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Getting ready for my first Prius SQ audio upgrade: Infinite Baffle 15s, Dynaudio front end?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by BuickGN, Aug 21, 2018.

  1. BuickGN

    BuickGN Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2018
    25
    48
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    Location:
    Los Osos
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I've got a bit of experience with sound quality setups but I've never done an install in a Prius. This is going to be a sound quality setup that I can have fun with once in a while and never lose it's composure. I prefer large subs, lots of cone area, because with all else being equal, distortion is lower and efficiency is higher. When the pair only have to move a couple mm to put out a good bit of sub bass, even cheap subs will have relatively low distortion. Its the install of the subs I worry about the most. I'll probably do a Dynaudio Esotar 3-way front end with some small and efficient class D amps that will fit under the seats like the JL HD series and the processor is up in the air, I've been out of the game for a couple years and I'm sure there are some new and better processors out there since my last setup.

    The main question I have is has anyone else done an infinite baffle subwoofer setup in one of these cars? IB = no subwoofer enclosure, just separating the front wave from the rear wave, usually venting the rear into the trunk with the trunk sealed off from the cabin or in the case of the Prius, the rear (or front) wave would likely have to be vented to the outside world. It's definitely not the optimal setup without a separate trunk and cabin. I'm set on IB, nothing like the incredible natural effortless and accurate bass on every type of music. Plus, at over 40, I refuse to lose any of my cargo space to subwoofers as I did many years ago and it's nice to be able to have a pair of 12s or 15s and retain all cargo area with minimum weight gain. For example, in my last car which had a traditional trunk, I had a pair of 15s mounted to an MDF baffle board behind the rear seat. The board was sealed to the car so the cabin and trunk were sealed off from one another or there would be cancellation and a loss of efficiency. The trunk could vent to atmosphere, it is not supposed to act as an enclosure which is what I'll try to do in the Prius.

    Hopefully it's been done before and there's an easier way but from what I can see, it's going to potentially be a single 15 in the spare tire area with minimal cutting to vent the rear wave to the atmosphere. The other way I see to do it is to do a sort of "cargo cover" made of MDF with carpet, housing the subs just like my other car but with them vertical, about level with the tops of the rear seats and able to easily lift up (hinged?) with the hatch. The ones I'm looking at are 17lbs each as they have very light cones and don't need to fight the air spring of an enclosure. The other option might be multiple 12s mounted closer to the high voltage battery flush with the floor and venting under the carpet and out of the car at a convenient spot. I really want to go the direction of lots of cone area. No less than a typical 15 with ~800cm^2 of cone area and ideally twice that much. The other direction would be a long throw smaller sub but that would require more power and cost more for a longer linear stroke. Definitely an option if there's no way for the larger subs such as a JL W6 or W7 which sound absolutely amazing when the enclosure is deleted. .

    So basically, has anyone done an IB setup in a Prius before, preferably with two 15s so I can get some ideas as to how to mount them? I'm going to remove everything from the rear of the car to see what my options are. If it ends up being a single 10" sub, so be it, as long as there's no enclosure taking up room in the "trunk". Sorry for the scattered first thread.
     
  2. Radiospank

    Radiospank Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2013
    152
    70
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    looks like you are the first, Good luck and I'll be checking back in.
     
  3. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,103
    4,032
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    The only concern that I can think of with sound pressure level low frequencies is how it affects the HV bat air intake and the exhaust end that goes out to the spare. When your in a car with a lot of bass, I mean a lot, you can't even breath therefore the intake won't drawl in air to cool the HV battery. If your a person thats not into loud SPL sound systems, do a search on youtube for that. Car windows and pillars appear like rubber bending with bass, that's how crazy subwoofer systems are now.