Hidden amp mounting locations/ideas?

[Silentnoise713]

I would like my next mod to upgrade speakers and amp. The amp part and got me thinking about stealth mounting locations. Members seem to mount it under the 2nd row chair or on the rear parcel tray. Are there any other known workable locations?

I vac the car and noticed a few potential spots.

1. Under the glove box, there's some kind of module there taking up a lot of unnecessary space. I think this can be relocated and there'd be ample space. You need to make a mounting bracket for the amp since u don't want it upside down (heat rises).
2. Under the front driver/pass seat, where the lower rear heat vents out to the feet of the 2nd row. There’s potentially a large cavity that seems to filled with styrofoam to hold form. There's a good amount of circulation space too.
3. Top of center dash where the navigation would be (I don't have).
4. On the backside (inside) of the lift gate, under the cover - enough space?
5. Relocate spare to under the car and have the whole area for amp n sub. The underside seems to have enough space for a full size spare, but not sure if it will interfere with a hitch.

Anyone try these and/or know which work or have been elimiated in the past?

 

[dieseldriver]

Under seat mounting behind the first row will interfere with seats from folding properly on my 2012. I mounted mine on the tray underneath the trunk cover, seems to fit fine.

I would like my next mod to upgrade speakers and amp. The amp part and got me thinking about stealth mounting locations. Members seem to mount it under the 2nd row chair or on the rear parcel tray. Are there any other known workable locations?

I vac the car and noticed a few potential spots.

1. Under the glove box, there's some kind of module there taking up a lot of unnecessary. I think this can be relocated and there'd be ample space. You need to make a mounting bracket for the amp since u don't want it upside down (heat rises).
2. Under the front driver/pass seat, where the lower rear heat vents out to the feet of the 2nd row. Theres potentially a large cavity that seems to filled with styrofoam for form.
3. Top of center dash where the navigation would be (I don't have).
4. On the backside (inside) of the lift gate, under the cover - enough space?
5. Relocate spare to under the car and have the whole area for amp n sub. The underside seems to have enough space for a full size spare, but not sure if it will interfere with a hitch.

Anyone try these and/or know which work or have been elimiated in the past?

 

[Silentnoise713]

Under seat mounting behind the first row will interfere with seats from folding properly on my 2012. I mounted mine on the tray underneath the trunk cover, seems to fit fine.

Do you mean the 2nd row chairs? I don't like that location b/c I rather store other things there (the seat head rests are in there now). I'm referring to the driver and passenger seat and the last I checked, they don't fold -unless I missed something?. Look under the driver seat where the heat vents are. That area seems like a large cavity that is filled with hard Styrofoam. Take the foam out and you have a pocket, definitely deep enough and possibly wide enough for a smallish 4 channel amp (I have no interest in a large or mono amp).

 

[Davicho]

I'm not planning on doing this mod but...from my younger years of messing with audio stuff. I don't think it would be a good idea to mount any amp under there because of possible over heating since the heater vents are also there. Just my $0.02

 

[Sounbwoy]

What about the space IN the glovebox? There's a slot there at the top where a laptop can fit..at least there's one there on my 2010.

 

[dieseldriver]

You can mount it underneath the driver's or passenger's seat for most small amps. I opted not to because I tapped into the rear speaker wires for getting signal for my mono amp. So it was mounted on top of the plastic tray that covers the spare tire. It's fairly secure using industrial strength Velcro. If I had the time, I would have it mounted behind the rear passenger's side panel -- behind the removable plastic cover. I would have exposed just the side where there's fine tune control for the amp which I can get to behind the cover. It would probably required a special bracket or some sort to secure it in place however.

I guess it's your preference but I always tried to stay away from mounting anything underneath the seat.

Do you mean the 2nd row chairs? I don't like that location b/c I rather store other things there (the seat head rests are in there now). I'm referring to the driver and passenger seat and the last I checked, they don't fold -unless I missed something?. Look under the driver seat where the heat vents are. That area seems like a large cavity that is filled with hard Styrofoam. Take the foam out and you have a pocket, definitely deep enough and possibly wide enough for a smallish 4 channel amp (I have no interest in a large or mono amp).

 

[dieseldriver]

I guess the glove box works too. But if you look at most factory amps, it's mounted in the trunk area hidden behind the quarter panel normally. For sedans, it's mounted underneath the rear window deck, but not always.

What about the space IN the glovebox? There's a slot there at the top where a laptop can fit..at least there's one there on my 2010.

 

[dieseldriver]

I am not young but I had to add the amp and sub because the stock radio was missing that low's that I used to have on my German cars I owned previously. I listen to a lot of music and the bass/mid/treble response is very important to me. Also looking to upgrade the factory speakers with more sensitive ones to pull out a bit more highs and mids than the factory speakers which are needless to say, even on GT trim, not of decent quality.

I'm not planning on doing this mod but...from my younger years of messing with audio stuff. I don't think it would be a good idea to mount any amp under there because of possible over heating since the heater vents are also there. Just my $0.02

 

[Davicho]

I hear what you mean about the absent bass. I miss it also. I would however would love to find a flat woofer/amp combo unit that I can possibly mount either in the rear tray or inside one of the center row seat cubbies to provide bass.

 

[dieseldriver]

Once you get the amp installed, it's just matter of finding a sub enclosure that's small enough and hide it under the seat somewhere and run the speaker wire to it. You can also make your own sub enclosure if you really need a small one, and mount a small 8" sub in it. My problem with subs with built in amp such as Sound Ordanance or the Infiniti BassLink were that if the amp or sub goes in the self contained unit, the whole unit may have to be replaced which can be a pain - not to mention that at the end of the day, may not be all that smaller after all as it was explained to me by a radio tech that for a sub to sound good, it needs an enclosure that has to be of certain size at minimum. As it moves in the enclosure, it's building pressure within it which give it that bass-ness. The more air it can move for the given size such as 8, 10, 12 inch is better than having restricted space. I've also asked the tech about custom amp housing using factory panels and he basically said don't bother because it will rattle the panels like crazy. I've seen couple of videos where the person that installed the Sound Ordanance amp wanting to go with bigger subwoofer with an encloure.

I hear what you mean about the absent bass. I miss it also. I would however would love to find a flat woofer/amp combo unit that I can possibly mount either in the rear tray or inside one of the center row seat cubbies to provide bass.

 

[Silentnoise713]

Possible 6th location - where the power sliding door motor would be. Not easily accessibly/serviceable but not that much more difficult to get to. I would image there is a lot of space and air.

 

[twintrbo]

If you take off the rear 1/4 panel trim, there is a lot of space in there. Take off the cupholder and take a look, it just snaps out. Oh and no way on the hatch idea, you will never get all the wires through the rubber tubes and over time, the weight of the amp will drag the door down.

 

[yhzmazda5]

any thoughts on where to mount a larger amp - say about 12"x 8 1/2" X 2 1/4"? I have a 2012 Mazda 5 and have never put an aftermarket system in a vehicle before...