

[98T33jay]

I wish there was a good aftermarket sub enclosure that fit our center consoles. I've seen one, but it is not in stock... anywhere. Then agaain, I'd be cool with just a factory sub setup... LOL.

Yeah, it’s not sexy for manufacturers to make an enclosure for a 20 y/o vehicle LOL. I’ve seen that there are some compact/slim-line powered enclosures that will fit the center console. Think I’ve seen some mentioned in this or a similar thread. I’ve not been a fan of those bc the driver is typically squeezed into such a small air space, but haven’t looked at them in years... they could be better than in the past. I was looking at Parts Express and found a 6.5” Dayton sub that takes decent power and fits .2cu ft sealed tuned at 80 Hz. I’ve never ran anything smaller than 8” tho.


https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-DCS165-4-6-1-2-Classic-Subwoofer-4-Ohm-295-198?quantity=1
I’m currently trying to decide if I’m gonna add a Kenwood mini amp 45x4 or swap the old Pioneer for a newer Sony that has a mini amp 45x4 built in. Price difference is $100. Sony will bridge and run a single sub in tri-mode... kinda cool. My Pioneer is low-end, doesn’t have a sub-out, and 2V RCA’s so splitting them is sub-optimal (hardy har). The Pioneer works tho and is BT, so I don’t have a burning desire to swap it out.

Sony DSX-GS80 GS Series High Power 45W X 4 Rms Digital Media Receiver with Bluetooth and SiriusXM Ready https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081B5S8R8/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[thuddles]

Yeah, it’s not sexy for manufacturers to make an enclosure for a 20 y/o vehicle LOL. I’ve seen that there are some compact/slim-line powered enclosures that will fit the center console. Think I’ve seen some mentioned in this or a similar thread. I’ve not been a fan of those bc the driver is typically squeezed into such a small air space, but haven’t looked at them in years... they could be better than in the past. I was looking at Parts Express and found a 6.5” Dayton sub that takes decent power and fits .2cu ft sealed tuned at 80 Hz. I’ve never ran anything smaller than 8” tho.


https://www.parts-express.com/Dayton-Audio-DCS165-4-6-1-2-Classic-Subwoofer-4-Ohm-295-198?quantity=1
I’m currently trying to decide if I’m gonna add a Kenwood mini amp 45x4 or swap the old Pioneer for a newer Sony that has a mini amp 45x4 built in. Price difference is $100. Sony will bridge and run a single sub in tri-mode... kinda cool. My Pioneer is low-end, doesn’t have a sub-out, and 2V RCA’s so splitting them is sub-optimal (hardy har). The Pioneer works tho and is BT, so I don’t have a burning desire to swap it out.

what kind and size of speakers are you running?? that’s really what it comes down too...

Sony DSX-GS80 GS Series High Power 45W X 4 Rms Digital Media Receiver with Bluetooth and SiriusXM Ready https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081B5S8R8/?tag=wranglerorg-202 gal ends up being .26 cu ft. There are a lot of 8” sub options. I’ve used JL and Image Dynamics subs in enclosures that small, but I’m currently running a ID8 ported in .6 cu ft in my truck. Used to install for friends and family but I haven’t cut wires or wood for 15 years

The speakers i used were only 6.5" with a 13mm full cone extension so it moved as much air as a low powered 10" i think they needed .12 ea so it worked perfectly for my use. the reason i did what i did is because i wanted it to sound good from both seats. the best place for it is the back but i wanted to have that space and i wanted it to seem stock. i’m pretty novice tbh but i did my research and i’m happy with how it came out.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

2 gal ends up being .26 cu ft. There are a lot of 8” sub options. I’ve used JL and Image Dynamics subs in enclosures that small, but I’m currently running a ID8 ported in .6 cu ft in my truck. Used to install for friends and family but I haven’t cut wires or wood for 15 years

Filling with polyfill ( not over filling ) will effectively fool your sub it’s in a larger enclosure and will definitely help.

 

[98T33jay]

Yeah, done that before. I’m actually gonna hit up a local installer and discuss my options. We had talked about glassing a sub into the front passenger floorboard at the firewall, like a Corvette install. I’m also looking at installing in the rear seat frame. My TJ is loud AF with the 35’s, soft top, and external cage/basket so I need to compensate for that.

 

[thuddles]

Yeah, done that before. I’m actually gonna hit up a local installer and discuss my options. We had talked about glassing a sub into the front passenger floorboard at the firewall, like a Corvette install. I’m also looking at installing in the rear seat frame. My TJ is loud AF with the 35’s, soft top, and external cage/basket so I need to compensate for that.

keep us updated on what you end up doing!! I’ve though about fabing some bass pods on the back corners but it’s so much work for a novice like myself

 

[Gasman]

Filling with polyfill ( not over filling ) will effectively fool your sub it’s in a larger enclosure and will definitely help.

I'm about to embark on a sub install in a non-sub console (1998). I was able to source a OEM sub enclosure from a later model TJ so I am going to use that inside my existing and cut a hole for the grill. Would it be a good idea to poly fill the sub enclosure??

 

[Queticon]

I'm about to embark on a sub install in a non-sub console (1998). I was able to source a OEM sub enclosure from a later model TJ so I am going to use that inside my existing and cut a hole for the grill. Would it be a good idea to poly fill the sub enclosure??

no. it would not. Not sure why people do this. Subwoofers need to move the air behind them. Can't do that if the air is filled with foam.