Audio, Video & Electronics Post questions, reviews, and other general info about the G's Nav, sound system, satellite radio or aftermarket stereos

Adding subwoofer without replacing speakers

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-28-2014, 10:49 AM
  #1  
Arrogant
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Arrogant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 173
Received 13 Likes on 12 Posts
Adding subwoofer without replacing speakers

So in my past crappy cars I have found if I did not upgrade the speakers and put an amp on them along with the sub things would distort and sound awful. I really do not want to replace all the seakers in the g37 because of the work and cost involved. My question is, will I be able to play the stereo with a 12" aftermarket sub, and not have it distort heavily? Should I get a 5 channel amp instead of a mono amp in case I want to upgrade the speakers later? Anyone who just added a sub have any experiences to share with me?
Old 09-28-2014, 10:59 AM
  #2  
KEG97
Registered Member
iTrader: (2)
 
KEG97's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Hampton Roads, VA
Posts: 923
Received 56 Likes on 55 Posts
I added a 10 inch Rockford Fosgate sub/amp combo and love it. Do a search and you'll find that many of us did the same thing.
Old 09-28-2014, 12:02 PM
  #3  
pebkac
Registered User
 
pebkac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Austin Tx
Posts: 241
Received 22 Likes on 18 Posts
oem sub still plugged in the mix


*single JL 10w6v3 sealed
*JL 500/1v2
*Audio Control LCi2


Name:  IMG_3543_zpsfc6e5826.jpg
Views: 195
Size:  62.6 KB

Name:  IMG_3544_zpsbe2e05d3.jpg
Views: 123
Size:  51.2 KB

Name:  IMG_3550_zps02ba57c9.jpg
Views: 120
Size:  38.0 KB

Name:  IMG_3542_zpsba8a0831.jpg
Views: 151
Size:  50.4 KB
Old 10-01-2014, 12:44 AM
  #4  
RA081224
Banned
 
RA081224's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 674
Received 81 Likes on 70 Posts
Originally Posted by Arrogant
So in my past crappy cars I have found if I did not upgrade the speakers and put an amp on them along with the sub things would distort and sound awful. I really do not want to replace all the seakers in the g37 because of the work and cost involved. My question is, will I be able to play the stereo with a 12" aftermarket sub, and not have it distort heavily? Should I get a 5 channel amp instead of a mono amp in case I want to upgrade the speakers later? Anyone who just added a sub have any experiences to share with me?
Unfortunately, your question is dangerously subjective. How much distortion can you tolerate? How musical do you want your system to be or do you want to just have the thump of a sub?

Yes, you can play the stock system with an added sub without ill effects except for the sound of the system. If you take care to set the gain on the sub amp properly, you shouldn't introduce any additional distortion in the system; but the overall effect leaves a lot to be desired.

Like you, I thought maybe I could get by with just adding a sub but in the end, I gutted the entire Bose system. It only took six weeks before I couldn't stand the muddy midrange and highs and the **** poor imaging. Then again, I spent three hours in my G a day at that time so perhaps I was doomed from the start.
Old 10-02-2014, 09:54 PM
  #5  
Arrogant
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Arrogant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 173
Received 13 Likes on 12 Posts
Good to know. I will probably go with a multi channel amp. What about the maximum amount of watts on a stock battery and alt? I don't want any dimmming, or other issues like I have had in the past. Anyone running 1000 watts with no issues?
Old 10-03-2014, 12:38 AM
  #6  
RA081224
Banned
 
RA081224's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 674
Received 81 Likes on 70 Posts
Originally Posted by Arrogant
Good to know. I will probably go with a multi channel amp. What about the maximum amount of watts on a stock battery and alt? I don't want any dimmming, or other issues like I have had in the past. Anyone running 1000 watts with no issues?
As long as your battery feed wire is sufficiently sized, there shouldn't be any problems. I've been running 1300 watts of RF Power amps for almost two years now with no issues.
Old 10-03-2014, 04:36 AM
  #7  
Vxlyf3
Registered User
 
Vxlyf3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
My setup sounds pretty good, just make sure you have high quality songs. Everything original...just added Polk Audio 1200W Amp + (2) JL Audio 10W3V3 with Zenclosure custom Box. (on IPL Coupe)

BTW make sure you get a really good converter.
Old 10-04-2014, 06:46 PM
  #8  
RA081224
Banned
 
RA081224's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 674
Received 81 Likes on 70 Posts
Originally Posted by Vxlyf3
My setup sounds pretty good, just make sure you have high quality songs. Everything original...just added Polk Audio 1200W Amp + (2) JL Audio 10W3V3 with Zenclosure custom Box. (on IPL Coupe)

BTW make sure you get a really good converter.
Converter???
Old 10-06-2014, 04:03 AM
  #9  
spenceyadigg
Registered User
 
spenceyadigg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Diamond Bar
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
what if you add an amp for the speakers as well...will this help the subwoofers not overpower the speakers? that is what i want to do. buy a subwoofer, a mono amp and a 4 channel amp for the speakers
Old 10-06-2014, 07:27 AM
  #10  
KEG97
Registered Member
iTrader: (2)
 
KEG97's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Hampton Roads, VA
Posts: 923
Received 56 Likes on 55 Posts
Originally Posted by spenceyadigg
what if you add an amp for the speakers as well...will this help the subwoofers not overpower the speakers? that is what i want to do. buy a subwoofer, a mono amp and a 4 channel amp for the speakers
I've got a volume control for my sub so I control it off that. Plus I tend to turn it down a bit if the kids are with me.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jfisher
Build Threads
89
04-25-2017 01:22 PM
photocat
Audio, Video & Electronics
2
09-14-2015 02:32 PM
allen738
Audio, Video & Electronics
0
09-06-2015 09:36 PM
bingpwr
Private Classifieds
1
09-04-2015 09:44 PM



Quick Reply: Adding subwoofer without replacing speakers



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:47 AM.