Car audio help: can I armor my sub?

[insta]

I'm putting a sub in my trunk. I still use my trunk, so I want to protect my sub, both from myself and vandalism. The box will be bolted in on 4 points, through the frame to deter theft. I've heard (and seen ) that when thieves get thwarted like this, they often take their aggression out on the sub, stabbing the bejesus out of the cone.

What I want to do is mount a piece of MDF in front of the sub to protect against that. I'll have ways to securely attach it without impeding airflow, I'm just wondering what a big thick piece of wood 4" in front of the speaker will do to the sound. If it'll negatively effect it in too big of a way, I'll go for a grille and a little more heartache down the road.

See attached picture for my idea

[Cal Weldon]

Moved to Car Audio section.

[mctavish]

Insure it and if something bad happens you can buy something better. Seriously, take pics, keep receipts, and insure your car audio. I learned the hard way.

[spooney]

you could always try it with and without the board and see. I don't think it would affect it that much to be honest. kinda like downfiring

[jol50]

Anything can be trashed. Back in the day I did some strange installs that needed protection. I would go get 1/2" chicken wire, it is more or less heavy 1/2" screen like you would wash stone over. Recess the sub and put this over it, staple and maybe screw it all the way around, you can near walk on the stuff, people can kick it by accident and you have no worries. If you carpet it try to make the opening larger. I used to use automotive felt over it, or the open back auto carpet.

Also if you really want to, you can do that in such a way that it is hard to determine where the sub is. You could make a raised panel all the way down the box with many holes in it, and screen and carpet the whole thing, cover your sub with it, or carpet the whole box the same. You can also run metal bars behind it for more support. Also if you make the box/grille from ply it will be much stronger than mdf.

You can double the stuff up to make it stronger, or lay 1/4" over it, grating under it, etc.


This stuff: http://www.critter-cages.com/images/Wire11.jpg

[Brain Fried]

Do a 5th order bandpass box then your woofer will be protected inside the box.

[Perry Babin]

If you want to reduce the chances of having your equipment stolen, shut it down about 1 mile before you park and never show it to anyone. There's no reason to advertise what you have if the installation was solely for your benefit.

[Andrew Eckhardt]

Build it so it can take a direct hit from a German 88mm cannon!

[DigitalJunkie]

Originally Posted by Perry Babin

If you want to reduce the chances of having your equipment stolen, shut it down about 1 mile before you park and never show it to anyone.

Wise advice. No need to 'advertise'. Also refrain from putting any audio-related stickers on your car. A big "Rockford Fosgate" sticker in the window just screams "steal me".

[TechnoBeaver]

Maybe move to a new town, maybe find some new friends.