Just finished my Suitcase Stereo - PICS

[ballsie]

- 1960's samsonite Suitcase
- Pioneer 4 Channel Amp
- Blaupunkt 6x9's
- iphone
- NO STEREO

I made the custom enclosure for the 6x9's to fit in the suitcase along with the amp. I have the amp running through a switched fuse along with a toggle switch to turn it off while the car is running. The amp plugs directly into my iphone where i can stream Pandora or use the ipod feature.

It sounds good for what it is. I just dont want an ugly speaker box or a new car stereo in the dash.

_________________
bagged 64

[A-Wall]

very nice.

what are dimensions of that suit case?

do the speakers sound pretty good with the seat up?

i just picked up a small case at a thrift store. i'm not real sure if its big enough.

[ballsie]

The box inside the suitcase is about 20"x16"x5.5"

I dont think it would sound much better with the seat down. The top half of the 6x9's stick out above the back seat. Im thinking about painting the speaker grills to match the suitcase.

I have a new pair of 4x6's for the front, but I just dont know where to put them. im not cutting holes in anything and i dont want to see them, so its proving difficult to find a good spot for them.
_________________
bagged 64

[anthracitedub]

Cool little set up, yeah...you should paint the speaker grills, that way they sorta blend with the case.

[A-Wall]

[dbelkhart]

Did you put a smaal fan in the case to blow over the amp or vent the case to let heat out? Just wondered.
_________________
Banging on all four cylinders....

[hitest]

If those two 6x9s are sharing the same tight enclosure...

At higher volumes they are working at a fraction of their efficiency and sound quality. Wire one of them out of phase from the other for the meanwhile until you divide that enclosure- stat.
_________________

[andk5591]

[ballsie]

Im just going to throw a partition in there. Thanks for the tip. I thought it should sound better than it does.
_________________
bagged 64

[EODinert]

Very cool. I will be doing the same soon.
_________________
'61 rag top beetle, '73 type 181, '66 13 window deluxe

[andk5591]

Let me clarify - the partition is a good idea - Also load it up (not pack it in hard or anything) with fiberglass insulation. Do NOT wire them out of phase as was suggested even if sharing the same enclosure.

There's a lot to speaker enclosures - and what you are doing looks cool and will sound OK - but not great since its probably not tuned for the speakers - but so what? It looks bitchin, is very unique and was very nicely executed. Enjoy what you did....
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone 1914. Ex wifes car.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Ex-wifes car.
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[Bret Young]

The case will sound better sitting facing up in the back seat. The curved roof of the bug makes the sound echo.

I built mine the same way as you did but instead of putting the fugly grills on the outside, I made an internal box on the inside (tight fit so it wont rattle at all) and used a protractor to mark circles of equal amounts on the outside of the case directly over the speakers and drilled numerous holes in the top with a very small drill bit. So the case looks like nothing was ever done to it, has way for the sound to escape, and since the case didnt have the large holes drilled into it it makes for more of a enclosure making the suitcase louder.

Im running a 150w (1 channel, will be rebuilding it soon with a multi-channel) amp to 2 4-way 6x9's controlled by my ipod. Mines so loud that I cant listen to it in the car over half way on the iPod. I have longboard ride nights around town here in the summer, and we just put the case outside the bug and crank it. can be heard a 1/4 mile away on a still night.

The suitcases are a lot of fun. With mine being completely hidden underneath the case, I have had numerous people fall in love with them. I have mine, and have built 4-5 for numerous porsche 356 owners around.

I will try and get a picture for you of the two I have at my house at the moment (mine and one in process of being built)

[A-Wall]

yes pics please! i like the drilled holes idea.

[Bret Young]

Well mines outside and didnt feel like going out there so I will take pictures of that one when I get back in a few days. Here is one that I finished yesterday for a 356 friend of mine. Samsonite Leather suitcase with the whole internal box setup. Im not finished, still have to go back over the holes with a icepick and press the leather back into the holes and polish up the case.

Lets see if these pictures work.....here we go.

The case with the drilled holes:

[img]https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/686922.jpg[/img]

A shot of what you see when you unbuckle the latches and open the top:

[img]https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/686924.jpg[/img]

The flush mount input for an iPod cable or any other sort of media device:

[img]https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/686923.jpg[/img]

And then lastly a shot where you can see the amp is inside of the box (not sealed yet cause this was during a stage of final test fitting):

[img]https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/686926.jpg[/img]

Pretty fun. And when you go somewhere, you just unplug the cables and most people, unless they really look would never be able to tell. Mine is personally covered with stickers and I didnt use circle designs, I just drilled them in a uniform distance so the entire top just looks like texture. [/img]

[Bret Young]

Oh nuts. Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong? I read the thread on how to post pictures and I am still having the damnest time figuring this out......

[VolksFire]

Hmm. i dont seem to have any problems posting pics, using your same URL....

_________________
Jahnai Pearson - VW Restoration Technician
Current ownership:
60 Double Door Panel
63 Double Cab
63 Single Cab
67 SO42 Westfalia
73 Thing
76 Kombi
81 Dasher Wagon
82 Quantum Coupe
85 Quantum Syncro Wagon
96 Golf GL
98 Golf GL

[A-Wall]

[MAYHEM]

As A-Wall said. That fixed it. Very well done case.

[Bret Young]

Thanks for the kind words. They are fun to make and sell.

[83_WabbitGTI]