MUST use techniques - Mounting an Amplifier to a Subwoofer Enclosure

You have a sub box in your car audio install. Is it ok to mount your amplifier to the subwoofer enclosure or will the vibrations be an issue? How can you attempt to minimize the vibrations? Mounting an amp to the box is at your own risk, but here are some tips if you don't have any other options.

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[itsruf]

My 2¢: (I have 2 degrees in the sciences)
1) if your sub is vibrating the entire car, your gonads and the cake shop across the street then it is also vibrating the amps wherever they are.
2) try rubber stand-offs on the amp mount tabs. It will reduce some vibration and helps you sleep better.
3) 130 - 150 hz is best for your gonads.

[urbinascaraudio]

Been mounitng amps on boxes for over 20 years, no problems yet..💯

[darren]

Good to read so many have mounted amps to boxes without problems. I'm looking to do the same in my new Nissan Rogue. I want the entire 'upgrade' (woof + amp) to be removable when needed for rear storage. Plus, the projects Mark does here have amps in the boxes and look nice.

[bugman]

Simple mass is another way to allow for mounting the amp onto the box. Something as simple as another piece of MDF that is glued and/or screwed to the outside of the box, effectively doubling the thickness of the enclosure's wall. By doing this, you have dramatically reduced the flex and vibration that the specific wall will have. Allows for a very easy solution, whether it be on a pre-made box or one you are design/building.

[tjablaj]

In a car there are a lot of weak thin metal. This metal is not close to as rigged as a good built sub box. In fact, i think the sub box is the thing in the car that vibrates less than anything else, but only if it is correctly built ofc with bracings on large flat areas. I have mounted my amps on the sides of sub boxes many times and yet had no problem with it. The worst problem is that if you want to take the sub out you have to disconnect all wiers from the amp. I think you forgot to say that increaseing the thickness of the wood helps killing the vibrations as well. Good vid mark!

[marcellushoods]

Agree 100% Mark. I have installed ON and OFF Sub Boxes, no serious issues, but prefer OFF Box. High SPL installs vibrate everything in any case. Rubber spaces, fantastic suggestion !!

[williamprice]

In almost 30 years, yeah I’m old lol! I’ve never had an issue with mounting amps to the sub box. That said, I haven’t considered rubber isolators. I’m in the planning stage of my next system. While I am not going to mount the amp to the sub box I am now considering those devices as an extra means of protecting my amps.

[beaconblues]

I've had my mono and 4 channel amps mounted to 2 enclosures on each side of my trunk since 2017 and have had no issues. I did install large (1") rubber dampers but no reinforcements.
Pioneer GM -9601 and a Pioneer GM-8604 mounted on 2 unported enclosures with 2 10 inch Infinity Kappa Perfect v2 subs.

[suprola]

I cut plywood slightly smaller than the back of my box. Wrapped it in matching carpet and then mounted my amps to it. I then used French cleats to “hang” it on the back of the box. I used the cleats on the top and bottom of my amp board, so it kinda locks into place.

[Stevejihad]

By mounting the amp to the enclosure, you also made a convenient “easy” to remove all in one package for any would be thieves. Snip. Grab. Go. Aside from all of the reasons mentioned in the video. When installing for my customers, I always suggest alternate locations.

[derekaaustin]

I have been in car audio for 20 years. I had to mount amps on sub boxes and had no issues. I have a 4K on a box with 2 18s right now. I just try to isolate it the best i can. Also, i build my boxes where there is no flex from the start. Also the quality of an amp is a major factor.

[SSMan-jotf]

I’ve personally had components rattled loose inside an amplifier when mounting this way. The amp was repaired and I used isolators in remounting, no more issues. Stereo was a 146DB system

[danielcarter]

Glad to see you trying to better a situation instead of straight condemning it

[louiemares]

I was following you on everything until you said use your imagination and I got completely lost because I have no imagination according to my wife

[MadDragon]

I haven't had my system hooked up for over a year now, but I still think about the issues we have, like this one and now I have a theory that may help you if you insist on mounting your amplifier to your sub enclosure.

The idea is simple it's just going to take more time mounting.
What you would want to do is soft mount an mounting plate with the soft bushings on the upper and lower side of the mount and to the subwoofer enclosure and then soft mount the amplifier to the soft mounted mount.
This is double dampened. It's going to be more effective if you use the bushings on the top and bottom to isolate the vibration that is traveling through the screws to the metal of the amp.

[joseluisruiz]

I've never had an issue when I did it in the past. But now I try to do stealth systems and hide the amps and subs if possible, so I find panels within the car or SUV that I can put stuff in it as big as the amp or amps are and put them there. Thankfully i never had any Temperature increase issues with the amps tucked in behind a closed panel. But this is some awesome I formation. By the way I got my CAF shirt yesterday from Teespring. I LOVE

[marcossoliz]

The way I do it is add another wall of 1 inch of ply wood to the side you mount your amp paint it similar to the box and fasten thourghly, then and groumets, spacers and double up and fasten amplifier, that means your amp is not directly connected to the outside wall of the original box, and the groumets and spacers keep off the second wall, which might be vibrating but definitely not flexing... also depends how much power your running.. smaller systems are A LOT more safer doing this... and definitely helps MASSIVELY!!!! 💯👍

[TheInvaderDust]

I tend to discourage it when a customer asks me about mounting an amp to a box. I use the term "Sonic Assault" and advise to give some distance. But the counter points you gave in your video at the end, I cant really argue.

[RMIXMODZ]

In my opinion, I think maybe people who hit 155+ dbs should probably do something different with their amplifiers. Otherwise its probably not a huge deal

[torlandmusiq]

Isn’t the powerful bass vibrating and flexing everything anyways?