Powered Sub Location
 

I recently bought a Clarion 120W 7" powered sub, which I imagined would fit nicely beneath the front seat in my '84 300D. It didn't. After considerable agonizing over its eventual placement, I found that behind the back seat rest might be a good candidate spot. I was able to attach it to the seat back with some of the hardware provided, and it seems to be a decent fit. My question is, since the sub is now in a relatively enclosed space, would it help to vent the enclosure somehow? Plainly, the bass was more audible while the seat was still unattached, and became less audible once everything was put back together. Lowering the center armrest helps a little, however. Overall, the sound is awesome, and I'm considering the purchase of a second subwoofer to go on the other side.

I'm trying to picture this installation. If someone sits back there, won't that person feel a lump when he/she reclines?

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

What?? Someone sitting in the back seat? :p

Yes, I was wondering if that would be brought up. One can definitely tell there's a lump there, however, when the Chemical Brothers are playing through the system, this setup provides a wonderful opportunity for a back massage.

Back to my original question: should I vent for better sound?

Maybe you can peel the uphostery from the sides of the armrest cavity and find out for yourself... if your car has a rear armrest. Otherwise, how were you planning to vent it?

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Sixto:

That's a good question. I'm not sure how I would vent, but here's an idea:

This is an MB-Tex seat back (the bench and the front seats are leather), so I would not be knocking holes in the nice leather. I have some of those 2" plastic rings that are found on cubicle furniture, where power cords are channeled from computers down through the desktop to AC outlets. They seem ideal for reinforcing a hole cut into the top of the seat back near the hat shelf...as long as I don't hit any springs. If I can do that without compromising the structural integrity of the seatback, I don't think it would look all that bad. What do you think?

Wouldnt it be easier to put the sub under the seat bottom where there is usually more room? his would give it a nice sized enclosure with no need for venting. Also, if the sub is self contained in its own enclosure, then you dont need to vent it. Venting is only for the air moved by the rear of the speaker. The front will always have venting unless you put it facing somethign flat and solid like a piece of wood. The air should move just fine through the seat fabric and pad.

Hey Zoonhollis,

After all the talk of Subwoofers and hearing the difference in Diesel Power's 240D, I went out and bought me a Boss Redline 12" subwoofer in it's own enclosure, and it is powered by its own amp - a Nakamichi amp, which is biiiig money, but I bought it used from a friend.

Everyone has talked about how the trunk is a 124 car is almost air-tight, but without any porting at all, I can get so much bass inside the car that the seatbacks will vibrate like a massage chair.

I also don't know how I lived this long w/o a subwoofer. It brings so much balance to the whole sound of the system.