No bass getting into the cabin at all (help)

I bought an Alpine M350 and Type-R 10" (sealed) and mounted it in the stock non-HK system. It sounds incredible with the trunk open, but goes completely silent with the lid closed. From the front seats, you can hardly tell there's a sub. I've never seen a car so well sealed.

So what are the easiest options to take? I don't have fold-down seats and no ski-pass. Cutting into the rear deck seems to be the only logical way.

Anybody know the best way to let more sound in?

Assuming you do not want any changes to your current setup (no box changes, no new equipment, etc.), cutting the deck seems to be one of the few methods.

Originally Posted by Mystikal

I bought an Alpine M350 and Type-R 10" (sealed) and mounted it in the stock non-HK system. It sounds incredible with the trunk open, but goes completely silent with the lid closed. From the front seats, you can hardly tell there's a sub. I've never seen a car so well sealed.

So what are the easiest options to take? I don't have fold-down seats and no ski-pass. Cutting into the rear deck seems to be the only logical way.

Anybody know the best way to let more sound in?

i cut the ski pass open =)... i have 2 JL w3v2... makes the WORLD of dif w/ the arm rest up or down

So jus with a cut skipass it makes a big difference? It doesn't matter if the actual armest is up or down?

i just started listening with my armrest down and it started sounding much better. so yes, even with the arm rest up, the ski pass makes a HUGE diff.

Ski pass cut out. In non HK setup, do you have a few openings in the rear deck where the HK subs would have went? Those holes are my only porting into my cabin and it suits me quite well.

Also be careful pounding the sub with the trunk open, lack of back pressure is not a good thing.

Problem the first: I have no rear armrest. I have a strong feeling punching that plate out will still make a difference, hopefully enough of one. I'm guessing once that's out it's just the seatback in the way.

Also, the cutouts for the HK subs are present, but filled in with metal (like the ski hole). I found a good link outlining retrofitting the HK system and it explains how to cut them out. I will also do this.

Thanks a lot guys, I was a little weary on actually cutting into the metal, but it looks like the holes are already there, I just need to punch them out.

BTW, hey Phil!

Hey Mystikal,

If you do punch out the ski pass, can you take come pic's along the way? I've wanted to do the same but like you, I'm kinda nervous about taking on this project. So if you could snap shots and take notes, you might just make this a desired mod for all of us.

Thanks,
Beth Anne

Originally Posted by collopyba

Hey Mystikal,

If you do punch out the ski pass, can you take come pic's along the way? I've wanted to do the same but like you, I'm kinda nervous about taking on this project. So if you could snap shots and take notes, you might just make this a desired mod for all of us.

Thanks,
Beth Anne

hey i have the same car as u do man... dont even sweat it... take a hammer... well first a knife... and pry the lil edge of the foam pad off then just rip it out... (it's precut)... then take the hammer and carefully start hitting a corner... that is also precut.. if ur scared to do that.. then take a flat head screwdriver to do it... there are spot welds along the whole skipass... start hitting them it'll come out SO easy.. i did the same thing... easy enough eh?

Originally Posted by Mystikal

I bought an Alpine M350 and Type-R 10" (sealed) and mounted it in the stock non-HK system. It sounds incredible with the trunk open, but goes completely silent with the lid closed. From the front seats, you can hardly tell there's a sub. I've never seen a car so well sealed.

So what are the easiest options to take? I don't have fold-down seats and no ski-pass. Cutting into the rear deck seems to be the only logical way.

Anybody know the best way to let more sound in?

you can cut the rear deck, or even just the metal behind the seat. but i think the best way is to mount the subs under the rear deck and use the whole truck as your box since it's so well sealed. but that would obvisouly cost way more money. i had both set up before, and the latter was 20x better.

Keep scrolling. LOL.

I did it. A few pointers:

At first I couldn't remove the rear seatback, so I tried prying from the trunk end. It took about 30mins to get 5% through the process. So I got pissed, and went all out on the seat. It finally popped off. Once I was in, the insulation just pull out, and the metal pass just comes off with the slightest tap. Good stuff!

The bass repsonses is now quite good, and I am satisfied.

wow... i didn't have to take out the whole seat... i just punched it out... but watever works for you i'm glad i can help (if i did at all) it also might help since u only have one 10" to turn the sub around to face the front... this might help you get more bass in the cab... good luck!

Yeah, but do you have an armrest? Yeah, I don't. Also, I hate the way subs sound firing forwards. They're not nearly as deep.

In any case, I tried the PG 12" I have in my E30, and it does a much better job in the E46. The Type-R 10" is still A LOT for the E30 chassis, and it sounds even better than the PG. Worked out well.

So, if you have an armrest in the rear, what is the bass difference with the armrest down and with the armrest up?

I am getting close to doing this, and I am curious. Is the sub "only gonna work" if the armrest is down?

rob

Originally Posted by rdsesq

So, if you have an armrest in the rear, what is the bass difference with the armrest down and with the armrest up?

I am getting close to doing this, and I am curious. Is the sub "only gonna work" if the armrest is down?

rob

it kinda makes a pretty big difference w/ it up and w/ it down.. but it's not like u wouldn't be able to feel it with the armrest up... i'm just a bass junkie... and i hate how padded our seats are.. the armrest down is a BIG help

Originally Posted by Mystikal

Yeah, but do you have an armrest? Yeah, I don't. Also, I hate the way subs sound firing forwards. They're not nearly as deep.

In any case, I tried the PG 12" I have in my E30, and it does a much better job in the E46. The Type-R 10" is still A LOT for the E30 chassis, and it sounds even better than the PG. Worked out well.

wow u dont have a armrest?!? that's weird...

Originally Posted by Mystikal

I did it. A few pointers:

At first I couldn't remove the rear seatback, so I tried prying from the trunk end. It took about 30mins to get 5% through the process. So I got pissed, and went all out on the seat. It finally popped off. Once I was in, the insulation just pull out, and the metal pass just comes off with the slightest tap. Good stuff!

The bass repsonses is now quite good, and I am satisfied.

Thanks for the help. You look really dangerous with that hammer