I'm feeling like a good do-it-yourself project for the HHR, and building a sub box sounds like a good place to start. Does anyone have any good starting points? I've seen a few websites that SELL plans, but in the interest of keeping it cheap, I'd rather happen across someone's site that's just happy to share information. Is it even cost effective to build your own rather than buying a pre-built box and loading it with subs? I want a box that I can put 2 12's in, mount an amp to, and setup to be removed from the back hatch pretty quickly if the need for hauling room arrises.

 

unless you've built a sub box before, I would suggest purchasing one already made.

 

Yeah and it's usually cheaper to buy a pre-built box. Box building is fun though, except for the nasty MDF dust.

 

I highly recommend this one:



Its made by Audiobahn, has 2-10's rated @ 600-watts and puts out nice solid bass in an HHR. You can easily mount your amp in the rear tray below the removable floor panel and connect directly to the battery below (with proper fusing). This way you can simply disconnect the wires and pull the box at any time. (*Mounting amps to a sub box is never a good idea as the box's vibration directly affects the amp, causing increased distortion.)

I've been running my box for a year now with great results. Running a 300-watt Pioneer sub amp, I've never had to even push it hard to acheive plenty of volume. I've also had the opportunity to hear several HHR's with 2-12's in the back (with more power), and every one of them said my 2-10's sounded better. It's a much cleaner, and more defined bass in the HHR's small interior. Of course I sat in Chuck's DB HHR with 1100-watts running 2-12's - it had the hair on my arms standing up and vibrating!!! I would never want that for everyday drinig though...

My box and amp are for sale - but I wouldn't really want to ship them! (pricey!).

Hope it helps,

 

Is there a risk of the amp overheating in that tray? It doesn't seem like an area that gets alot of airflow. I like your setup, and I'm a big fan of 10's. I have two tens in a thunderform box in the rear cab of my 97 Dodge Dakota club cab and they thump hard. But I think I'm still leaning toward 12's with a pretty sturdy amp. Would anyone like to suggest a good dual 12 box? I see several by audiobahn on ebay.

 

No overheating in the tray whatsoever; it is vented as the battery sits in the area below. You can run 12's (or 15's or 18's!), of course, but the best sound in the HHR's boxy interior is with 2-10's IMHO. Running 12's in that small a space is very boomy.

 

Where is a good place to pick up a box like yours SoCalHHR?

 

Ebay is best - if you can find a 10" setup there.

Sometimes you have to wait a bit for a listing for them...

 

I have just a single Boston 10 in the back and it has lots of BOOM.

 

I had two amps running both my 8" sub and front/rear speakers and didnt encounter any overheating whatsoever.