DIY Speaker Pods

[jhw528]

Bolting to the seat with a quick disconnect is an insanely great idea. If you can do it then go for it.

For the fronts, check out the 2ohm BLAM Relax speakers, they play loud and a bunch of people installed them. I have two sets of 5.25", one in the Jeep and a second in another vehicle. Also consider using component speakers and relocating the tweeters to the dash. If that is too much work the coaxials are very good and easily the best value speakers for our Jeep.

https://incartec.co.uk/product/BLAM...cy-2ohm-2-Way-Coaxial-speakers-PAIR-BL-130RFC

I ordered the same sub JMT has figuring this is the best solution for how I want to do this.

However, I just finished the DIY aluminum/duct tape baffle like OP in this thread suggests: https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/this-is-why-your-dash-speakers-suck.21058/ ; I have the 4x6 polk db462s in the dash, no sound bar, no sub, and with the DIY baffle I managed to achieve exactly what I was looking for. I can hear the bass even on the highway. It's nothing astounding but it works the way I wanted it to.

I'm happy that rather than the subwoofer being the only solution, it will be an enhancement to what i have now. The baffle is key

 

[skrelnik]

I ordered the same sub JMT has figuring this is the best solution for how I want to do this.

However, I just finished the DIY aluminum/duct tape baffle like OP in this thread suggests: https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/this-is-why-your-dash-speakers-suck.21058/ ; I have the 4x6 polk db462s in the dash, no sound bar, no sub, and with the DIY baffle I managed to achieve exactly what I was looking for. I can hear the bass even on the highway. It's nothing astounding but it works the way I wanted it to.

I'm happy that rather than the subwoofer being the only solution, it will be an enhancement to what i have now. The baffle is key

Welcome to the rabbit hole of audio, which like art is in the eye of the beholder, car audio is in the ear of listener. We all listen to different stuff, rap, classic, heavy metal, pod casts, etc, so you need to figure out what is best for you.

Boom Mat is relatively cheap and the select increments, albeit expensive, also add value. The duct tape method is okay and no complaints from me if it works. Glad you are happy with your set up though, that is all that matters.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_696B050351/Boom-Mat-4-x6-Speaker-Baffles-Slim-line-2-5-16-depth.html

 

[NWPA Jeepy T]

@JMT I suppose I just want to do the best I can with the fronts before throwing a sub in. What sub/amp do you use? I have a polk DXi 10" in a 15x23x6.5 inch cab. It would have to sit behind the seat and I fill that space pretty regularly so I don't want to put anything there. I have a polk D2000.2 amplifier which could fit under the seat off to the side.

@NWPA Jeepy T I saw your post about that elsewhere, I feel like I don't want a big thing hanging right there by my head. I can hear the mids/highs just fine (in fact I actually roll off the highs a bit), it's just low end I'm missing, and I can't imagine this actually solves that problem too well.

It's not that big and it's far enough away, but it does take away from the clean factory look.

 

[jhw528]

Welcome to the rabbit hole of audio, which like art is in the eye of the beholder, car audio is in the ear of listener. We all listen to different stuff, rap, classic, heavy metal, pod casts, etc, so you need to figure out what is best for you.

Boom Mat is relatively cheap and the select increments, albeit expensive, also add value. The duct tape method is okay and no complaints from me if it works. Glad you are happy with your set up though, that is all that matters.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_696B050351/Boom-Mat-4-x6-Speaker-Baffles-Slim-line-2-5-16-depth.html

I've been down that rabbit hole long ago, and also learned ignorance is bliss. I have the bass response I was looking for. But now everything rattles on certain notes. I know when to quit


Thanks for the suggestions everyone, I appreciate the responses

 

[Mfpaul73]

O

You’re wasting your time swapping 4x6 to 5.25’s if you want some bass.

I have a sub under the rear seat. Doesn’t take up any useable space.

Curious about your underseat sub. Can you share details?

 

[CreepinDeth]

Pretty sure this one fits under the drivers seat
https://www.amazon.com/Rockville-SS8P-Under-Seat-Powered-Subwoofer/dp/B079PRCP9W/?tag=wranglerorg-20

I opted for the 10” instead on my rear tailgate
Im a 25+ year aftermarket stereo junkie metalhead
This was an uber low budget stereo upgrade for me

This suits the Jeep just fine with all aftermarket gear I installed

 

[Mfpaul73]

I did a similar test with the ports I installed in the soundbar speaker enclosures. Definitely sounded better with the ports uncovered.

Curious about how you ported the soundbar enclosures. I have the pods and wonder if porting would help.

Pretty sure this one fits under the drivers seat
https://www.amazon.com/Rockville-SS8P-Under-Seat-Powered-Subwoofer/dp/B079PRCP9W/?tag=wranglerorg-20

I opted for the 10” instead on my rear tailgate
Im a 25+ year aftermarket stereo junkie metalhead
This was an uber low budget stereo upgrade for me

This suits the Jeep just fine with all aftermarket gear I installed

View attachment 585104

Ive seen some mixed reviews on the Rockville underseat subs but tempted to try one out.

 

[CreepinDeth]

Ive seen some mixed reviews on the Rockville underseat subs but tempted to try one out.

Everyone has different music tastes and expectations
Just something to keep in mind

I wanted a wee bigger then 8” personally and Im just into Rock and Metal. If someone is a hip hop or rap person, these are all too small (could be the not so good reviews ya saw)

Great thing about Amazon Prime, you can test and tune and just return it if not satisfied. Crutchfield is also highly recommended

 

[Zorba]

Curious about how you ported the soundbar enclosures. I have the pods and wonder if porting would help.

If you want the excruciatingly boring blow-by-blow, get some coffee to stay awake and go here:

https://www.doubleveil.net/jeep/fourteen.htm

 

[JMT]

Curious about your underseat sub. Can you share details?

Sure, here’s the link to the post. Only thing I’d add is the aluminum sub cover. That way the sub is not hitting the bottom of the seat and distorting. I have since added it and it is amazing. I think about all the other locations people have put subs in a TJ, and I wouldn’t move mine to any of those places or swap in a Rubicon console. But what works best for me may not work best for you. Cheers.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/05-flame-red-tj-build.3998/post-1635313

 

[Mfpaul73]

Sure, here’s the link to the post. Only thing I’d add is the aluminum sub cover. That way the sub is not hitting the bottom of the seat and distorting. I have since added it and it is amazing. I think about all the other locations people have put subs in a TJ, and I wouldn’t move mine to any of those places or swap in a Rubicon console. But what works best for me may not work best for you. Cheers.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/05-flame-red-tj-build.3998/post-1635313

Thank you. This is great work!

 

[JMT]

Thank you. This is great work!

There’s a few more notes I should send you. If you want box dimensions I can get that for you.

It may not be necessary to do this, but I did add 1/2” aluminum spacers under each of the four seat corners and the center seat belt latches. That was just to give a little more space above the speaker. But the thing that really helped more than I could ever imagine was the aluminum speaker grille for the Kicker LT7.

FWIW, my son did a 10” Kicker under the rear seat. He used 1 1/4” wooden block spacers to get a little more space.

Last thing I’m going to do is add some carpeting to the box. I’ve been studying up on the right method that uses adhesive and a utility knife. It’s actually a pretty cool process.

 

[Mfpaul73]

There’s a few more notes I should send you. If you want box dimensions I can get that for you.

It may not be necessary to do this, but I did add 1/2” aluminum spacers under each of the four seat corners and the center seat belt latches. That was just to give a little more space above the speaker. But the thing that really helped more than I could ever imagine was the aluminum speaker grille for the Kicker LT7.

FWIW, my son did a 10” Kicker under the rear seat. He used 1 1/4” wooden block spacers to get a little more space.

Last thing I’m going to do is add some carpeting to the box. I’ve been studying up on the right method that uses adhesive and a utility knife. It’s actually a pretty cool process.

Hey thanks again. Dimensions would be helpful if you get a chance. I am guesssing about 24x14 but not sure on depth. Looks like the sub requires 4-3/4 mounting depth but then the box would need to be about 6” high. Seems too high to fit. Was considering taking your idea and bolting it to the seat bottom and making it down firing but I think I’d need to keep the box depth to about 4 or 4-1/2. Maybe I can use a shallow mount sub variant.

 

[JMT]

Hey thanks again. Dimensions would be helpful if you get a chance. I am guesssing about 24x14 but not sure on depth. Looks like the sub requires 4-3/4 mounting depth but then the box would need to be about 6” high. Seems too high to fit. Was considering taking your idea and bolting it to the seat bottom and making it down firing but I think I’d need to keep the box depth to about 4 or 4-1/2. Maybe I can use a shallow mount sub variant.

I am using a slimline sub.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NSBGT15?tag=wranglerorg-20

I think a slimline would be required to make it work under the seat like mine.

I contemplated an “in” seat option and people have built them into the seat bottom.

In previous iterations I had a self powered sub mounted to a board on the bottom of the seat firing down. It worked fine, but that sub burned up and they’re not as good as a separate sub and amplifier, so I changed setups.

 

[Mfpaul73]

You probably saved me an iteration. I was just about ready to pull the trigger on a self powered, mounted to the underside. Now id rather make a workable but slim DIY box.

 

[Mfpaul73]

There’s a few more notes I should send you. If you want box dimensions I can get that for you.

It may not be necessary to do this, but I did add 1/2” aluminum spacers under each of the four seat corners and the center seat belt latches. That was just to give a little more space above the speaker. But the thing that really helped more than I could ever imagine was the aluminum speaker grille for the Kicker LT7.

FWIW, my son did a 10” Kicker under the rear seat. He used 1 1/4” wooden block spacers to get a little more space.

Last thing I’m going to do is add some carpeting to the box. I’ve been studying up on the right method that uses adhesive and a utility knife. It’s actually a pretty cool process.

Since the box is relatively hidden, I was considering Bedliner or Undercoating the box as an easier alternative to carpeting.

 

[lBasket]

FWIW, my son did a 10” Kicker under the rear seat. He used 1 1/4” wooden block spacers to get a little more space.

Is this safe in an accident? Genuinely curious, I don't know

 

[JMT]

Since the box is relatively hidden, I was considering Bedliner or Undercoating the box as an easier alternative to carpeting.

It would definitely be easier to do it that way. I considered it, but just want carpet.

P.s. good choice going with a full amped setup. I use a 5-channel Soundstream Nano Picasso amp mounted under the dash. It’s a fairly common setup on here, but you may have better ideas.

 

[chudlet]

View attachment 585109

View attachment 585110

If you want the excruciatingly boring blow-by-blow, get some coffee to stay awake and go here:

https://www.doubleveil.net/jeep/fourteen.htm

Just read your speaker install and it answered several questions for me. I appreciate the detail you put into it, thank you sir. I got my front and rear speakers for Christmas. So I am starting to get a little excited to get them installed. Thanks for the write up!

 

[ChasUGC]

p.p.s. Nothing will make little speakers produce decent bass.

This.