Workshop 3... Making podiums for high-frequency speakers on stands.

Why do you need to make podiums for speakers in a car with your own hands? There are several answers to this question. A podium for dynamic drivers is needed when the car owner plans to change the configuration of the speaker systems. This may include increasing the number of speakers or installing new, more powerful devices that are too large to fit into the old footprint. In addition, by making a podium for the speakers with your own hands, you can choose any direction of the sound flow of the speaker. It can be aimed forward, upward or towards rear seat passengers.

Installation structures for loudspeakers are divided into internal and external. The internal seat is located on the door, front panel or ceiling of the cabin. External podiums are designed to accommodate high-power speakers and have a heavier construction. Speaker mounting locations must meet certain requirements. Structural elements should not impede the free circulation of air inside the acoustic space, otherwise this will create interference when reproducing low frequencies. There should be no “tunnel” in front of the diffuser, which significantly worsens the sound quality.

Making podiums for acoustics

Speakers on the doors are usually installed at the factory, taking into account the subsequent installation of the podium.
This is a fairly popular area of ​​tuning. The production of podiums for acoustics is usually made to order, because it is easier and better to adjust the product to the features of the body. Moreover, it is better to order the production of door podiums if you decide to replace the factory speakers measuring 10, 13 or 16 centimeters with wider ones. And of course, custom-made products will look great in the salon. Making podiums for car acoustics by professionals takes from 1 day, including installation. First, the craftsmen clarify your wishes and immediately take the car to work. They cut out or take ready-made circles, make a housing into which the speaker will be inserted, and use stands screwed with self-tapping screws for fixation.

You can install several speakers in the door. Making acoustic podiums involves manually adjusting the shape so that the door does not change in size or you can create an interesting design for it. To make a podium for the speaker, in addition to the plywood base, polyurethane foam and putty, epoxy resin poured onto a material like nylon or composite plasticine are used.

DIY crafts for car enthusiasts

Podiums in the corners of mirrors look prettier, do not take up much space for viewing and more or less provide some kind of scene

The price of all podiums is approximately the same, from 2500 to 3500 rubles. Regardless of whether these are small podiums in the corners of mirrors or large ones with 2 speakers and a horn. And somehow it became a pity to pay 3 rubles for some small podiums in the corners(

After which I came to the conclusion that I would do it myself, without experience or special skills, relying on articles from forums and advice from good people.

The first thing we needed was spacer rings, the average price on the Internet for a pair of rings is 400 rubles, and again the price is not encouraging ((Based on this, I thought, I’ll make them myself! Unfortunately, I don’t have a router and there’s no one to get one from either , the idea came to make rings from epoxy resin

the price of epoxy is 160 rubles, the instructions inside are all clear and understandable how to do it! (field ether is hard to find, and they say that it stinks very strongly and you need to work with it quickly, since it hardens much faster

Unfortunately, I didn’t film the manufacturing process, but in the end we got this ring (in short, I took the horn itself as a basis, covered it with masking tape, made a sealed ring around it from paper and poured epoxy into it. It was difficult just to remove the ring itself from the horn, I had to use a little brute force)

So as not to have to worry so much about the second ring, I made a cast of the first one using sealant.

Then an amplifier was purchased for the whole thing.

Next, I tried on the ring and set its direction (directed to the center of the car at ear level)

Only glue gun and only hardcore

Added foam and removed the house, time to tighten it up!

For the tight fitting you needed: tights, a tube of super glue and thread. From little experience I can say that it is better to take thicker ones and do them in 2 layers! Ideally, buy lycra or supplex from a studio, but in general, any fabric that stretches well in both directions is suitable.

Try it on and coat it with epoxy

This is what happened as a result. Apply a couple more layers for strength and sand with coarse and fine sandpaper.

I made a template for the pattern, since the shape is heavy without seams. I had to do one line.

I bought a deputy leather at the studio, it took 160 rubles (w 150 cm, d 40 cm) from this you can cover about 6 of these podiums! Fitted it, secured it with office clips

I tried everything on. And again the question is what to glue the skin to? You can use titanium, of course, but it’s unlikely to withstand high temperatures in the sun and the skin will swell, there is also a special glue for leather under the brand 88. I’ll be honest, I tried everything, but it didn’t lead to anything good and ruined about 4 finished patterns (titanium is too thick and it’s hard to get rid of excess glue (88 glue is very sticky and you won’t be able to stretch the skin onto the podium) And epoxy came to the rescue

In the end, everything turned out great! There’s nothing particularly complicated, everything was done by trial and error, the only thing that took a lot of time and nerves was this. Sometimes I thought about breaking everything and ordering it online

Here :

Examples of custom-made podiums

What you need to know about podiums

So:

• Acoustic podiums have many advantages. If you simply install a speaker, for example, in a car door, then without a podium the sound will not be clear enough.
• The podium is very easy to attach, since it is not necessary to cut through the iron in the door. But thanks to the podium, various overtones will disappear, low frequencies will be added, and sound transparency will improve, so beloved by connoisseurs and professionals.

• Wanting to install better acoustics, a car owner often encounters a problem. The fact is that good acoustic speakers can be large and many cars simply do not have space for them. For this reason, many make podiums with their own hands and install them correctly.

Note. One of the secrets of installing podiums in a car is the rigid mounting of the speaker. The more firmly it sits in the podium, the better the sound will be and, moreover, the higher the timbre coloring will be. To ensure rigidity, the podiums are placed on acoustic shelves, but are rarely used independently.

Speakers installed in ready-made podiums give a completely different sound than if they were played without them:

• It is best to make a podium from wood, since this material is acoustically combined with the metal of the car frame.
• The podium allows you to solve technical issues related to installing speakers. But this is not its only advantage. Thanks to the podiums, surround sound is created in the car.

• In addition to traditional acoustic problems, podiums can also solve aesthetic ones. In particular, the use of a podium is very beautiful, since it always fits into the design of the car interior, if, of course, the color tones and upholstery material are taken into account.
• Podiums will allow you to highlight non-standard and original speakers or, on the contrary, hide acoustics that are not very attractive in appearance from prying eyes.
• Podiums can be made not only from wood, but also from fiberglass or carbon fiber.
• Podiums can be trimmed with various materials: carpet, artificial leather, Alcantara, etc.

Podium shape

After he decides on the location, he will need to think about the shape of the podium, which, as you know, can be different, since a person’s creative imagination is not limited by anything. But the primary task should be not only the aesthetic component of the shape of the future podium, but also the practical one.

Note. The podium usually, if it is made independently and installed by a novice, interferes with the door opening handle or window lifter handle. For this reason, when creating a form for the future podium, this must be taken into account.

After the form is thought out, you need to do the following:

• Take a sheet of cardboard.
• Draw the shape you like, taking into account its practicality.
• Cut with sharp scissors.

Types of podiums and racks for cars

Based on their location, podiums are divided into external and internal, installed inside the door trim, trunk lid, pillars and other elements of the car interior. The choice of design and installation location depends on the individual characteristics of the interior and customer requirements. Thus, the reason to order a podium for acoustics in a car door is the need to move the magnetic speaker system away from the window lift mechanisms, to improve sound quality due to the correct placement of the stand and the choice of material.

Tweeter stands and stands

When designing structures for mounting HF speakers, we take into account a number of features of the propagation of sound waves of this frequency, namely:

1. Narrow directionality of tweeters, especially pronounced in horn tweeters. To create a decent acoustic stage, speakers of this type need to be oriented strictly to a specific area of ​​the cabin. A deviation of a few degrees will reduce sound quality and lead to distortion even at light load levels.
2. Practice has shown that it is best to mount tweeters at the level of the listener's head. Therefore, the list of possible installation locations is significantly limited. Usually these are pillars and triangles of mirrors. Sometimes we also install it in the front panel, but we try to use this option in extreme cases. Taking this into account, we are creating small structures that will not interfere with getting into the car and will not impair the view from the driver’s seat.

If you evaluate the aesthetic component, then preference should be given to podiums that visually merge with the supporting surface. Products of this class are characterized by smooth transitions and curved surface lines. It often becomes necessary to install several speakers in close proximity to each other, for example, when installing a standard tweeter and midtweeter. In this case, it is better to use ready-made acoustic stands rather than sculpting separate podiums for each element.

From a technical point of view, the manufacture of structures for high-frequency speakers does not contain any problems. The main task is design. Such podiums are always in sight, any flaws are immediately evident. Therefore, we pay special attention to the finishing. We will cover it with leather or other material that predominates in the interior, give the surface the existing plastic texture, and select a color scheme. The choice depends on stylistic preferences and the general idea of ​​interior decoration. We will discuss these issues at the stage of developing the solution. Therefore, the result will definitely please you.

Designs for midrange speakers

The requirements for podiums for midrange drivers are almost the same as for stands for tweeters. But the manufacturing work is more technically complex. It's all about the increased dimensions of such speakers. Of course, you can install midrange acoustics in the door trim, but in this case the quality of the sound stage will be worse. The optimal location is the listener's chest level. Yes, and the direction will have to be maintained, and given the size, this is not easy to do.

The most reliable and acoustically correct podiums for the midrange can be made from fiberglass and polyester resins. Let us note the advantages of this technology:

• Ability to create a product of complex configuration. Fiberglass is often used in tuning; it can easily be called the most popular material. We give preference to him too.
• Sufficiently high strength, resistance to vibration loads. At the same time, due to the small thickness of the walls of the podium, there is no feeling of heaviness, which is especially important when mounted on the A-pillars. In addition, the minimal increase in size does not create interference or impede visibility.
• Fiberglass lends itself well to decorative finishing. You can choose any of the options - painting, covering with fabric or leather. If desired, we will make a podium in the existing style of the salon or emphasize the unusual shape through color accents.

We like best the option of making one unit for tweeters and midrange speakers. In this case, the stand or triangle of mirrors looks like a single whole. And it will be better for the sound stage if these acoustic elements are located nearby. But, of course, it’s up to you to choose, so we’ll consider and offer options for a different arrangement of midrange drivers. We will make a podium for installation in any sector of the front.

What does the manufacture and installation of a podium provide?

Let's name a few main reasons to make an acoustic podium / speaker stands in a car:

• Possibility of installing acoustic elements whose size exceeds standard systems.
• Two- and three-component acoustics can be installed on the podiums.
• Possibility of installing speakers in any place of the car, even where it is not provided for by the design.
• Stylish rack design.
• Improved sound quality, for example, moving closer to the door mesh to distribute sound not under the trim, but directly into the car interior.
• The speaker is located at a safe distance from mechanisms, for example, from a window lifter when placed internally.
• Installation on a material (wood, MDF), which significantly improves sound quality.
• Creating the right sound stage thanks to the rotation of the podium.
• Save space inside the cabin thanks to individual adjustment of the pillars.

How to make universal podiums for speakers

In most cases, you can do without investing in the purchase of factory podiums and make the element yourself. It's not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.

To successfully make a podium you will need the following materials:

• plywood 6–8 mm thick;
• degreaser;
• cardboard;
• polyurethane foam;
• putty;
• glue;
• epoxy adhesive;
• nylon tights;
• dye;
• fabric or leather for covering.

In order to put your idea into practice without any difficulties, it is best to prepare the necessary tools in advance:

• scissors;
• hacksaw/jigsaw;
• pencil;
• stationery knife/blade;
• sandpaper;
• putty knife.

Almost all the tools and materials for making podiums are available on the farm of an experienced craftsman

Dimensions and shape of the acoustic podium

The technology described below involves the manufacture of podiums for speakers located in the front or rear doors of the car. Most often, there is one speaker with a diameter of 13 centimeters in the door. However, regardless of its size, the podium manufacturing technology will be the same:

1. First you need to figure out what kind of podium shape is suitable for the interior of your car.
2. It is necessary to measure both the dimensions of the existing speaker and the dimensions of its protective mesh.
3. The diameter of the speaker ring will correspond to the diameter of the seat for it in the podium. And the outer diameter of the ring will be equal to the diameter of the protective mesh.
4. Once you have approved the form, you need to draw it on a piece of cardboard.
5. The resulting template must be carefully cut with scissors.
6. Next, we apply the template to a piece of plywood and trace it with a pencil.
7. For two doors we will need two plywood blanks that can be cut with a hacksaw or jigsaw.
8. It is necessary to cut out the hole in the podium as accurately as possible, since if the proportions are violated, the speaker in the pocket will not be securely fixed.

Photo: correct procedure for making a shelf in a car door

The process of creating podiums for speakers does not end here. The workpiece must go through several more stages of design.

In order to give the plywood podium an attractive appearance, polyurethane foam is usually used. It is applied to the surface of the plywood. Then you need to do the following:

• when the foam has completely hardened, you need to work on the shape using a stationery knife or blade - you can give the workpiece absolutely any shape;
• After initial processing, you will need to apply one or two layers of putty to the product. After it has dried, you will need to give the podium the smoothest and most embossed shape possible by treating it with fine-grained sandpaper;
• the resulting product can be painted in any color, and it is advisable to paint in three layers for deep color saturation;
• As another design option, reupholstery is also allowed - that is, the use of elastic fabrics that can be attached using adhesives to decorate the podiums. You can cover the podium blanks with almost any type of fabric or artificial leather, but you should take into account the practicality of the material and its durability.

Modern fashion for car audio

Today, most modern vehicles come with standard speakers. However, lovers of loud music in cars are often not satisfied with their sound, so they buy larger speakers. In this case, a different kind of problem arises - how to install large-sized equipment in the cabin so that, on the one hand, it does not disturb passengers, and on the other hand, to create truly clear sound?

One of the common ways to solve the problem is to make podiums for speakers. They can not only improve sound quality, but also take the performance of the speaker system to a whole new level.

What should you pay attention to?

How to make podiums for speakers with your own hands? In practice, this is not difficult, but some features of such additional equipment should be taken into account. First of all, you should choose the optimal shape for the podium. In particular, make sure that this element will not interfere with the door handles or window regulators. Also, you should not cling to the podium during operation.

Decoration is no less important. But here we are mainly talking about the finishing features. It is recommended to select a material similar to the main interior trim.

Design development

. Here, first of all, you should choose the optimal shape of the podium. It is desirable that it be compatible with the style of the interior. The selected option is first drawn on cardboard. After which they are transferred to suitable plywood, it is better to choose it with a thickness of 6-8 mm. Next you should use a jigsaw. With its help, the workpiece is cut out. It is better to immediately make 2 patterns, for the right and left doors. At this stage, problems usually do not arise. You just need to carefully measure the size, otherwise you will only ruin the material.

What types of podiums are there?

Podiums are divided into only two types: external and internal.

External ones can be considered podiums that are mounted directly in the car interior - for example, on the rear parcel shelf. However, most often, car enthusiasts use internal podiums in car doors to better fix the speaker and improve the character of the sound.

Traditionally, most cars already have standard speakers or holes for them. Usually their sizes depend on the make of the car. Domestic cars typically have speakers with a diameter of 130 mm. Foreign cars can have built-in podiums of larger sizes - 160, 200 and even 250 mm.

Car door speakers are usually round or oval in shape. Depending on the car model, podiums must take this feature into account. In general, the shape of the podium can be absolutely any, since the main purpose of this element is to securely fix the speaker in order to give volume and clarity to the sound.

Internal podium

There are internal and external podiums. The first ones are installed when they want to maintain the factory appearance without changes. For example, when they change a standard speaker to a diffuser that is similar in diameter.

The internal podium is entirely hidden in the internal cavity of the door or ceiling under the trim, which must fit tightly to the speaker. Otherwise, distortion is possible, as the speaker will “play under the casing.”

External podium

An external or external podium allows you to install any speaker larger or smaller than stock. In addition, the head can be placed either parallel to the plane of the door or at an angle, directed towards the listener. An additional advantage of the external podium is that it presses the skin tightly, reducing vibration.

Where to put the acoustic podium

There are 2 ways to install an acoustic podium: monolithic and framed. Let's consider their features.

A monolithic podium is made using the “wet” method: a cement or concrete screed is constructed over the entire surface of the podium. The frame podium is a frame covered with two layers of plywood.

The advantages of the monolithic method are obvious: the result is a reliable, moisture-resistant podium. This podium is very easy to make and decorate. The disadvantage of a monolithic podium is that it creates too much load and it is impossible to hide communications in it.

The frame podium, on the contrary, is very light and multifunctional. You can even install drawers in it. Since the frame podium is empty inside, there is a need to isolate sound. Therefore, mineral wool or polyethylene must be placed under all supports and between the sheathing. There should be a small gap between the frame podium and the wall to allow the material to expand. And between the wall and the monolithic podium there should be a thick tape to prevent the possibility of concrete cracking.

Preparing to install an acoustic podium

To make an acoustic podium yourself, you don’t need any special skills - you just need to have the desire and be careful. The materials needed to create a podium can be purchased at any hardware store for a very affordable price. An important point is to accurately take measurements and determine the location of the future podium:

• For greater convenience, you need to remove the door panel. If it has a speaker, that should also be removed. The size of the future podium depends on the number of speakers and their sizes, as well as on the area of ​​free space on the door panel.
• Make a template for the podium base from cardboard directly on the door panel, which will later be transferred to the plywood
• Cut a ring (from the same cardboard) to fit the size of the speaker
• To accurately determine the final height of the podium, you need to take into account that it does not protrude too much, otherwise it will interfere with the legs of the passengers sitting in front. A large podium makes it possible to install large speakers. The main thing is that it is comfortable and does not spoil the main interior of the car.
• If you want to slightly “recess” the speaker into the podium, make a frame from plywood and glue it along the contour to the main platform
• The correctly chosen design of the future acoustic podium is very important: it improves and makes the overall interior stylish.