Midbass from kickpanel speakers

[akturbo]

I went through this effort I cut plastic pieces to close the large hole and glued it in place. Then I 3D printed some adapter rings for dayton audio 6.5’s. Ran them to a kicker key mounted above the glove box. I used spray foam to seal up inside where the clips protrude into the cavity. I ran the speaker wire in from above where there is a foam seal and sprayed some expanding foam to seal that as well.

I measured this setup with REW and it gets down to about 55hz fairly decently. I ran that for over a year before I threw in a sub.

How thick of plastic did you use? I thought about using spray foam as well, may have to go your route since it worked for you. 55hz would be great compared to my 100hz!

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[heathw101]

Is anyone capturing before and after frequency response measurements when making changes to the kick enclosure? I've attempted to seal up the area, still have full drop off at 100hz. Near field frequency is good, can't tell if I'm fighting the enclosure or cabin acoustics (+soft top). AudioFrog GB60s with 200W RMS to each.

Sharp drop off at 100hz via RTA measurement. Spike around 200 or a little below. Convinced it’s the airspace a low QTS driver may help with the issue.

 

[AZCoyote]

Sharp drop off at 100hz via RTA measurement. Spike around 200 or a little below. Convinced it’s the airspace a low QTS driver may help with the issue.

how sharp is sharp?

 

[LAX-DAD]

I have been thinking of doing the same with raw drivers and a low QTS because of the small enclosures in the kick panels. I know most of these drivers are 3+ inches in depth. Where you able to easily fit them and use the factory grills?

I have been thinking of doing the same with raw drivers and a low QTS because of the small enclosures in the kick panels. I know most of these drivers are 3+ inches in depth. Where you able to easily fit them and use the factory grills?

I’ve had no issues with depth and any of the 6-1/2” speakers mounted in the kick-panel location. Made 1/2” thick HDPE mounting adapter along with 1/2”top ring around speaker sandwiching the speaker between the two HDPE pieces. On an airplane but will be happy to take pictures if interested when I get home. Anyhow idea being I’ll install foam ring around speaker to direct sound ‘out’ and minimize rattles. More concerned with proper spacing of speaker front hitting grill and trim than I would depth on the back from my experience.

For a grill, factory grill is a potential fit issue with any aftermarket speaker as mentioned already. With aftermarket options I don’t want speaker surround to hit the grill or excursion of speaker to be a problem. All that to say I will make something custom to avoid hitting as well as open up grill. I can see that if the circular lip on the back side of the grill was removed and speaker set back so excision is not a problem the stock grill can be used.

Side note don’t overlooked Fs as well as QTS. The two number being as low as possible help to indicate a speaker playing lower notes in smaller airspace. In small airspace hope is the speaker Q will be moved closer ideal .7 and speaker play at 80hz up (with sub frequency 80hz down) in my case. All a guess not knowing exact airspace. I know on the RTA when tuning with dsp I’m not losing anything. Hard to get a speaker to play in 100hz area in bronco due to small space. Most all automotive car speakers are designed to work in larger door cavity.

 

[LAX-DAD]

How thick of plastic did you use? I thought about using spray foam as well, may have to go your route since it worked for you. 55hz would be great compared to my 100hz!

I used 1/2” HDPE. Rigid considering there anre only use 3 factory mounting location and easy to router and cut. I’ve found pvc soft and flexible. For my install I added 3 rivet nuts in addition to the 3 factory mounting locations to make as solid as I could.

 

[heathw101]

I’ve had no issues with depth and any of the 6-1/2” speakers mounted in the kick-panel location. Made 1/2” thick HDPE mounting adapter along with 1/2”top ring around speaker sandwiching the speaker between the two HDPE pieces. On an airplane but will be happy to take pictures if interested when I get home. Anyhow idea being I’ll install foam ring around speaker to direct sound ‘out’ and minimize rattles. More concerned with proper spacing of speaker front hitting grill and trim than I would depth on the back from my experience.

For a grill, factory grill is a potential fit issue with any aftermarket speaker as mentioned already. With aftermarket options I don’t want speaker surround to hit the grill or excursion of speaker to be a problem. All that to say I will make something custom to avoid hitting as well as open up grill. I can see that if the circular lip on the back side of the grill was removed and speaker set back so excision is not a problem the stock grill can be used.

Side note don’t overlooked Fs as well as QTS. The two number being as low as possible help to indicate a speaker playing lower notes in smaller airspace. In small airspace hope is the speaker Q will be moved closer ideal .7 and speaker play at 80hz up (with sub frequency 80hz down) in my case. All a guess not knowing exact airspace. I know on the RTA when tuning with dsp I’m not losing anything. Hard to get a speaker to play in 100hz area in bronco due to small space. Most all automotive car speakers are designed to work in larger door cavity.

Would really appreciate some pictures. How are the Ciare HWG160-4?

 

[404]

I don’t remember exactly how thick it was or what the plastic was from. But it didn’t bend or flex easily which is what I was looking for.

 

[akturbo]

I used 1/2” HDPE. Rigid considering there anre only use 3 factory mounting location and easy to router and cut. I’ve found pvc soft and flexible. For my install I added 3 rivet nuts in addition to the 3 factory mounting locations to make as solid as I could.

You're talking about the speaker rings? I routed out 3/4" HPDE rings and used speaker foam tape on the ring and speaker, I'll have to consider adding 3 more bolts like you did.

Your FS and QTS comment led me down a rabbit hole. My GB60s have FS 66hz and QTS 0.48., if the enclosure is 0.06 ft³ (?), I could be sitting at Qtc ≈ 1.11, Fc ≈ 151 Hz. I spent a lot of time sealing those tiny kick enclosure, now I'm thinking I was successful based on the 100hz shelf, that's all the speaker can do in that small of enclosure, nothing left to seal. My eq, curves, crossovers and phase are tuned, sounds awesome, guess I better leave it alone!

 

[LAX-DAD]

Would really appreciate some pictures. How are the Ciare HWG160-4?

Sorry for the delay, red eye and jet lagged. Attached is picture assembled. I intend to tune with and without fill see what I find. I will provide pictures of mount disassembled for reference during the process.

I am really liking the Ciare HWG, clean precise and take what I give them. Using Audison AF C8.14 bridged 80-400hz and it’s been great, still playing around with front soundstage. Attached photo of my amp setup for reference however I am going to try different sub setup next, add Audison companion amp for more headroom to the kicks. If anyone is interested in the custom steel mounts, amp, sub wiring and more for plug and play install let me know and intend to offer them properly.

 

[LAX-DAD]

You're talking about the speaker rings? I routed out 3/4" HPDE rings and used speaker foam tape on the ring and speaker, I'll have to consider adding 3 more bolts like you did.

Your FS and QTS comment led me down a rabbit hole. My GB60s have FS 66hz and QTS 0.48., if the enclosure is 0.06 ft³ (?), I could be sitting at Qtc ≈ 1.11, Fc ≈ 151 Hz. I spent a lot of time sealing those tiny kick enclosure, now I'm thinking I was successful based on the 100hz shelf, that's all the speaker can do in that small of enclosure, nothing left to seal. My eq, curves, crossovers and phase are tuned, sounds awesome, guess I better leave it alone!

Great to hear your results. Bronco’s have much to be desired audio and limited workability for those of trying to maximize audio with its constraints. Fun toy none the less.

 

[heathw101]

Sorry for the delay, red eye and jet lagged. Attached is picture assembled. I intend to tune with and without fill see what I find. I will provide pictures of mount disassembled for reference during the process.

I am really liking the Ciare HWG, clean precise and take what I give them. Using Audison AF C8.14 bridged 80-400hz and it’s been great, still playing around with front soundstage. Attached photo of my amp setup for reference however I am going to try different sub setup next, add Audison companion amp for more headroom to the kicks. If anyone is interested in the custom steel mounts, amp, sub wiring and more for plug and play install let me know and intend to offer them properly.

This is awesome! I am running a Mobridge amp with 150w so the Ciare’s may be a good fit. Also digging the spacers. Did you make yourself? I saw similar ones on five star audio but can’t find anyone to fab me a pair.

 

[LAX-DAD]

This is awesome! I am running a Mobridge amp with 150w so the Ciare’s may be a good fit. Also digging the spacers. Did you make yourself? I saw similar ones on five star audio but can’t find anyone to fab me a pair.

I made them myself. Made emplate out of mdf and then trace via router with HDPE. I also install brass thread inserts. I’ll break the parts down for you when I take them apart during my testing. Happy to help if you need something made. Always enjoy some garage therapy.

 

[LAX-DAD]

This is awesome! I am running a Mobridge amp with 150w so the Ciare’s may be a good fit. Also digging the spacers. Did you make yourself? I saw similar ones on five star audio but can’t find anyone to fab me a pair.

Attached are how I mounted the Ciare HWG150 in the kick panel. Photo in earlier post is mount awaiting foam around speaker to seal and keep rattles off panel and grill. Haven’t gotten there yet.

In the four attached you will see the ring removed, 8-32 bolts thread into rigid mount that I have bolted to the back onto with the tree factory bolts and 3 more (silver) with three rivet nuts. 1/2” Hdpe with relief cut in back to encapsulate speaker and all held to back mounting adapter for the 8-32 bolts.

The one odd modification is running the wires to the speaker. I included a picture where you can see I soldered them in feeding backwards where grooves where cut in the mount to feed the wires out on top the adapter. Lastly, brass thread inserts installed into plastic so I can again try to get as solid of amount as possible. For a little 6-1/2 they do make some racket.

Anything else with my setup please let me know.

 

[23OBX2.7]

Expect the speakers to take some time breaking in....is it 20 or 100 hrs np one knows I know I had to adjust tune for several months with Hertz MP.

 

[heathw101]

Following back up on this thread. Does anyone have any RTA measurements of their mids? I’m considering going down a rabbit hole to seal the enclosure more but not sure it’s worth it. I’m still struggling to get a 100hz 24db LR rolloff from this location.

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