Best way to add bass to a IS 250

[alfa147x]

A friend of mine drives a 2008 Lexus IS 250 and wants to add a sub but he doesnt want it to be loud and "loose".

He is open to ordering online and having it installed here at a autoshop that does audio work
but not ebay or craigslist

with a budget for parts at about $300

Thanks a bunch
~Alfa

 

[sandorski]

You need a Speaker, a suitable Sub Box, and an Amp. Not very specific I know, but should get you the info you need for a Google. $300 won't buy you much, but should be enough to get a decent amount of Bass.

Start here, they even have a few Boxes, but I suspect they won't really be suitable.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: sandorski
You need a Speaker, a suitable Sub Box, and an Amp. Not very specific I know, but should get you the info you need for a Google. $300 won't buy you much, but should be enough to get a decent amount of Bass.

Start here, they even have a few Boxes, but I suspect they won't really be suitable.

Yeah i know i need those, just iv never put a sub in a car so i was just asking for recommendations

 

[alfa147x]

I was thinking about going with one 10" sub
Using this box:
http://www.parts-express.com/p...=1&vReviewRand=9379019

 

[sandorski]

You might want to find an Audio shop that does Installs and ask them what they can do for $300. The Box is really the trickiest/potentially most expensive part, you can get a cheap box or go all out and get one specifically designed to fit the Car. Either will work fine for the Audio, but the Custom Build will look a lot better.

 

[Turin39789]

10lb test and some minnows?

When you're done I'd just put them in a cooler, I don't think you could add a live well to a lexus for under $300

 

[sandorski]

Oh, didn't even see that page. :laugh: That'll work.




This might be a good idea. Might want to consider it.

 

[PCMarine]

Infinity Basslink FTW

I love mine, as it provides plenty of "tight" bass for cheap. It's small enough to barely take up any trunk space and reliability is perfect (haven't had any issues with it). It also looks stock which is a big plus compared to having a huge tacky sub box sliding around in your trunk.

Amazon

Installed in my 2000 Taurus

and again

 

[angry hampster]

If he doesn't want loud and loose, then he should just get one 10" sub.

I am a HUGE fan of Infinity's Basslink subwoofer/amp combos. I've had their older model in my Jeep Grand Cherokee for about 4 years. It sounds perfect with my upgraded door speakers; it's very tight, has remote volume control, and doesn't take up much space. Here's a link to the new model, which has a more powerful amp:
http://www.amazon.com/Infinity...&qid=1231470445&sr=8-2

Here's the old one, the one the I've got:
http://www.amazon.com/Infinity...&qid=1231470445&sr=8-1

Having a built-in crossover and amplifier saves so much space. It's simply wired in through the rear speakers, and then a ground an +12v connection. I also leave mine soft-mounted so I can just pop out the wires if I need to remove it for more room.

 

[alfa147x]

thanks he not sure if the basslink is loud enough

pretty loud but not that loud to where you can here it all the way down the street
kind of like austins
but i want to hear the music to

rap
mostly jay z
big
shit like that
nothing like soulja boy

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Have him take it to an audio shop and have them make a line out (RCA plug) from the rear deck speakers.

buy a amplifer install kit from KnuKonceptz

Then buy a 12" sub with high SQ and a non-ported sealed box with about 1.2cu/ft of space. Add in a 300W RMS mono amp and he will have Godzilla in his trunk for about $3-400.

I think the Basslink II is the best option but if he wants more bass than the scenario above is the best answer.

 

[JulesMaximus]

$300 would buy a lot of bass. They get kind of stinky if you leave them in your car for too long though...a few days and the smell would be unbearable.

 

[JulesMaximus]

On a serious note, the factory stereo is not easy to upgrade because that whole unit is linked in to a bunch of other systems. I don't know about adding a sub though.

 

[Bryf50]

Sub

Box

Amp

Wire the Type-R for 2 ohms and you'll have a lot of bass.
I've ordered from them many times. Really good prices too. You'll need a few more things like wires and probably a line out convertor but the shop that installs it will usually include them.

Edit: Just read he doesn't want it too loud. Maybe moving down to the 10" type-r and box would make it a little "tighter" too.

 

[SSSnail]

Dude, just go to best buys, CC or any of the local store, ask for a 10 inch deal + sub (if you look hard enough you might even find JL subs, good one channel amp); that should get you installed for less than $300. 10" is good enough for added bass, unless you're 18 and have your pants hang around your knees and walk funny.

If you, or your friend is remotely handy, you can install all this yourself quite easily. All it is really is a hot wire from the battery, connections from your rear speakers (put some filter on it if you must) to your amp (get one that auto turns on) and you're set.

 

[JDMnAR1]

Check out some of the package deals at Crutchfield. If all he wants to do is add some bottom end, any of them should do the trick.

 

[jtvang125]

One thing I want to point out is that Lexus cars are insulated very well between the cabin and the trunk. I know, I own a Lexus myself. Because of this you'll need either a big sub or a lot of power to get sufficient bass into the cabin. I once tried my brother's 2 10" JL w6v2 in my car with about 700w going to both. It was loud in my car but it was deafening in his (integra) with about the same amount of power.

I'd say go with a 12" in a sealed box and a 300-400w rms mono amp and that should give you some great bass fill.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

another vote for the Infinity Basslink, it added a decent amount of bass to my 2005 accord w/ navi for $200. Installed on my own in about 2 hours ish. doesn't rattle the car at all, but i did not need to remove my head unit for anything..

 

[MrPickins]

If you're working with the stock deck, you'll probably be without a line-level output. If so, find an amp with speaker-level inputs. Then you tap into the rear speaker feeds for your signal, and either a switch or a relay for your 12v remote turn-on. The quality won't be as good, but for $300, you have to take what you can get.

I have this type of setup in my truck. Eventually I'll get an aftermarket deck, but I've got more important things to pay for. One benefit is that the system looks stock from the outside. Nobody is gonna bother breaking into my truck.

 

[hans030390]

$300 is a good bit to work with and can get something pretty good. If you want my personal recommendation, I hear nothing but GREAT things about subs from Image Dynamics. For example:

http://www.woofersetc.com/inde...isplay&Product_ID=2034

They have the 2 and 4 ohm sub depending on the amp you want to get. For $150, that leaves you about $50 for the box and $100 for the amp. So, for example, you could get something like the below for the amp:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_4...ile-HA700M.html?tp=115

It's not the best thing in the world, but it has good ratings and should be FINE. It even matches the subs RMS power rating. You can definitely find nicer amps for around the same price if you search around, buy used, or check ebay. I like www.diymobileaudio.com for info and their FS section of the forums.

If you wanted to, you could get that 12" subwoofer box from Parts-express, but the model they have is about .25 cubic feet too bit for what that particular sub works best with. So, it wouldn't sound as good as it could...probably a bit more "boomy", but would still sound fine (and it's CHEAP). You can get boxes on ebay or from websites from Sonic Electronix for around $40-50 if you want a better fit.

He'll still need a wiring kit for the sub if the audio place doesn't include that. I'd recommend picking up your own...probably cheaper. I found a dual-amp wiring kit from Kicker brand-new on ebay for about half the normal selling price, for instance...so, a single amp install will be much cheaper (once again, Sonic Electronix has decent kits for cheap).

HOWEVER, if he needs a new headunit (he needs RCA outputs and a remote wire line for the amp), then what I say is totally off...that puts his sub budget down to about $200.

Tips:
- Don't just buy any box for a sub. All subs require a specific amount of internal box volume for the best sound. Check that first.
- 12" subs will go deeper than 10", but have a chance to be more boomy and "loose" sounding...however, I have a 12" sub that is NOT like that at all.
- For subs, look into Image Dynamics, Elemental Designs (sometimes they have good deals), Alpine, Boston Acoustics, Diamond Audio, MB Quart, JL Audio...I tend to trust these companies to have better sound quality subs. He has a big budget, so don't skimp out!
- You'll need something that can handle plenty of power, and an amp that can give out power...this is due to the sound dampening nature of the luxury type cars. It really is harder to hear the sub, so it'll have to be turned up louder to be heard (you don't want clipping).

Side note: Actually, I had a Blaupunkt subwoofer (got the matching amp, wiring kit, and it came with the box all for $200 at a retail store) and it sounded GOOD for a first sub. Just wanted to throw that out if he needs to shrink his budget.

If you go to midwestelectronics.com (I think), you can find a pre-enclosed 12" sub for under $100, and it's not hard to find a cheap amp to power it. I sold that to my girlfriend, and she had to turn it up much more than me to hear it in her car (Civic vs Solara). However, it still works and sounds great. Actually, I didn't notice a huge jump going from that to my current Elemental Designs sub (13Kv.2, I think), and the ED sub is a much "beefier" sub (and it has more power going to it. Are there better budget subs? Probably. I'm just saying that this one is good.

 

[fstime]

What about those under the seat subs?

I saw them in Crutchfield's magazine, don't know much about them, just putting it out there.