Adding A Subwoofer To A Base 6 Speaker System

[m2016v6]

I'd like to get a little more bass in my Sunday driver. Luckily, I don't shit about car stereo systems. So I've got that going for me.

I don't need to rattle any windows, just get some bass going. With that in mind, I was thinking about getting a compact powered subwoofer and sliding it under the passenger seat.

Now, I have upgraded from the 4 inch screen to the 8 inch screen. And I have put new speakers in the doors. So I can perform some operations without bricking the car. But I have the base 6 speaker system, with no amp.

I don't really want to add an amp.

1. Is this the right solution, or would it be easier to put a subwoofer in the trunk? Or is this all just crazy talk, and I wouldn't know the difference.

B. What do I connect the sub to in order to get power and sound? Especially since I've replaced the screen and APIM and all that and have a harness connecting everything now.

FYI: the car in question is a 2016 convertible.

Thanks!

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[Jaymar]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but there is no sub without an amp so if that isn't a hurdle you're willing to overcome then you needn't worry about the rest.

 

[m2016v6]

I was under the impression that a subcompact powered sub did not require an amp. It is, in effect, an amp for itself. This impression could very well be wrong.

 

[NTXChris]

I don't think there's a slim powered sub that'll actually fit under the seat; there's a lot of stuff under there even on non-premium cars. You'd need to measure to find out.

I'd recommend a powered 8 or 10 inch that you could put in a corner of the trunk, or behind one of the rear seatbacks.

 

[m2016v6]

I don't think there's a slim powered sub that'll actually fit under the seat; there's a lot of stuff under there even on non-premium cars. You'd need to measure to find out.

I'd recommend a powered 8 or 10 inch that you could put in a corner of the trunk, or behind one of the rear seatbacks.

Would this be wired into the rear speaker for sound, and the battery for power?

 

[Jaymar]

I was under the impression that a subcompact powered sub did not require an amp. It is, in effect, an amp for itself. This impression could very well be wrong.

Those powered subs have all the same connections as an amp because, well, they're amps. At that point, you're splitting fine semantic hairs so you may as well open your possibilities to include component sub/amps too. The all-in-one is really only advantageous to an application where there is no space but for under the seat.

 

[Goterr0r]

You would wire a LOC or similar to the rear speakers if you wanted to be quick and dirty for a little bass. Yes you would get power from the battery for the amp that would be needed. Honestly, if you have not done subs in a modern car, i would just take it to a shop to have someone install it for you. So much has changed in the years and if you won't do things a certain way, it will sound like garbage.

 

[djcodeman]

I have a rockford fospage p300-8
Its an 8 inch POWERED sub....
To install you will need a line out converter (LOC): https://www.ebay.com/p/14033689402?iid=303229426824
Wiring Kit: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1354201932...EUr27/QGNg/ut9xNQ7VgYa9g==|tkp:Bk9SR-C9spO3ZQ

You run a power wire from the battery (with an in line fuse near the battery) to the sub (which has a built in amp).
You run a ground from the sub amp to the chasis
You run a remote turn on wire from the sub amp to the LOC
You splice into the rear speakers to give signal to the LOC.
Run RCA cables from the LOC to the amp.

Thats it.

 

[engineermike]

@djcodeman don't you also have to use forscan to add the bass back to the rear speaker signal?

 

[djcodeman]

@djcodeman don't you also have to use forscan to add the bass back to the rear speaker signal?

Forscan is just for flattening the EQ

 

[engineermike]

Forscan is just for flattening the EQ

Thats what I mean. If you’re trying to tap into the rear speakers for bass but the stock eq curve basically cuts the bass out of the signal, it seems like you’d need to flatten it if you intend to use that signal for the sub.

 

[Ewheels]

I have a rockford fospage p300-8
Its an 8 inch POWERED sub....
To install you will need a line out converter (LOC): https://www.ebay.com/p/14033689402?iid=303229426824
Wiring Kit: https://www.ebay.com/itm/135420193244?_skw=amp+wiring+kit&itmmeta=01JPWKCKTNWW9H2MEDT1D08X1V&hash=item1f87ac29dc:g:RGwAAOSwqY1nUBN3&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1eKgMxl617bpvdSE+yvtt7YU2hsHbk9D82dTKmenRyvY7Dg0dKNZVeyqMDyHn+v2YkVsnkAPjKLJm6pmUHz3Bu6xhtOpN/l5QVjRLR90diAXY5OlrE2lkvSnf6PPVpciQFSF3FblyrHO/ektntC9wszdVKWvMq/Ed5MQ+3S878iGUy4Znu0bMiXJK0yyt5ySl0c2kvvkSIX8tf+VTrIVaMAeIoTae+ZEqIu971qkvZotDZ20LQ9ggBuzaj+9XPfEogHeVoNvggztJGu7TsiT7EUr27/QGNg/ut9xNQ7VgYa9g==|tkp:Bk9SR-C9spO3ZQ

You run a power wire from the battery (with an in line fuse near the battery) to the sub (which has a built in amp).
You run a ground from the sub amp to the chasis
You run a remote turn on wire from the sub amp to the LOC
You splice into the rear speakers to give signal to the LOC.
Run RCA cables from the LOC to the amp.

Thats it.

I did this with a 500 watt amp and 12" sub befor the car turned more into a race car
No Forscan. Sounded great.

 

[Captdistraction]

There was a Alpine PSW drop in kit that put a slim subwoofer (and amp with t-harness for the main speakers) under the glove box without taking up leg room. I have one I just took out of my GT350 (the vehicle was hit while parked and ultimately a loss)

 

[Bassackwards]

I had the 6 speaker system in my f150 and I used Forscan to change it to preamp level, tapped into the speaker wiring using plug adapters and added amps, better speakers and subs. It was pretty simple.

A Mustang is basically the same

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