bpsmith Posted October 17, 2003 Report Share Posted October 17, 2003 I have not taken off the rear side panels of my A3 to check as sounds like a bit of a job just to check what is behind there, but would I manage to get a pair of 8" 3 ways in there? I have a pair of nice Pioneer's left over from when I traded in my old car and wondered if they would fit behind the side panels without any mods or them being obvious? I dont want to mess about with getting the panels off before knowing if they will fit!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartzA3 Posted October 17, 2003 Report Share Posted October 17, 2003 If anyone could answer aswel. Whats that sub box thing in the passenger side of the boot (In panelling)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spearcey Posted October 17, 2003 Report Share Posted October 17, 2003 [ QUOTE ] If anyone could answer aswel. Whats that sub box thing in the passenger side of the boot (In panelling)? [/ QUOTE ] It's exactly that, a small sub. The A3 has an active speaker system in the back, line level output runs from the head unit into an amp that drives the rear speakers and the 'sub' in the boot cubby hole. It's there in the non-Bose system, though not worth the space it takes up, and a slightly better version is there for the Bose system which I think has two drivers in the sub. The Bose system may also drive the front speakers too, but I'm not sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartzA3 Posted October 17, 2003 Report Share Posted October 17, 2003 Ok, how do I connect it up to my Pioneer head unit? I had my stereo installed 'professionally'! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spearcey Posted October 20, 2003 Report Share Posted October 20, 2003 [ QUOTE ] Ok, how do I connect it up to my Pioneer head unit? I had my stereo installed 'professionally'! [/ QUOTE ] The general concencus from all I've read on the forums is that connecting it up is a complete disaster. I suspect that the answer you'd get from any decent installer is exactly that. The Audi amp causes all sorts of pop's and crackles when the HU is turned on etc. Also the enclosure for the sub is very cheap thin plastic and therefore distorts badly. From my initial experience of trying to use the existing active rear speaker system with my alpine HU, where I got terrible alternator whine due to poor grounding of the audi amp, I'd definitely agree it's going to be hell, so not worth bothering with. I have a non-Bose system that I've replaced the HU and all the speakers and not bothered with the sub box thing - it gives much more bass than the stock system. I'm not really into ear bleeding bass so I'm happy so far. I would suggest that if big bass is what you're looking for, and you don't need all the boot space, then a sub box and an aftermarket sub/amp in the boot is probably the only thing that you'll be happy with. I can't do this as I need every bit of space in the boot that I can get. (I'm even considering removing the redundant audi sub thing to free up cubby hole space). Hope this saves you from wasting your time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisT Posted October 20, 2003 Report Share Posted October 20, 2003 If you have a wiring loom adaptor then the sub will be connected. It works off the same feed as the rear speakers, but as others have said its really a waste of time. a single 6" cone stuck in a sealed enclosure inside another box ain't going to generate a lot of noise. Cheers, Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpsmith Posted October 20, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2003 Anybody fancy replying to my question at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt R Posted October 20, 2003 Report Share Posted October 20, 2003 [ QUOTE ] Anybody fancy replying to my question at all? [/ QUOTE ] I don't think 8" will be possible without a lot of work! A mate of mine had Diamond Audio Hex 6.5" components in his and they were a right pain in the arse to install, Fibreglassing etc!!! Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted October 20, 2003 Report Share Posted October 20, 2003 Had mine out a while back. Put 6,5" and that was no problem. You'll have to build a frame and make it airtight. Can't remember the depth, but I don't think I had all that much more to go on with the 6,5". Anyway, good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spearcey Posted October 21, 2003 Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 [ QUOTE ] Anybody fancy replying to my question at all? [/ QUOTE ] This is a quote off the other site under another thread on speakers :- "...if you make your own MDF spacer rings for the rears you can actually fit 8" units in there, there's loads of space behind those rear panels, if you remove the polystyrene, and fill the cavity with loft insulation you can get really good sound, worthwhile fitting small tweeters higher up as these units are fairly low-down." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartzA3 Posted October 21, 2003 Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 [ QUOTE ] Anybody fancy replying to my question at all? [/ QUOTE ] Opps! Sorry Smithy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebe3 Posted October 21, 2003 Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 BpSmith.... I have actually bought a set of chunky 6.5" component speakers which i will very soon be putting in the rear speaker locations of my audi A3 1998 1.6se. Mounting space required for these will be 18cm diameter, and 10.3cm depth. These are huge, with a 13oz magnet and i need to find space for the crossovers and tweeters as well! If you'd like, i could take a few pics and tell you how much space there is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perchy1 Posted October 22, 2003 Report Share Posted October 22, 2003 hello, I am going to do exactly the same, i have some 6.5" Rockford Fosgate Mids to go in there if you could send me the pictures that would be great, are you putting any in the front door cards aswell?. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebe3 Posted October 22, 2003 Report Share Posted October 22, 2003 Yes, i have recently put 5 1/4" components in the door cards. I had bought mounting brackets for them, but they made the depth of the magnet too much to replace the door card! A bit of ingenuity, fibreglass filler, homemade steel brackets, sound deadening and JB weld were necessary. The tweeters and crossovers were easy enough to mount though. I will have the door cards off today, so ill take some pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpsmith Posted October 23, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 lol MARTZA3! I was just messin thats all! If anyone doing this swap sometime soon would like to take some pics then that would be excellent so I can see what is behind there before I start messing with mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebe3 Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 I have now upgraded my whole system. 5 1/4 inch components in the front, 6 1/2 inch components in the rear(tweeters installed in the perfect place under the rear grille next to the parcel shelf)and one 12 inch sub. The sub is run by its own amp, and the 2 sets of components run by a 1000watt 4 channel amp. My aim was to have everything look standard so i kept the original audi head unit and cd changer. If anyone has any questions then please ask. A few photos follow. (((this photo of the front door card is without dynamat))) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebe3 Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 Here is a pic of the nearside rear quarter panel with dynamat(compulsory) and crossovers installed. P.s this system is amazing! there is not a hint of distortion, no rattles at all nothing bad at all. i have heard good sterros in my time, but .... well, im speechless! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebe3 Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 Heres what it looks like behind the rear quarter panel. I wiil post pictures of the subtle boot install as soon as it is fully completed. I would be interested to see if anyone else has done such an install and kept the standard head unit...... let me know please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perchy1 Posted October 25, 2003 Report Share Posted October 25, 2003 Excellent pictures, i will be fitting my system soon. When i have done it i will post my pictures too, looks like we have the same car silver 1.8SE!!!. Where were the clips for the rear quarter cards??. Laters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebe3 Posted October 25, 2003 Report Share Posted October 25, 2003 Cheers! there are eight in total, and if you look carefully you can see them all on the pic i posted above. I found the hardest thing was lifting the rubber window surround without damaging the "furry" coating mine gas on it.( it helps if you open the rear window) Look forward to seeing your pictures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpsmith Posted October 25, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2003 Thanks for the pics. It looks like I may have to wait until after Christmas to sort mine out as not got a lot of time to spare until then and add to fact that the 8" Pioneer's I had from the last car may not fit as first thought. Cant wait to get some time to look further into this. The standard system seems to cope quite well though but does have its rattles and distortion at the best of times. Glad someone has sorted theirs though! Has anyone tried to replace the standard sub with another one as a straight swap? Not sure if this would work or get any improvements but dont want to use up any of the boot space like I did in my last car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomk Posted October 27, 2003 Report Share Posted October 27, 2003 I want to do something similar, i have swaped the front speakers and dynomated the front doors , did not use components just good 2 ways, and kept the original tweeters, have not touched the rear speakers, or the sub, but swaped the HU for my alpine unit, sounds really nice, but need to sort out the sub and the rear speakers, so what do you sugest for the rears? at the moment they are still running active through the little amp at the back, not sure if i just replace them what will happen as my local car sterio place reconds they may not work as they may be active speakers, so what do i do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo-S3 Posted October 27, 2003 Report Share Posted October 27, 2003 Paul, did u use that fluffy carpet underlay as a sound deadening material on ur rear panel ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebe3 Posted October 27, 2003 Report Share Posted October 27, 2003 Well i used an equivalent to dynamat underneath it, as well as on the actual metal panels of the skin. I just put that stuff that came on it back over the dynamat when i had finished..... dont know why really, just figured it wouldnt do any harm! hehe. MoS3.... do you have any amps/subs in your boot? The reason i ask is that i am in the middle of doing a boot install and wouldnt mind seeing someone elses. The problem i always hate is having to make the spare wheel accessible! False floors put me off for acessibility and cooling reasons(fans etc!). This install im doing works on the basis of it folding with the rear seats to allow access to the wheel. Ill take some pics if your interested.. keep safe dude! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo-S3 Posted October 27, 2003 Report Share Posted October 27, 2003 Paul, im running the standard Bose amp and sub and to be honest its very good. Using the line converter from the head unit straight into amp. Much much better sound quality than the original HU. With my HU i can tailor set the bass mids and treb as well as have the microphone run a test tone for acoustic diagnostics. If i were to install an amp then id just fit in the place of the original bose amp and make a custom box to fit in place of the original. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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