I dont know what to do. I have two 10" pioneer subs and a decent kenwood amp. They sound awsome for cheap subs. I got tired of blowing jl w3's and they wouldnt replace them anymore so i got subs at walmart. Two pioneers pound compared to one jl. Anyways, when I put the top back, the bass completely dissapears! This sucks! I have to choose between bass, and the sun. Is there anyway to get the sound from the trunk to the passenger compartment with the top back? I still have the factory speakers otherwise, but powered by amps as well. They sound ok, but little bass. Is there a way to open the trunk area up to the passenger compartment and let the bass through?

 

i'm in the same situation that you're in man. I'd love to know as way as well!

 

Take out your backseat and make a custom box to fit there. Or at worst, drop down the backrest of the backseat and put your box on top of it.

I have my subs (check the sig.) in my back seat... sounds great.

-Eric H

 

I'm also in the same boat, I have no idea how to solve this problem and still have backseats

 

I had a friend that had this same problem, in his conv it wasnt a camaro but i think it still may apply, we tried 2 things.... You could face the subs forward, which seemed to work on his, or you could get a ported, or bandpass box pointing forward, the only thing with the bandpass is they can get loud if you got the top closed,

But you can always do more in a hard top!!!!
My Install

 

It dont matter which way the subs face, or what kind of box they,re in, when the top is back, the trunk area is completely sealed, not letting any sound out. What us conv. people want to know if there is any way to port the trunk. Maybe a couple of tubes or something. I dont know if you can do this without messing with the unibody though.

 

You should always keep the subs facing the rear, it's louder. You could try keeping the gains on the HU down while the top is down and cranking them up when you put it down. What kind of box are your subs in now? Maybe you could try a different subwoofer enclosure design, if you do decide to build a new box and need some help just tell me which models you have i'll work with it on WINisd.

 

If you are feeling creative there's another option. I haven't seen if anyone else has done this, but it could work.

First remove your rear passenger speakers. Then insulate between the speaker hole and your trunk. Basically, make a tunnel for the sound to follow. I haven't looked real close at this... it may take some fiberglass/woodwork to create a nice tunnel for the sound to follow.

It could work.

-Eric H

 

If you are feeling creative there's another option. I haven't seen if anyone else has done this, but it could work.

First remove your rear passenger speakers. Then insulate between the speaker hole and your trunk. Basically, make a tunnel for the sound to follow. I haven't looked real close at this... it may take some fiberglass/woodwork to create a nice tunnel for the sound to follow.

It could work.

-Eric H

 

Eric H - sounds interesting, however wouldn't these "ports" tune the sound coming from the sub in the trunk. The same way a port tunes the sub enclosure?

 

Could we just widen the space in the rear panels and stick 8's in there. I think with 2 12's in trunk and 8's in the rear I would get pretty decent bass.....

 

BigTymer: I honestly have no idea if it will tune the sound. But I bet there's some people that will take poorly tuned bass over no bass at all.

Marky82: Good thought, but if you look at the space between the rag top and the magnet of a stock speaker there is hardly any room. I really doubt that there is enough backspacing there to fit a free-air 8" sub.

-Eric H

 

No matter what you do. No matter how many or how big of ports you make. You cannot make your system as loud as with the top up. It's simple. When you have all the sound contained in a small area, it's louder then when playing into open air. Ever take your sub box out and try to playing it in your backyard?!?!!? Not NEARLY as loud huh? You can make it louder with the top down by adding ports and such...... but it will still be even louder with the top up. Simple. Sorry guys.

 

We realize that it is not possible to have it as loud. We are attempting to find a way to get SOME bass. If you've ever been in a ragtop with subs in the trunk you'd notice that you can't hear any of the bass... every last bit of it is trapped in the trunk.

-Eric H

 

It's not that it's trapped in the trunk...... it's that's it's playing into open air vs. a closed cabin.