Autotuba for collegebound sister

[DJ Higgumz]

For a surprise gift for my sister I thought I'd install an autotuba in her 02 isuzu trooper. Im planning on doing the led strip lighting with the remote to change color from parts express under the dash and also in the driver chamber, which one of the access covers will be plexiglass. Anyways I bought the mcm, plywood and all I need is the crate of time that should come in the mail any day this week

1. How wide to build it? 16" uses 4x8 the most efficiently. It is a mid sized suv, smaller than a suburban but larger than a rav 4.

As far as installing I'm using a 300 watt v2 monoblock amp which has no highpass. 2. What could I do as far as a passive highpass? Budget for that is around 10$. I'm not afraid to solder up my own.

3. What about limiting? I know it's car audio and your not supposed to but do they make a resistor that limits voltage? Not looking for a ratio resistor like for leds.

4.Also how do you hide power wires?

My plan is for her to not have a clue until she starts her car she has a radio put in it so hopefully it will have RCA sub out. I will be building at my grandmas again, love it there better than my garage cause My dad and bro have their projects going.

[SirNickity]

2. What could I do as far as a passive highpass?

Don't bother.

3. What about limiting? ... do they make a resistor that limits voltage?

Nope. If you want HP and limiting, get or build an active processor. But, first question: Is it necessary? Is she a bass-head that's likely to bottom this thing out?

4.Also how do you hide power wires?

Pull up carpet and/or trim. It's not fun. Might ask an install shop to run the cable for you. It's less than a full install, and saves a lot of grief.

[DJ Higgumz]

Pull up carpet and/or trim. It's not fun. Might ask an install shop to run the cable for you. It's less than a full install, and saves a lot of grief.

it's forgiving we don't need massive 1g cable to run them!

[DJ Higgumz]

well here's 6 hours of work! I'm amazed at how fast I worked! it's funny these things are the same panel layout as the t60s!

imo this is the cleanest looking cab i've built. I could have finished, but forgot my sander at home and I want to sand the mouth before I put the last panel on. also it is 105'F and high humidity so 90% done i'm happy with. I plan on carpeting it, and the chamber will be white along with the mouth. I may led up the mouth but likely not because it is going in sideways so you won't see it. can't wait to trial run it! is it true that you can hear the driver being overdriven with the autotubas?

these pictures don't justify how small these cabs really are.

all my other chambers on previous cabs looks like I had a severe cold while building. achoo! I'm proud of this one.

flush is king

[DJ Higgumz]

I forgot to say I made the access cover larger to see the driver better.

[SirNickity]

Hauling ass brother. Nice job.

[DJ Higgumz]

thanks man! when you go from 2 t60s down to this you can expect it! mostly all circular saw cuts and pc nailer. I may look at doing a authorized builder's franchise, I could see knocking out like 3 a day, selling for maybe 500 or something. all my friends want me to build for them after hearing the damage my t39 does in a gym

[bassmonster]

.....

[DJ Higgumz]

Yea I got the itch to work again let's see how far I can go

[DJ Higgumz]

It is all done!!! woohoo! well not quite, I need to put carpet, binding posts, leds, and plexiglass . but the plexiglass is cut and drilled! I used 1/4'' acrylic stuff and it was 20$ for a 12x18 piece at fleet farm. I was worried about it spiderwebbing, but it didn't. I used a circular saw and had the blade as deep as it would go to prevent chipping. there never was a hint of cracking or chipping, maybe I was just paranoid.

with my access panel mod (widened it to panel 2/4 joint) I was able to install the driver effortlessly without a second access panel. that was with tnuts and hex screws. I don't know why bill has it so short

ready for carpet!

it seems my camera had color issues due to the vibrancy of the white! :D same with below pic!

say ahh!

[Gregory East]

Speedy! Lucky sister.

[DJ Higgumz]

well got to test it in grandpa's old buick! pretty insane, the mirrors were shaking! I had it in the trunk and put it in the back seat but I think it was actually louder in the trunk. anyways it is crazy how well it suits a car! outside you barely hear it, nothing rattles but inside it is very loud. plenty loud for my sister, but it wouldn't be loud enough for a basshead like me. for me enough bass is where you have ear pain. so it takes alot to do that. so if your lookin for alot of bass I would advise dual or tb loaded. which leads me to the bad news

I used a pro sound amp to power it for the first round, and a y splitter from my ipod to the xover and amp and to a radio transmitter to tune in the car speakers. my ipod jack is bad and if you handle it, it makes loud pops. well I was watching my amp level meter and I'd say with a pop it sent about 1200 watts to the little 8. no more bass. I was hoping a wire burnt due to high current, but they all checked out ok. so I buzzed off the access panel and sure enough I fried the voicecoil. I'm not too worried being its a 30$ driver, but that's 30$... so now I'm looking out for autotuba 8" drivers. if anyone has any, pm me. cheap tangband anyone?

[Tom Smit]

Ruh roh.

[J_Dunavin]

It's not limiting, but I ran an 80Hz tune through at max clean signal, not full tilt boso, then adjusted the amp gain until i reached proper voltage. Then i know if i stay under that max clean number I shouldn't kill my woofer.
this will give you a proper crossover with highpass:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AudioControl-2X ... 5c&vxp=mtr

or at least this:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdet ... er=266-248

PS nice box!!

[DJ Higgumz]

yeah when I set it up I will make it hard to go too high in volts. I just wish mcm would accept paypal