CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 11:29 pm Post subject: Bass shakers in my Mazda

So I put Aurasound bass shakers into my Rav years ago, and 300 K miles later, they're still doing fine.

So I bought 4 cheapies off eBay, Aura non Pro versions to put into the Mazda. I looked at doing that today, and ran into a snag. the way the Rav seats are designed, I was able to use a portion of a flat surface to mount the Auras to. In the Mazda, the seat bottoms are pretty curved, so I have no such luxury.

For those not in the know, the Auras need about a 3" X 3" surface area to couple to the seat/couch/ platform that you're wanting to use as the resonator. The more coupling area, the more effective they are.

So, basically, what I need to do is build the back side of a 9" C element up to be flat to mount the Auras to.

What do you recommend to do this with? One thought is to use epoxy or fibreglas to build the bottom of the seat up, and then bolt/screw the shaker to it.

For me, having worked in a very limited capacity with either material, this is advanced installation work for me.

Do I build a round/square base up that I cut out of cardboard, cut to the form of the seat, duct tape the cardboard mold to the bottom of the seat, put the seat upside down on my bench and pour in the mix? Will it adhere to a scuffed up steel frame of my seat? Or am I thinking all wrong here?

Thanks!

ecrabb · Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 3:43 am Post subject:

I tried reading your description of the Mazda seat a couple times, and I can't visualize what you're talking about. Snap a pic under the seat tomorrow, so we can see what you're talking about. Pouring epoxy in a mold on the bottom of the seat sounds like a really bad idea, but again - without seeing it.

I can't see how there isn't something you can attach the bass shaker to. Hell, the Aura "manual" even recommends mounting them to the floor itself (which I don't quite understand how you'd do, but I digress). Maybe a strip of .25" diamond-plate aluminum attached to the bottom of the seat rails or something. Or, a "tab" - a big square of aluminum - just big enough to hold the shaker, but catch one of the rear seat bolts on a corner.

SC

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 1:04 pm Post subject:

I'd have to pull the seat out again, and that won't happen for 2 weeks. Basically, there's no flat surface on the seat to bolt the shaker to, so the question is how to build up a curved area of the seat to make it flat. Yes, not having looked online, I did think of screwing the shakers to the floor, but I'd think that the coupling between the floor pan and seat isn't a whole pile. I'd rather bolt the shaker right below my butt. Smile

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 2:59 pm Post subject:

You any good with wood working Curt? You could customize the hell out of a piece of plywood to make it fit under the seat and bolt the bass shaker to that.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 6:02 pm Post subject:

No, I SUCK at woodwork, but it's a good idea, I might try that. Since the bottom curvature of the seat is uneven, that's why I was thinking that fibreglass or epoxy would be the way to go..

ecrabb · Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 6:36 pm Post subject:

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 7:24 pm Post subject:

It's a metal seat, you don't see the cushioning from the bottom side.