EXTREMELY CLEAN Amp Rack Install - How to - CarAudioFabrication

Building a custom car audio amplifier rack is a must if you are installing multiple amplifiers into a vehicle. In this update for the Jeep build I install the new AudioControl DM-810 DSP along with Rockford Fosgate's Power Series amplifiers. A special thanks to AudioControl and Rockford Fosgate for providing the gear! Now let's custom fabricate the amplifier rack using a series of techniques that I will show you how to do! Let's go!
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Car Audio Fabrication - Master Car Audio - Design, Build, Install

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Thanks for watching! Now that the amp rack is built I can start the wiring process. Check out the next video where I show some great tips for making your own fuse block mounting location. Watch the next video here: goo.gl/xim7Yy -Mark

[@rodneykupcs2305]

CarAudioFabrication hey Mark, I know this video is a bit old but I am thinking of using our recessed area in our cargo floor to add some equipment. My question is AIRFLOW. How hot is it getting down under there with all that equipment in such a small area and also covered? Any problems so far and let's just say I'm pretty confident I'll have a heat issue so what's your favorite solution in this case? Thanks!

[@franciscomatos1823]

HI Mark, Coming across this as I'm looking to do something similar but with the stock subwoofer instead of amps. Have you done anything like that? Placing a subwoofer in the storage bin?

[@greenvillecarmax79]

Where are you located?

[@eugeniopena8700]

Can you make a video showing us where you buy your materials at such as the ABS plastic, acrylic etc

[@bethesdawoodworks2314]

Another great video Mark....I'm 50 years old and have been an avid car audio fan since the 80s... It nice to see the talent that you have..I have used some of your techniques in my woodworking. Keep up the fantastic work!!!

[@thrill2020]

Never have built one but watching your videos i will be building one for my 67 Impala convertible soon

[@aaronleang]

This satisfies my OCD so damn well.

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Haha, clean?

[@johnclark3067]

+CarAudioFabrication You keep your tools and work area clean like I do. Much respect! Now if I only had more tools and a fraction of your talent...

[@aaronleang]

Yeah. I like how it looks so tidy when you opened the floor storage (or whatever it is called haha) Really perfect place. So simple and doesn't look too 'loud' when opened.

[@jacobfalk4827]

Stop trying to be funny, PLEASE. I like you much better when you're just the smart informative person you are. Thanks mannn

[@curtisjohnson944]

I’ve been buying white plastic cutting boards for amp racks after seeing you use plastic. Learned some pretty cool shit from you, thanks.

[@Original9688]

Your videos are the reason I build my own audio gear, posted my amp rack on fabnation a while back

[@basscaddy1449]

Amplifier and door speakers are next on my list for my build!! Thanks for the video

[@Jodibeasy]

never built one but i am going to try in the next week

[@TheLubowski]

Never made an amp rack. I just threw my amp in basically that same spot, but on a trailblazer. My wrangler is why I’m here, but trailblazers are so fun and easy for a build

[@alexnelson09]

The only amp rack I ever built was for a 2011 Altima coupe. It was functional but not meant to be seen so I built it out of unpainted MDF. I had a 4 channel amp for the front tweeters and two rear 6x9's, a 2 channel for the front woofers, a mono block for a single sub in a wheel well fiberglass enclosure, and an analog active crossover to split all the signals. It was functional and did the job well but I'd love to make a clean one like this for my next build. I'm leasing an ecoboost mustang until I buy my next car which will likely be a jeep or crossover SUV! Sweet build so far and thanks for the quality production and instruction!

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Thanks for watching and sharing, sounds like a cool build!

[@RockfordF150Bass]

+CarAudioFabrication quick question will you be installing some type of fans to keep the amps cool since it will be enclosed?

[@itsneuman]

no wrapping. no painting. just clean lines and a smooth finish. looks nice.

[@williamprice4269]

I have built several amp racks over the years. Although never with ABS. This looks very clean. By the way, I love the organization of your tool box. You know where everything is and don't have to hunt for it. I have watched a lot of channels and for my $.02 this is the best channel for learning about car audio. I'm an old schooler, but I'm always willing to learn new things. I started building systems way back in the 80's. I'm no Pro by any means.

[@RobertoDeNegro]

That's a quality rack build! Great work!!

[@cyberctashdummy]

My first amp rack was for 6 Sanyo 100 watt amplifiers on a frame built out of 1/2 square oak painted black back in 1982. Three on top and three hanging upside down. The feet were in the center so the amps looked like they were hovering. Back then they were new amps and the most powerful I could get. All in the back of my Karmann Ghia ...

[@tk421tt]

good rack. never thought of using abs plastic for a rack. always used mdf or ply. dont forget to paint the white blocks.

[@208miuwu]

I don`t anything that`s electronic I`m a motor head small blocks mostly. You create works of art I don`t have that thing the fabricators have. Your the Pica so of audio I like to watch and see how everything comes together

[@nicksnicknet]

working in I.T. I work with a lot of routers - but your type of router is one that I really want at home.

[@AdrianBroadnax]

I have built several amplifier racks. I really enjoy working with my hands.

[@anthonylee7263]

Yes, I did amp rack before as inspired by the Alphasonic amp rack. It was DIY with carpet covered board sitting on 2 riser behind the back seat with 3 amps & 1 X'over. All connections were from behind the carpet. It was DIY but looked good at the time. It was the 80's.

[@LegendaryJoe]

I've built a few amp racks. My 09 corvette actually has a false rear floor covering the amps/wiring so that it still looks factory.

[@morganstanley2344]

One of the shops I worked at in Dallas, TX required every amp install, no matter cost, to have racks built. Not only does it look much nicer and higher-end but also isolates the amp from being screwed into the body metal as this can cause a ground loop (though due to modern technology it is less common from this mounting method as it used to be).

[@ericjohnsannicolas4681]

Just bought my materials to build my very first amp rack thanks to your video it made it a lot easier on where to start first. Keep up the great work. Subscribed!!

[@adrianvargasgarcia1253]

Looks super clean

[@Marzimus]

The attention to detail is downright astounding. 👌

[@JacobFrey]

Flawless work, Mark! I like the way you use threaded inserts - super nice touch! I made one very basic plywood/carpet rack mounted to the back of the rear seat, just for one amplifier. It's very simple, but I LOVE how the wiring turned out due to having a basic mounting rack.

[@cityboy0309]

I like the equipment you used, it gave me an idea to mount it into a 95 pathfinder, plus your video on door speakers made me re-think my current design.

[@WickedMoto]

Man, I want to build an amp rack now. lol. My version of amp racks were always just pieces of MDF wedged in between the loose fabric on the back end side of the rear seats and then screwing the amp to it. Worked like a charm though. I'm going to have to get back into this and bring out the tools again and start building and playing around

[@dirtybayadventures9563]

true car audio craftsman. everything you do is so clean.

[@sherischoenke3105]

I've built a lot of amp racks, especially in the 90's, the amps were a lot bigger then. Rockford amps were my favourite, like the punch 45s..etc....

[@singh54736]

So much thought and care in relation to your work. That's just professional to the max 💯

[@JeepThrills20]

That's a good looking amp rack. I have built a lot of amp racks in my 15 years as an installer. The wrangler is a fun car to build the last I did had a kicker cx 600.5 in the same cubby.

[@hayacruiser109]

Awesome!!! I've never built an amp rack. But seeing your video gives me a lot of incentive on building one for myself!

[@t33s]

I got lucky and a tiny aluminum bracket was the only thing I needed besides factory holes to mount my amp in a big square opening between the rear fender and trunk upholstery prepared for a weak OEM subwoofer.

[@noahmclain2380]

I built a custom rack similar to this in my 2013 Wrangler for my Rockford marine amps. I wish I would have seen this video sooner haha. The hardest thing was running the wires from under there to every where else and especially because I had to run oversized 0 guage wire lol.

[@MrTroch22]

this build is taking forever.

[@u9Nails]

I'm a DIY guy who is looking for amp rack ideas to finish my stereo installation. I've mounted amps beneath the seat in past installs but don't like how it exposes wires to the passengers feet, and cuts down on cooling. In my hatchback, I'm installing the amps on a rack next to the sub and I'm looking for the most attractive and functional way to display the amps.

[@julesbilodeau4851]

Very nice Mark!! Clean as always! I'm curious to see what this AudioControl DSP will be like...

[@superronron]

Very nice. I have been using ABS for things like this for a while now. It cuts down on the use of MDF in the vehicle. Keep up the good work!!

[@iBarber504]

Back to the drawing board just made me rethink what I want to do to building a amp rack

[@davidcontreras3164]

Hey there Mark, thanks for the video and the idea for an amp rack for my 1995 Impala SS. I plan to design a rack to accommodate a couple of JL Slash amps and an Audiocontrol component. These videos are super helpful and informative for the guys like me, the amateur audiophile... thanks a million dude!

[@tommangu9940]

I have built afew amp racks......they are called "subwoofer boxes" 😂 Would love to do something on this level, i'll get there one day 👍

[@MrNineCherries]

Looks great, never built a rack from abs plastic but it could be a new project for me. Thanks for the inspiration 👍🏼

[@decid3]

This is really beautiful work, man. I have installed a very simple wood amp rack onto the back of my rear seat in my car and it's holding up well I think but Ii'm definitely considering upgrading to something very similar to what you presented here. The ABS is so nice looking and functional, especially with the tapped & threaded fastening system. I like it muy bueno! I really appreciate all your videos. Thanks!

[@garygill7540]

Never have built one planning doing one

[@junito413baby]

i have built one for my 2012 civic but was still a unfinished rack was nice i built another one for fun super simple too

[@hectorperez6293]

I'm build a couples,but I never use that material,look super clean,thank for you video

[@LordOfTamarac]

Sure, last one I built was a false wall amp rack in an older civic. Different techniques but it was upholstered to match the inside of the trunk and I think it came out rather well

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Sounds nice!

[@LordOfTamarac]

+CarAudioFabrication I actually took some inspiration from the false wall video you did on the shape and spacing on the sound holes. i.imgur.com/uhusKTO.jpg

[@JordanSince93]

you effortlessly made my amp rack look like dog shit hahahaha

[@CarAudioFabrication]

What don't you like about yours?

[@JordanSince93]

+CarAudioFabrication don't get me wrong it's clean but I wish I'd done it with that plastic instead of plywood and carpet.

[@charles4750]

Need a to all those products.

[@governmentcheese411]

really nice install. clean and tight. if i had to pick an issue. it would be venting. and you can never have to much venting on your amps. i would have laid in a grill of holes into the shelf. or added risers to the amps.

[@jon73801]

I wish I could have you install my audio system. You are meticulous about detail and clean work. I have a '06 Grand caravan with storage bins behind the driver seats perfect for stealth installation. I threw a 5 channel amp and a 10" subwoofer in there and it sounds ok. But no loss of cargo space which is nice.

[@AlexOnBass]

I love your videos! I'd love to see you do a video on different ways to tap into a factory amp to get a signal. Maybe an application where you'd use a 9 wire, and how to maintain fade/balance from a factory radio. Most newer cars are going the way of integrating everything in the head unit, so it'd be nice to see how to maintain all the factory channels.

[@nxtierdrop]

I stumbled on your channel again today and now im a sub! Ive built a few amp racks over the years and they where a peice of mdf to mount the amps to...now im in the middle of a advance amp rack, but im having an install block. #CarAudioProblems

[@MILO20121]

Thx u and ur sponsors for how too......but how about guys like me who don't have a house but a apt. and don't have shop or router.....? But thx u for ur informative videos they do help me

[@Troy_Audi0]

I tend to DST the products down to keep them from moving, I will have some amp racks to do soon!!

[@johnbobbitt6470]

"Have not". Starting the build this afternoon after a last stop at Lowes. But I once built a digital television studio, control room, and the mobile command center- satellite-linked and contained every person, station and piece of equipment needed to go live on air for up to 1 week. ....but damn....a 1996 Camry? Wish me luck. ps- as always, thanks Mark

[@JoseMedina-xm8dg]

I have never built an amp rack but I'm considering it for my new system just make it look cleaner and make it easier to replace the amps later on

[@codyhill3981]

I'm actually really excited for this build seeing how I am currently looking to buy a Jeep Jk!

[@0dallas]

I see some leds on the perimeter of that amp rack. Do it!! Excellent work as always!!

[@JLUnlimited]

I have never done an amp rack, I have wanted to do it.

[@VloggingCountry]

I have made a few amp rack but nothing like what you do im amp rack work but did not look that great great videos

[@tedwats8792]

killer video once again! I have wanted to a build with PVC sheets. you can drill into it heat it easily to bend to shape and is light weight.

[@steelervette]

never built one before but thanks for the ideas. I wa t to to a really clean set up in my acura

[@ReconTHG]

Never built one. Have my 2 amps laying on a side between subwoofer and rear seats in boot and pushed by empty 1.5l plastic bottle...Safety :D

[@ImmortalCrabman]

Are you going to paint the spacers black or leave white. Also some poly underneath the ABS amp rack with LEDs would be a great over the top accent. Amazing work as always.

[@MrTimdtoolman1]

Great work! Looks awesome and very nicely done.

[@bigassdude7856]

One question. what about air flow for your little amps there. i think they have built in fans but that set up would overheat pretty quick on a hot summer day if you forget to take that panel off the top before rocking out.. sizzle pop

[@DrummerBoii1411]

I usually just hide my amps under the rear seats with good ventilation.. And then concentrate on the sub, sound deadening and making everything as light as possible so I don't damage car acceleration and fuel consumption.. It all adds up eventually..

[@b1pig]

its been a long time since i made an amp rack. it was actually similar to this two level design you're using. mine was made with carpeted MDF. following along... as this interests me in several ways... my '07 wrangler unlimited is in need of some updates. :-)

[@phildoleebowitz5335]

Awesome work, im curious, have you tried using riv nuts on abs?

[@robotaustin12]

built a couple of amp racks. first one came out amazing. wish still, and even might have pics. 2nd one lacked hard. bare wood ugly as hell. got rid of month later lol. last one was igght. very plain. nothing like the stuff you create, but about to start the new build. going to be using many of your tips. re watching vids to touch up memory, ha.

[@77SonofGod77]

Awesome Amp Rack Mark!~

[@BattleWizard_1]

Great fabrication!! I think your channel is pretty damn good. Very precise and informative...I have a quick question...Will the amps get overheated in the enclosed area?

[@MrNas921]

Beautiful work son, damn I want that done in my daughters car

[@BassMent70]

Would you mind showing a few things. Can you show how you mounted the bottom of the amp rack to the jeep. I have a jeep and plan on doing this. Also can you show how you mourned the crossovers and your ground point. Lastly what size ABS did you use, looks like 1/4" but not sure. Thanks for all of your videos.

[@MobWithGuns]

do you have a link to the router table you use ? followed the link and see its a porter cable router but didn't see anything on the tabletop router you use

[@brennenrulez]

Mark, what is the router bit called for making incremental passes on say speaker cutouts? LIke if you need a 1/8" bigger opening thats a ton of material to sand away.

[@THE01GC]

you should paint the floaters black

[@zma225]

Great work as always. Really enjoy your videos Mark :) Would love to see a custom made rca/interconnect wiring (dsp to amplifiers) video for this project.

[@Fubetuck]

How are you planning on cooling the equipment, as it seems that it will remain in an enclosed space?

[@Batryoperatedbob]

LOL dude you have too much fun. Keep it up!

[@pollardstudiolive]

So Clean.

[@vinny_mj94]

can you show us how you mount the rack to the car please?

[@DarrenT0dd]

Great vid Mark. Fyi the materials and tools link is broken.

[@salvadorcisneros]

keep up the good work bro

[@tonyblanco4799]

Do you think it’s necessary to install fans to keep the amps cool?

[@JoseSandoval-kz1li]

Do you have any videos for someone who knows absolutely nothing about this I'm trying to get into this but I know absolutely nothing and I'm always lost lol thanks in advance

[@deigocali619]

I have never build a amp rack like that but would like to learn how to build a better one for my 2014 camry

[@benjo145]

thats great, the whole project is, but it does take up quite alot of space. i have a mk4 golf, and would love to build something like this, but i cant really give much space away. and there isnt a whole lot of boot space.

[@robie7587]

I've never built one i'm just into audio but i want to do stuff for myself when i get my own car

[@mattb9664]

I still can't believe how tiny those amps are. What's the trade off with these small amps vs their full size full power amps??

[@mitsuracer87]

They're just likely class D which are very efficient and very small

[@deigocali619]

I have 3 amps and a audison bit one.

[@treydaypnw]

Hey Mark did you go to School to learn how to do all the stuff you do....? Awesome Work! 💪🏽💪🏽

[@centralsDiverDude]

Hey I love the video! How do you mount the rack to the car?? I don’t want mine bouncing around haha

[@mkcraghead]

I've never installed an amp rack. Yours looks great. I especially like the riser part. I'd like to do something like that in my S2000 down in the tool well, except put the amp on the lower board and still be able to put items in my trunk. I'm especially curious about the DM-810 though. I was thinking about using something like that in my X-Runner. I'll check to see if you have another video on wiring it up. Did you ever get an actual DM-810? In the video you said it was a mock up. Keep up the great work.

[@bryancatano6681]

Did you add any sound deadening to the frony speaker boxes in the dash? Mine seem to resonate a lot.

[@TravisMeeks6]

beautiful work, bro!

[@kallmeaznracer]

I haven't made an amp rack yet. Where do you source your abs and how much do you normally pay per sheet?

[@brandonfields7722]

I don't know where you located I'm just trying to find tips on upgrading my 1979 Pontiac Grand Prix 2 amps two 12s 4/6x9s and two component speakers trying to get a nice setup need help