Mazda CX-5 AudioFrog GB series build evolves

[JCsAudio]

Thanks, the footprint at the bottom is I think 1-2 inches more and yes most of the gain in volume is in the height. I drove my truck into work this morning with the single ported 10 and it seems anemic now that I’ve experienced this beast in the CX5.

[JCsAudio]

Update:


I picked up a JL VX800/8i last week and have had some AF GB25 and GB10 on the shelf for a while now. My goal is the take this car from a 2-way to a 3-way, which currently runs the GB15 crossed to the GB60. I’ve been impressed with the three way in my daily driver pickup truck so naturally I want the same in my CX5. Ideally I’d like to have this ready for the upcoming great get together meet but there probably isn’t enough time considering my busy schedule and oppressive heat we’ve had.


What I’ll do is maybe compromise for now and mount the GB10 flush in the A-pillars off axis because it’s easy and mount the GB25 where the GB15 is now. It may not sound as good but hopefully with a good tune it can top the current 2-way combo. Eventually I think I want to mount the GB10 in the corner trim on axis that sits above the front door panel behind the A pillar. I’ve contemplated making A-pillar pods with fiberglass but honestly I’m not a fan and my A-pillars are flimsy to begin with. I prefer more of an OEM stealth look if possible. The other thing about this car is there really isn’t many options to mount a tweeter. Everywhere I think I can mount a tweeter presents challenges with something crammed behind it. Mazda used every square inch of this vehicle to hid something tight behind a finished piece.

Below GB25 next to GB15 going into that dash location.

This is where I will flush mount the GB10 for now for the meet and I know isn’t ideal.

This is where I think I will eventually mount the GB10 inspired by Apicella Auto Sound great work from their CX5 build.



I like the way these Have an OEM look and with this option they will be on axis. Problem will be getting the wiring through the factory molex connector, which will probably necessitate partial removal of the door to gain access.

[JCsAudio]

Well, I didn’t make as much progress as I had hoped. My wife decided to host a birthday party for her niece because the mother didn’t want to host it due to her fear of the virus or so she says. So I ended up paying for the cake and presents and her mother was nowhere to be found. Then I got nominated to install an antenna on the father-in-law’s house on his roof and had to run it all the way into the house and hook everything up,. And the final straw was one of the terminals on the pre-owned GB10 tweeters I bought has a stripped terminal screw so now I have to figure a way to fix that. As I tried to back it out it just kept turning in the hole. I hope it works and that’s the only thing wrong with it.


But at least I made some progress. Got the GB25 drivers mounted in the dash and the GB10 mounted in the A-pillars which will be a temporary solution unless I determine that they sound really good there.


Temporary location for GB10 in A pillar

Temporary location for GB10 in A pillar back side. This is why the AF speakers are awesome. Everything you need for a custom installation is included.

I was going to use ABS sheet to make mounting baffles for these but I couldn’t find some local so I used leftover 3/16 heavy vinyl flooring which was so easy to cut to shape. It won’t be seen so aesthetic‘s are not as important for my own car anyway. Function is far more important.

All ready to go.

Mounted in the dash.

[jtrosky]

What are you going to do about the hole you put in the a-pillar for the "temporary" GB10 mounting location?? Are you going to replace the a-pillar covers?

I'm with you on not wanting big a-pillar pods though. I just can't have those in my car - just ain't gonna happen. :-)

[JCsAudio]

What are you going to do about the hole you put in the a-pillar for the "temporary" GB10 mounting location?? Are you going to replace the a-pillar covers?

I'm with you on not wanting big a-pillar pods though. I just can't have those in my car - just ain't gonna happen. :-)

I purchased new A-pillar trim from Tasca Auto last year with the intent of installing tweeters semi custom into them and never followed through with it because I’m just turned off by anything fiberglass, lol. Since I have new A-pillars on hand I wasn’t afraid to drill the old ones and TBH they look pretty good. I was in my truck today and those are also installed in the A-pillars in a similar fashion and I’m satisfied with the way that system sounds so we’ll see. I was satisfied with the GB15 GB60 combo for a long time so any improvement on that will be very good.

[JCsAudio]

A week ago I was busy making a rather nice ported subwoofer box for someone else that will house a GB12. This box is tuned to 32 Hz and is constructed from high qaulity birch plywood. It has glued dado construction and is braced internally to the max and houses a flared round port. Everything is sealed or has gasket tape and it has 10 gauge wiring soldered with heat shrink wrap connections inside. I also filled it with some acoustic stuffing (just a little) and ResoNix squares and wrapped it seamlessly in a high qaulity carpet. I was testing it today in my CX5 and it sounds damn good. The guy getting this will be happy for sure. I made this one from scratch and designed it using BassBox Pro.

[JCsAudio]

Some pre carpet pictures too. I painted it to add some weather resistance and then sanded it a little to smooth it out before contact glue and carpet.

[DavidRam]

Very nice box, John!!

[JCsAudio]

Thanks David, the design is simple but the construction is solid.

[Cutaway]

I really like your attention to the construction of the enclosure. I also had to chuckle a little when i read you use BBPro to model your enclosures. I am a huge fan of that app but notice most people on the forum prefer other apps for enclosure modeling.