Car Subwoofer & Amp

erub

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2000
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I wanna upgrade the stero in my car to get some more base :). I only wanna spend around $150-200, plus installation. What are some good subwoofers? I don't have an amp, just the factory stero in my 95 Oldsmobile Cutlass SL, do I need one, and can I get a sub with one built in. That needs to be included in the $150-200. How difficult is it to do a self-installation? I'm probably not going to do it unless it is ridiculously easy...but I'm just curious about it.

Thanks
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
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200 won't get you much in the world of subs - and yes, you most definitly need an amp. Don't be stingy - save up 200 more and get something nicer :)
 

erub

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2000
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I don't have the money, nor do I wanna spend it..I'm not an audiophile by any means.
 

gnognugs

Banned
Feb 17, 2001
810
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Genocide is right. Save a couple hundo more, get a 12" sub in a box, and the biggest amp (most single channel output) you can afford. With the low frequencies, quality is not much of a concern (not nearly as much as mids and highs).
There is definitely a threshold of approx $400.00 tho. SAVE
:(
 

Nutdotnet

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2000
7,721
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Still for $200 you are going to have a tough time finding anything.

You may want to look at a "Bazooka Tube" Sub kinda thing. Has an amp installed and will probably fit your needs, well at least it will fit your budget.
 

Z24

Senior member
Oct 19, 1999
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You will need:

-a subwoofer (one 12" is good)
-an amplifier
-a box (general rule: sealed sounds the best, but bandpass and ported can put out more bass)
-a bunch of wiring

The easiest setup is this:

Mount the amp to the back of your rear seats. Then run a decent size ground (negative) cable (easiest place to attach is to the same bolt that the seatbelt uses). The positive has to be run to the battery. You can run this under the door molding along the side to get to the front of the car. You then need to get through the firewall which sometimes involves taking the dash off (not really a big deal). Make sure you put a fuse on the positive power wire very near to the battery.

To feed a signal to the amp, you can tap into the rear speakers. This is not the best way to do it, but if you aren't going to replace the deck, its the only way. You have to get an amp that accepts high-level inputs.

Then just put the sub in the box and attach it to the amp, set the levels, and there ya go!

You should be able to do that install in a few hours even if you don't know what you're doing :)

As for what to buy, $200 is a little low. Right now, I have an entry level sub and amp. Phoenix Gold QX12 in a sealed box, and a QX2180 amp. I'm thinking of selling this, and would probably get about $350cdn ~ $230US. If you want to buy used gear, you can get something decent for around that price.

EDIT: links
 

Zucchini

Banned
Dec 10, 1999
4,601
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$200 for an amp and sub? You have to understand car audio doesn't come cheap. Another thing is combining an sub with your lousy factory system isn't the best thing to do. Car audio unlike computer audio is sadly very expensive.
 

Soybomb

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2000
9,506
2
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Save your money a bit longer. Don't forget that getting some nicer speakers and receiver will offer you much better clarity and improved bass over your factory one. That should be your first step I think.

edit: You mention you're not an audiophile. You will be able to tell a huge difference in getting better speakers and a new head unit. Unless all you are wanting is ghetto bass then I still recommend the path I listed above. If you want ghetto bass.....just put in solid motor mounts then you'll get your rumbling.
 

Zucchini

Banned
Dec 10, 1999
4,601
0
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yes, ghetto bass in your olds cutlass. You better not be one of those idiots that goes around blasting distorted garbage with your windows down trying to look kewl or something... i'll have to come shoot you myself.
 

erub

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2000
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that's what i want..:p and yes i don't hafta try to look cool, i am cool :p
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
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<< You better not be one of those idiots that goes around blasting distorted garbage with your windows down trying to look kewl or something >>


My subs can handle the bass I throw at it - so no distortion. And it's too cold for me to keep the windows down all the time - I'll save that for summertime :)
 

Doodoo

Golden Member
Feb 14, 2000
1,423
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200...its possible...check out the 99' IDQ 12...they go for bout 100. And..check out an MTX 752...that goes for about another 100. Go to home depot for wires...and install that it urself. That should sound pretty decent. Oh wait...if u got a deck u need one of those PAC thingys.
 

Dunbar

Platinum Member
Feb 19, 2001
2,041
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E-mail me and I can find you some stuff on the car audio classified boards. You can get a good setup for that price but you need to know what to look for. Like everyone else said you need an enclosure for the sub. Also, installing an amp is not very easy. You need to run a power wire from the battery to the trunk and splice into the rear speaker wires.
 

Z24

Senior member
Oct 19, 1999
611
0
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<< that's what i want.. and yes i don't hafta try to look cool, i am cool >>



you won't get ghetto bass for $200. What you get for $200 won't be heard outside of the car (although it will be decently loud inside).

Hell, what you get for $400 (bought new) probably won't be heard outside of the car.
 

AUMM

Diamond Member
Mar 13, 2001
3,029
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ide say a bazooka tube would be the best for how much money u have, theyre pretty good, my friend has one. for subs a box and an amp ude be way over 200, cost me a lot more
 

Mixxen

Golden Member
Mar 10, 2000
1,154
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I guess you could go cheapo, and get an amplified bazooka sub and then go to radio shack and buy an electronic crossover.

That should cost about 200 bucks.
 

bigshooter

Platinum Member
Oct 12, 1999
2,157
0
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JL 12W0 around 100-110 bux. Box, build your own or buy one for 20 bux. Amp, a cheap 75x2 will work, try to buy one from one of your little gangsta wanna be friends. Check with the guy that has 6 15's in the back of his 83 escort. He's probably got an old amp he can sell you. It'll be over 200 but it'll sound good. Don't try to install it yourself, you'll probably electrocute yourself or blow out your electrical system or soemthing.
 

Gorgonzola

Golden Member
Nov 22, 1999
1,300
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76
with car audio i say you either stay with the crappy stock radio/cd or you upgrade to the extreme. there is no in between :) car audio is so expensive that if you are going to spend money on it, you might as well do it right the first time. :D