1st time w/ aftermarket sub on stock deck...questions...

[The Tran]

Well like the title says. This is the first time I've had a aftermarket sub setup on a stock system. I've installed a few in my time but never fully experienced it. More like I was paid to do it and tuned it according to a cd and let it go...I never heard any complaints from those customers...

Anyways, I just installed my 10w6 w/ a alpine pdx1000w amp using an in line converter. When I first installed it I tuned it and it sounded great. After cruising for a while I started to notice I had to adjust the bass/mid almost every song. I would also get spikes causing my sub to hit really hard for a beat and then be calm.

Some songs the system sounds great and some it doesnt. Even when I use a cd I know is good for certain sounds it will play different on every song. I continously have to make adjustments to make it sound good. The only cd I didnt have to adjust was my USACI competition one.

I'm used to a full aftermarket system. In my tiburon I have a kenwood deck, orion components, 2 12w3's, rockford amps. etc....and it sounds awesome all the time. Some songs of course sound better than others but it plays well throughout All types of music.

Questions....

Am I experiencing this only because I'm using the stock deck that doesn't have a "sub" ouput?

Would it help If I put the inline converter before the stock amp so it's not getting amplified signals?

Would one of the other high dollar interfaces solve my problem?

I really don't want to get another navigation system. I like the stock one but If having a stock deck means my bass will suffer horribly I may have to upgrade.

Thanks for any input

[Super T]

You can't put the converter upstream of the amp, sadly. A high dollar interface, like the 3sixty1 or whatever the hell it's called, will have some kind of "auto-EQ" in it... basically a compressor on each post-crossover signal. It scrunches the signal down into a smaller volume range so it sounds better more of the time. I don't know that you can do that w/ just an amp...

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

when adding a sub to a stock system it is always advisable to also add a volume/sub control knob for that subs amp.

pac-audio makes a universal one callled the LC-2 http://thecarstereosource.com/pac-audio-lc3.html


this will give you volume control over the sub woofer. separate from the rest of the speakers...

[The Tran]

You can't put the converter upstream of the amp, sadly. A high dollar interface, like the 3sixty1 or whatever the hell it's called, will have some kind of "auto-EQ" in it... basically a compressor on each post-crossover signal. It scrunches the signal down into a smaller volume range so it sounds better more of the time. I don't know that you can do that w/ just an amp...

hmm....thanks for the info.

when adding a sub to a stock system it is always advisable to also add a volume/sub control knob for that subs amp.

pac-audio makes a universal one callled the LC-2 http://thecarstereosource.com/pac-audio-lc3.html

this will give you volume control over the sub woofer. separate from the rest of the speakers...

so this has rca outputs? is this made strictly for a sub out or is it just a channel out?
on all the past stock/sub setups the amps have had bass knobs....but my alpine doesnt. this looks like it would solve the problem. thanks

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

hmm....thanks for the info.



so this has rca outputs? is this made strictly for a sub out or is it just a channel out?
on all the past stock/sub setups the amps have had bass knobs....but my alpine doesnt. this looks like it would solve the problem. thanks

yes it takes the high level (speaker wire) as input and outputs to RCA for the AMP.

think it runs about $45 or so...

[The Tran]

thanks. i just bought one. hopefully this will work to my liking

[MagnumRT05]

I got what you need lemme go find it!

[MagnumRT05]

Nothing will work but this. Stock HU have a way of turning the bass down as it gets louder. Thats just how they are designed, so that people dont blow the speakers in the car. The answer...

http://www.reqsound.com/

Enjoy and youll thank me. I gotta run up to HH Gregg to get one myself as I have the same problem.

[The Tran]

Nothing will work but this. Stock HU have a way of turning the bass down as it gets louder. Thats just how they are designed, so that people dont blow the speakers in the car. The answer...

http://www.reqsound.com/

Enjoy and youll thank me. I gotta run up to HH Gregg to get one myself as I have the same problem.

That also sounds like what I need since it states you wont have to adjust the bass all the time.... but I don't have a problem getting enough bass....The fact is I'm getting to much.

I have the gain turned all the way down on the amp and I have the bass on the navi at 0 and it will be to much on certain songs while at the same time I can barely hear my mid/highs. I need something that will allow me to turn the bass down and keep the cabin speakers loud with the stock amp.

I don't really have 140 to spend right now for that. I already bought the PAC thing for $25 shipped so I'll try that and see how it works. If I still have a problem I'll look into it but I may just want to upgrade the navi if the Pac doesnt work.

Thanks for the info. Already bookmarked!

*DAMN!! I just checked ebay and they have it for $80 shipped. I would of bought that instead since it has more outputs and more control options. Plus a remote wire. *

[MagnumRT05]

Once you put a sub in that is high powered, you wont be able to hear the speakers at all. I also have mine at 0 and I have 6.5s everywhere (in doors/in rear) and still cant hear much but it was alot better than the 6x9s in my doors! The stock HU just sends bass to the doors, so youd have to get a sweet amp for all your speakers for it to sound loud enough. Dont get rid of the nav. That thing will work and I have 3200+ RMS and I dont need a line driver yet so just keep the nav its sweet

[The Tran]

i know that you cant have a high powered sub with stock speakers and have it all sound good. but I have the upgraded speakers with the stock amp that sound pretty damn good actually. they're not like components on a 400w amp but they're pretty darn close.

i was hoping I could keep the cabin speakers as they were with the stock amp and just add the sub for the rear bass. the speakers in the doors actually put out a decent amount of bass stock and i want to keep it for now.

i guess we'll see if the pac thing works and if not i may buy the re-Q.

i see you changing your setup again...how many is that now?

[MagnumRT05]

I lost count and money lol :(

But I cant use 2 15s for daily anymore at 150 dB. It popped my side skirts off so I just said screw it and now selling it all since I cant afford the amp I want to give the subs their true RMS (XX-Maxximus). Plus im over the teen stage where you put an ugly box in your car just for the subs to sound good. And Id love to keep my hearing...

But let me know how the pac works out please.

[The Tran]

lol...popped off the side skirts huh....nice.

i'll keep you posted. hopefully i'll have it before the weekend so i can put it in.

MR. Incredible.....

am I supposed to install this after the stock amp? if so can i wire it right there at the amp so it's still close to the dash and within reach for the knob?