Under seat subwoofer
Discussion
The standard system on my Octavia is OK, decent mid and highs but certain tracks lack bass. I think I've been trying to compensate by turning up the volume and have now blown a woofer.
I know an amped sub in the boot would be best but this us the family wagon and is often full to the brim.
I'm therefore considering an under seat sub and was wondering if anyone has experienced one and what you thought if it? Local audio place can fit a Phoenix Gold 8" one for £330.
I know an amped sub in the boot would be best but this us the family wagon and is often full to the brim.
I'm therefore considering an under seat sub and was wondering if anyone has experienced one and what you thought if it? Local audio place can fit a Phoenix Gold 8" one for £330.
Hanslow said:
Would a spare wheel mount sub help? They're not massively powered but can fill out the sound nicely without swamping it. VAG did one as an option so you should be able to pick one up relatively cheap. Mine is currently sat in the loft and I modified mine to take a left and right signal through standard crimp bullet connectors rather than the specialised connector and it worked fine in use. Has a small amp built in, so just needs power, switched power and audio signal. Worth looking up to see if you can get one cheap, assuming you have room in your spare wheel to mount one.
Something like this: https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/300155-how-t... although that shows how to modify the bose Mazda one for a VAG vehicle. There are VAG ones that should be more plug and play. I think mine is the Bose type shown in the link.
2-3 times a year I remove the false boot floor and cram stuff into the spare wheel well (my car doesn't even have a spare, just foam). I could just remove the sub each time but that's a bit of extra work I could do without to be honest. Something like this: https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/300155-how-t... although that shows how to modify the bose Mazda one for a VAG vehicle. There are VAG ones that should be more plug and play. I think mine is the Bose type shown in the link.
Edited by Hanslow on Sunday 2nd January 10:01
Lincsls1 said:
I fitted a Vibe Pulse C8 under seat subwoofer.
It works very well, I actually turn down the bass on the head unit so I can drive the HU louder meaning the car speakers have an easier, distortion free ride, whilst the sub does more of the heavy work.
Its only a 240w max power (80w RMS) amp, but remember this adds to what you've got.
Just don't expect too much, it can't compete with a massive amp and boom box in the boot.
Thanks, really good to hear your opinion. I'm not expecting the windows to shake, it simply can't move enough air, but if it can fill in the bottom end on some tracks I'll be happy. It works very well, I actually turn down the bass on the head unit so I can drive the HU louder meaning the car speakers have an easier, distortion free ride, whilst the sub does more of the heavy work.
Its only a 240w max power (80w RMS) amp, but remember this adds to what you've got.
Just don't expect too much, it can't compete with a massive amp and boom box in the boot.
Edited by Lincsls1 on Sunday 2nd January 10:19
stargazer30 said:
Op when most people say my system lacks bass, they typically are missing the mid bass, not sub bass.
I've used under seat subs and boot subs but in all honestly the best musical bass I've heard has been via a good set of front components speakers in a sound deadened door fed by a half decent or better aftermarket amp.
The boot subs were good for impressing kids at macDs though
That's interesting. I'd have to put the amp somewhere though. I've used under seat subs and boot subs but in all honestly the best musical bass I've heard has been via a good set of front components speakers in a sound deadened door fed by a half decent or better aftermarket amp.
The boot subs were good for impressing kids at macDs though
Thanks for all the replies, I've found each useful and they'll help me make a decision.
griffin dai said:
stargazer30 said:
I've used under seat subs and boot subs but in all honestly the best musical bass I've heard has been via a good set of front components speakers in a sound deadened door fed by a half decent or better aftermarket amp.
This^^^^^Deadening makes a hell of a difference, never felt the need for subs in my old car, 2 way focals comps up front, DLS amp & properly EQ’d & TA’d with a decent head unit.
stargazer30 said:
phil_cardiff said:
griffin dai said:
stargazer30 said:
I've used under seat subs and boot subs but in all honestly the best musical bass I've heard has been via a good set of front components speakers in a sound deadened door fed by a half decent or better aftermarket amp.
This^^^^^Deadening makes a hell of a difference, never felt the need for subs in my old car, 2 way focals comps up front, DLS amp & properly EQ’d & TA’d with a decent head unit.
Front Speakers: JL Audio C2-650 6.5" 16.5cm 2 Way Component car speakers - £250
Rear Speakers: JL AUDIO C2-650X 6.5 16.5cm 2-Way Coaxial Speaker - £200
Amp: VIBE Powerbox 4 Channel Micro Amplifier - 4 x 65W - £100
Flashing tape from B&Q to deaden the doors - £25
Speaker wire from ebay about £15
Amp wiring kit - ebay about £10 - £15
My advice would be to leave the rear speakers for now and see how you get on with an amp and fronts first. The amp is the weak link above, If you can afford it, anything JL Audio, Focal or similar brand name would be better.
defblade said:
As you're working on an Octavia, you might like to nose through my Rapid install (starts halfway down page 1) which could well be similar. I'm Swansea/Crosshands way (I'm assuming you're Cardiff!); you're welcome to come and listen if you're over this way at all. (I can cut out the sub so you can hear what door mids might sound like on their own (although they're high-passed at 80Hz, IIRC)).
The speakers were/are about £160; the amps and sub I had already... but notice I have connected the sub so it can be moved, or even taken out completely very easily. The expensive bit was the DSP (I got it for £210 from Amazon), but if you chose amp/s with high-level inputs, you wouldn't actually need it at all... although it does allow great and easy tuning of the system. Then there's costs in wires, fuses etc - generally nothing massive, but they do add up a bit.
As an aside, I do have a couple of old-but-half-decent amps, some spare deadening and a (chunkier than the one in the Rapid) 10" Focal boxed sub sat in the garage, any/all of which I could sell on at very, very reasonable prices
God knows I've been too lazy to put it on Gumtree!
That is hugely impressive. But also massive scope/budget creep for what I'm after - but isn't that always the case! The speakers were/are about £160; the amps and sub I had already... but notice I have connected the sub so it can be moved, or even taken out completely very easily. The expensive bit was the DSP (I got it for £210 from Amazon), but if you chose amp/s with high-level inputs, you wouldn't actually need it at all... although it does allow great and easy tuning of the system. Then there's costs in wires, fuses etc - generally nothing massive, but they do add up a bit.
As an aside, I do have a couple of old-but-half-decent amps, some spare deadening and a (chunkier than the one in the Rapid) 10" Focal boxed sub sat in the garage, any/all of which I could sell on at very, very reasonable prices
God knows I've been too lazy to put it on Gumtree!griffin dai said:
Just try the deadening route first you’ll be surprised how much of a difference it makes. The standard system on my old 9-3 was awful and that had the full 13 speaker & 2 amp set up. One of the worst I’ve heard, I just deadened the doors at first and it really added some bass.
https://www.deadening.co.uk/products/silent-coat-s...
Takes a couple hours but we’ll worth it
Strange isn't it? I had the HK system in my 9-5 aero (amp and 16 speakers I think) and it was great, balanced with plenty of low end. https://www.deadening.co.uk/products/silent-coat-s...
Takes a couple hours but we’ll worth it
If I buy any sound deadening it'll first be used on the boot floor and around the rear wheels to combat the infamous Octavia 'boom' at 70mph!
Had a Phoenix Gold Z880 fitted yesterday. I think I probably overpaid a bit but it was done in 3hrs, its fitted so discreetly you can't even see it and the firm who supplied and fitted it are reputable and I have a come back if it all goes wrong.
Only listened to it for about 30mins so far on my drive home but so far so good. Does the sound now give me the clear distinction between that my hifi separates at home do? No, of course not. Does it usefully upgrade my car's system and 'fill in' the bottom end? Absolutely! In fact the little sub can overwhelm and I've dialled it down quite a bit. I'll have to play with the settings to find the right balance of sound but I'm happy so far.
I think it's the equivalent of adding a sound bar/base to your TV. You don't get perfection but you do get a huge improvement.
Only listened to it for about 30mins so far on my drive home but so far so good. Does the sound now give me the clear distinction between that my hifi separates at home do? No, of course not. Does it usefully upgrade my car's system and 'fill in' the bottom end? Absolutely! In fact the little sub can overwhelm and I've dialled it down quite a bit. I'll have to play with the settings to find the right balance of sound but I'm happy so far.
I think it's the equivalent of adding a sound bar/base to your TV. You don't get perfection but you do get a huge improvement.
griffin dai said:
phil_cardiff said:
Had a Phoenix Gold Z880 fitted yesterday. I think I probably overpaid a bit but it was done in 3hrs, its fitted so discreetly you can't even see it and the firm who supplied and fitted it are reputable and I have a come back if it all goes wrong.
Only listened to it for about 30mins so far on my drive home but so far so good. Does the sound now give me the clear distinction between that my hifi separates at home do? No, of course not. Does it usefully upgrade my car's system and 'fill in' the bottom end? Absolutely! In fact the little sub can overwhelm and I've dialled it down quite a bit. I'll have to play with the settings to find the right balance of sound but I'm happy so far.
I think it's the equivalent of adding a sound bar/base to your TV. You don't get perfection but you do get a huge improvement.
Only listened to it for about 30mins so far on my drive home but so far so good. Does the sound now give me the clear distinction between that my hifi separates at home do? No, of course not. Does it usefully upgrade my car's system and 'fill in' the bottom end? Absolutely! In fact the little sub can overwhelm and I've dialled it down quite a bit. I'll have to play with the settings to find the right balance of sound but I'm happy so far.
I think it's the equivalent of adding a sound bar/base to your TV. You don't get perfection but you do get a huge improvement.
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