Avant custom subwoofer install

[Stubek]

Not sure where to post this, Avants only, Audio, B8, so its here.

I needed more bang than the Wang and Ollufson offered, but options were limited. I did not want to move lots of stuff in the car and I did not want to loose my cargo space. So, local shop built a box using the right rear panel.
He moved the 12volt outlet to the next panel over, took out the panel with the little cargo net, and removed the back of that panel. He then made an MDF piece to hold the sub and started fiber glassing the box. Not sure how many coats in the end, he worked the box for over a week letting it cure between applications.
He also reinforced the factory hook that holds the panel in. There is no flex to the panel at all now that he is done with it and it is a sealed box.
We mounted an Image Dynamics 10" sub in the box.
He had to put new carpet on and it is almost a perfect match to the factory carpet. He can't use the factory carpet because it does not stretch much.
On the other side of the car, we mounted a Phoenix Gold Small Block 600W amp in the factory bracket just below the B&O amp and above the Nav equipment.
Finally, we put a sub volume nob upfront by the cup holders. It had a blue LED in it that I have since removed and might put a red LED in.
Here are the pictures.


The Sub and panel







So far, I am loving this. I listen to most types of music, rock, metal, classical, classic rock, some techno. It is great. I can hear a full orchestra now in the classical, I can hear the bass lines in rock and metal and the techno is just nuts!

[xbimmer06]

Impressive setup there. Looks oem! Sure it sounds superb.

[cory_can]

Awesome setup...just what I was looking for! How easy is it to pull the box out to get to the fuse panel? Would it be possible to see pics of the back of the box?

[1RAudiSQ5]

That looks great man! Having an Avant also, it is nice you still have all your space. Do you have something to block thing from damaging the sub?

[Stubek]

Awesome setup...just what I was looking for! How easy is it to pull the box out to get to the fuse panel? Would it be possible to see pics of the back of the box?

I'll try to get pics later this week. The box is tight, you have to get under the molding a little, but once you do, it pops right out. He wanted to make sure with the extra mass and my crazy driving it did not come out during cornering.

That looks great man! Having an Avant also, it is nice you still have all your space. Do you have something to block thing from damaging the sub?

I do have a grill. Image dynamics does not make one, so we are fabing an alpine one to go over it.

[MilesM]

Such an awesome addition.

[Jason H]

Really nice clean install, the use of a factory volume knob is great.

[Blake P]

That's tight! Love how well integrated it is with no loss of utility.

[Scorpio]

very clean job

[voxito]

Really nice clean install, the use of a factory volume knob is great.

my thoughts exactly. where'd you get the knob?

[TofuShop]

looks amazing. how much did this cost you? i wonder if this can be done on a non-B&O B8

[Stubek]

my thoughts exactly. where'd you get the knob?

Stupid nob is $50+ from ecstuning. Its $57 at the stealer, but really wanted it

looks amazing. how much did this cost you? i wonder if this can be done on a non-B&O B8

Yeah, you can do this on the base sound system too.

[MiracleWhips]

That is a $50 chip well played sir, doing it right usually means spending some cash!

Looks amazing!

[NPuter]

I was wondering why you needed a volume know

Looks great! (I bet it sounds great too )

[Stubek]

I was wondering why you needed a volume know

Looks great! (I bet it sounds great too )

The volume nob is an independent volume control of the sub so I can change it every song if I have to (rare to do that) without having to go in to the MMI and lower the bass setting.

[NPuter]

The volume nob is an independent volume control of the sub so I can change it every song if I have to (rare to do that) without having to go in to the MMI and lower the bass setting.

I know that lol... I was referring to the thread you posted asking for the PN of the volume knob

[Stubek]

I know that lol... I was referring to the thread you posted asking for the PN of the volume knob

DUH
I was drinking nyquil instead of coffee this morning, so not fully functional

[scottyuk]

Nice use of the car's space!

How easy is it to stick an amp and sub into the B&O setup? i.e. what feeds are taken etc?

[Stubek]

Nice use of the car's space!

How easy is it to stick an amp and sub into the B&O setup? i.e. what feeds are taken etc?

Not sure where he picked up the sound feed from, I will call him and ask him later today.

[cory_can]

What sub volume control did you use? The OEM knob was a great choice and well worth the extra bucks. If I end up adding a sub I plan on installing the knob where that ridiculous "coin holder" is, directly above the volume knob. I'm assuming you used a line converter tapped into the existing B&O sub speaker wire....which one did you go with?

EDIT: Sorry for the repeat question regarding line converter....I guess I was slow on the submission :)

[Stubek]

that spot above stock nob is a coin holder? I thought it was a vent? I might move the volume nob up there.

The volume nob is the one that comes with the amp I bought.
Also, the volume nob is not in its true final location. The housing is just a little too big, so I was going to sand down the sides so it sits all the way forward, but now I might not and I might put it under the coin holder.

[Cherub]

The volume nob is an independent volume control of the sub so I can change it every song if I have to (rare to do that) without having to go in to the MMI and lower the bass setting.

Nice sound setup. Do you have the bass level on the MMI set to low, mid or high with volume nob added? Are you planning on replacing the interior speakers as well?

[cory_can]

LOL....yes, it's a coin holder. You're not the only one that thought it was a vent....there's a whole thread with others that thought the same thing :)

http://a6retrofit.tripod.com/article...steryvent.html

[quality_sound]

Clean. That's exactly how I'm going to do mine...unless I say screw it and install all 3 of them. ;)

[Stubek]

Just talked to the shop. The feed to the new sub runs directly off the factory sub under the spare tire.

Nice sound setup. Do you have the bass level on the MMI set to low, mid or high with volume nob added? Are you planning on replacing the interior speakers as well?

I have the bass level on MMI at mid. I probably won't replace any other interior speakers for now. It seems pretty good. I was quite happy with the rest of the B&O, it just lacked bang for me.

[cory_can]

Just talked to the shop. The feed to the new sub runs directly off the factory sub under the spare tire.

It would have to be fed to the amp via a high/low converter.....it converts the speaker level signal entering the B&O sub (post amplification, processing, x-over) into a low voltage signal used by the new amp.

[Stubek]

cory_can,
Is there a filler plate to go where the coin holder is? That would be awesome.

[Cherub]

Just talked to the shop. The feed to the new sub runs directly off the factory sub under the spare tire.


I have the bass level on MMI at mid. I probably won't replace any other interior speakers for now. It seems pretty good. I was quite happy with the rest of the B&O, it just lacked bang for me.

I can only imagine the crisp sound of the woofer. Thanks

[cory_can]

cory_can,
Is there a filler plate to go where the coin holder is? That would be awesome.

Sorry, none that I know of.

[Greg Nelson]

Very good looking install, neighbor
Disco music?
Cheers

[1_clean_Audi]

so no more B&O sub or amp? i like it everything looks so factory! this is what i need to do to my b&O ,but i wish i culd control teh sub volume from teh original center consol knob

[Stubek]

I still have the B&O sub and amp in the car, not planning on pulling them out.
the sub does work on the stock nob also and goes up and down with the rest of the speakers, the extra nob is really to control the bass level, but it is only connected to the sub.

[Jdaly9056L]

Very nice set up! Im looking into something for my sedan that looks as OEM as that! great job! If you have any "during construction" pics that would be awesome!!

[Stubek]

No during construction photos. There is a company called Los Labs making a box for the back left panel. A few people have had pretty good luck with it, but a few have had major issues, I know at least two Avant owners that the box did not fit for. You might still have to move lots of electronics and I did not want to move stuff.

[Stubek]

cory_can, do you know how to get that coin holder out? Do I have to remove the entire console?

[cory_can]

cory_can, do you know how to get that coin holder out? Do I have to remove the entire console?

Cory is fine :)

You might be able to pop it out from the top but the safest thing would be to pop up the MMI and get it out from underneath. I've gone through the entire process (when I replaced my MMI trim) and it's a bit of a bitch....but just popping the MMI out is very easy.

See: http://ocarbon.com/blog/2010/06/b8-a...removal-guide/
Start at picture 8 and you should only need to go to picture ~17 (when the MMI panel comes off)

[Stubek]

cool to see that come out like that.
One thing, that "Hook tool" is NOT the way to go on the climate control. If you feel underneath on the right side, there is a finger hole that you just put your finger in and pull it right forward.
I will try that. Probably going to be 3 weeks before the nob comes in, but the plan is to do a 3D scan of the coin holder. Use Autocad to make the top flat, then take the beveled edge for the stock nob and copy and paste it in the middle then copy and paste it rotated in the middle, then 3D print it. The hard part will be painting it to look like the rest of the center console.

[Jdaly9056L]

Just went to my local stereo place and was quoted me 750.00!!!! just for a custom fiberglass box that could fit an 8 inch subwoofer that would go in the trunk in that spot where the amp is now... is that price insane or around what you paid?? im temped to now just make my own fiberglass box even if i mess up a few times it woul still be cheaper then 750... the total job would have cost me 1500 to 2000... thats a bit rough for me...

trying to find other options at this point...

[Stubek]

My box was $500, but I gave the guy two weeks to make it, not just a day or two. If he did it normal schedule, would have been a couple hundred more.

[quality_sound]

Yep. Perfect ecample of the quality pyramid. I've done 8" custom boxes for $600 and as low as $250. Just depends on what they want and how fast they want it.