How much bass can be expected from a system with no sub?
I was just curious as to how much bass can be expected from a system with new speakers, a decent amp but no sub? I imagine some of that depends on the amp and speakers, but how much? The reason I ask is because I just installed an amp and I have new speakers. The bass on the system is just not what I was expecting. I was expecting more bass. My system will play loud but there is not the bass that I was expecting. I have heard stock systems and even systems that have no amp that seem to have more bass than my system. I have also played with the speakers and amps at the stores. I am still tweaking my system and I can do things to make the bass better but they create other problems. Thanks for the info.
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"You play the hand you're dealt. I think the game's worthwhile." -C. S. Lewis
Aftermarket speakers are generally designed to be used with a sub. At the same time, unless they are in sealed enclosures, it would be impossible for them to generate any kind of 'presence' or boom.
wd-40, Since it takes more power to run the low bass frequencies, that is why many subs have there own power system. Otherwise they need some sort of enclosure to produce a big low end. You have in effect, just produced a louder version of what you had previously. Get the sub, you'll be glad.
I do know that the Infinity Reference line is renown for mid-range and sparkling highs, but bass was never one of its strengths.
You basically have 2 choices.
A bassier 6-1/2 or add a sub.
I've been impressed with my a/d/s's. I added a sub anyway but was shocked at how much bass they put out by themselves. The only problem was at higher volumes I got some nasty door rattle/vibration.
I'll ask the dumb question since I've made dumb mistakes like this before... You don't have the amp crossover on highpass do you?
I will probably just go with a sub. I need to save some money up first, but that is what I would like eventually. I do have the highpass set, but only because the really low frequencies don't sound too good. I have it set fairly low. I guess I could turn it down some more at least untill I get a sub. I like my music to sound good, Im not into blasting the bario with my system. I have had the opportunity to hear what good systems (both home and car) sound like so I know what I want it to sound like.
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"You play the hand you're dealt. I think the game's worthwhile." -C. S. Lewis
Sounds like you're on the right track. I also probably would use the Hi-pass as a subsonic filter, only to keep the 6-1/2's from trying to play the 30hz to 40hz stuff. I had mine set at about 40 hz or so and it still had great bass and I could crank it up more.
A good trick is to start at about 100 and keep bumping the frequency down until you can't tell the difference between hi-passed and full range. Thats where your speakers bass limit is.
Saw in your pics that you did the line-level mod to the stock deck. How did that work out? I had an installer tell me today that there is now a harness available that plugs into the stock radio, with RCA's already attached. That would make it much easier!
Overall I am quite pleased with the mod. I have had a few issues with engine noise but I doubt that has anything to do with the mod. I was able to fix that problem by lowering the gain. It was a pretty big job to do the mod, but in my opinion worth it. The thing I love is it does not attract any attention at all. I did have to install a ground loop isolator which cleaned up my sound and made it more alive. I noticed a large improvement in bass when I added the isolator. I have had problems with getting extra engine noise when I use 2 ground loop isolators. I am working on that one though. Otherwise I am quite pleased with the mod. I just want more bass now. If you want to see some of my troubles you can go to my other thread about the ground loop isolators and an amp.
Do you have any idea what part (and part #, or where it can be found) it is that has the RCA plugs pre made? That sure would have made the job easier. Are you considering this mod?
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"You play the hand you're dealt. I think the game's worthwhile." -C. S. Lewis
I kept the stock 6-disc head unit, but wired it after the stock amp, using plug-in connectors and line level converters. I've tried constructing line level RCA's before, and it's tough to do. Line-level signal is really bad about picking up noise, thats why RCA cables are shielded. Check the garage section, i did a bunch of diagrams a while ago that are there for the mod after the stock amp. I've been away from TS for awhile, and just got back into it.
Now, I'm pulling the stock deck, and putting in a single-disc Alpine head unit I have. Next step will be to get an Alpine changer, the one that will read MP3's, and hook that up.
The only way you are gonna get the bass you are looking for is to add a sub. At least an 8" will get you some punch! Use the rear storage under the back seat. I've gota 10 in there, and it sounds great!
Originally posted by darth tundra The only way you are gonna get the bass you are looking for is to add a sub. At least an 8" will get you some punch! Use the rear storage under the back seat. I've gota 10 in there, and it sounds great!
I would love to put a sub in the rear storage compartment. I wouldn't have any place to mount my amp if I did that though. I have one under the passenger seat and I have a power drivers seat, so the under seat locations are spoken for. The only free locations I have are the center console and the rear storage compartment. I'm not sure that I could put an amp in the center console (or could I?). So that leaves me with the amp in the storage compartment and the stealthbox. I do want a stealth install and I don’t want to loose the limited passenger room that I have. That limits me a bit.
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"You play the hand you're dealt. I think the game's worthwhile." -C. S. Lewis
i haven't heard a JL stealthbox yet, but it seems like a good solution. From the pics i've seen, you barely notice a change except the console is higher. JL makes great stuff, so i'm sure it sounds good. I've got a 6-channel amp under the passenger seat, and thats all i need, so the storage compartment was a good (cheap) solution. How big is your amp under the seat? Others have been able to mount amps on a custom panel behind the back seats. I guess there is a little room back there. I would not even attempt to put an amp in the console.
The amp I have under the seat is 11" x 9.6" x 2.5". I could mess with mounting amps behind the seat but that seem like a rather large job. I would prefer to keep in install as simple as possible. That is why I lean toward the stealth box and an amp in the rear seat storage. I wonder if I could fit another amp under my passanger seat? I guess I could check. I have a feeling it might be sticking out enough to get kicked a lot. Which amp do you have? How much power per channel is it? You like it?
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"You play the hand you're dealt. I think the game's worthwhile." -C. S. Lewis
WD-40,
Have you thought about using a bada$$ 4-channel and powering the fronts and the sub off the amp, and the rear speakers off factory power?
I've run this set-up several times and it works great if tweaked right.
I've also noticed the Tundra is set up very well for parallel mids/higs off 2 channels and the sub off the other two. There's no rear bias. I finished 2nd (Novice) in a local USAC soundoff with this type of set-up in my Prelude.
You lose the ability to fade front and rear but you gain a subwoofer level control.
BTW: how often do you use your fader now? I never use mine.
PS: How about a 5-channel or a 6-channel? MTX makes a solid 5-channel thats RIDICULOUSLY underrated. Its rated as 25x4+100x1 and it tested (CarStereoReview) at about 3 times that much power. The tester found it humorous how much it was under-rated. I've seen it on the internet new for about $300.
JL Audio makes the finest 5-channel I've ever seen but its too big to fit under our seats.
I have an Alpine 3566 amp. It's an older amp, maybe 7 years old. It's a multi-mode amp, meaning it can run in 6/5/4/3 channel mode. I have it running in 5 channel mode. The first four channels are powering the front and rear mids and highs, and the 5 channel (bridged 5 and 6) is powering the sub. Conservatively rated at 30x4 at 4 ohms and 180x1 at 4 ohms. Its a great amp, has high pass and low pass crossovers built in, adjustable gains for each pair of channels, and a 'acoustical compensation' feature which when turned on, is supposed to help compensate for the acoustical problems in cars. Best of all, it's relatively small. It fits under the passenger seat, with the end with the controls towards the passenger door. I can make adjustments using a small screwdriver from the doorway by peeking under the seat. My head unit is an Alpine CDA-7941. It has a sub-output, which is really nice because I can control the sub-output separatly from the bass and treble settings. I just put in the 7941 in yesterday, replacing the stock head unit. I liked having the 6-disc changer in the dash, but, MAN, the sound quality is so much better from the Alpine than the stock deck.
How much bass can be expected from a system with no sub?
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