Adding bass

D

derekiscool

New member
Okay, so I'm pretty bad with speakers and all so I thought maybe you guys could help me. I'm trying to add a bass to my 1997 4runner. I have no idea how to do this. Can someone please help?!
 
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derekiscool said:
Okay, so I'm pretty bad with speakers and all so I thought maybe you guys could help me. I'm trying to add a bass to my 1997 4runner. I have no idea how to do this. Can someone please help?!
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First off, what do you want it to sound like? Do you like massive thump to impress all the stereo-heads, or do you want musical bass to blend in and not call attention to itself? Do you want to keep as much space as possible? Do you have RCA jacks on your radio? Are you already running an amp for the other speakers? How loud do you want it to be? How much are you wanting to spend?
 
I have a sub woofer I use for my computer and I want to connect that one to my car. I just need to know what I need and how to plug it in
 
derekiscool said:
I have a sub woofer I use for my computer and I want to connect that one to my car. I just need to know what I need and how to plug it in
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Well, right off the bat, the voltage won't match--that's a 120V AC unit, not 12V DC. It's probably a low-powered design made for a relatively quiet environment, whereas an automoblile is the loudest, most hostile place to try to reproduce low frequencies, which is why they're usually always pretty beefy set-ups--road noise alone will probably make that computer speaker practically disappear. You sure you can't come up with something else?
 
well I already have an converter. I got it online and its the right voltage. My bass is pretty powerful. It's 200 watts. Do you think I should go for it or not?
 
I think you should have spent whatever money you did on that converter to buy a cheap 12" sub. Then spend $30 on wood to build yourself a box. Or buy a cheap one from walmart... anything but run a home theatre sub in your truck please.
 
Well, set it in back, run some cables to it, and see how it sounds...I guess. If you like the output, and you're not cooking the inverter (bass hits take a lot of power, and you need to make sure your inverter is up to the task), it could work. I'd temporarily strap it down somehow and go for a drive--anything can sound good in a parking lot. You'll need to match connectors between the radio and sub--either RCA's, or speaker wires through a line-level converter (you can't run an amped signal into the sub's amp). Once you figure out what you need, if you're going with this, make sure you keep your signal wires separate from your power wires when you route them. Also, does your radio have separate sub controls? You'll need to separate the mains from the sub somehow. The mounting is up to you. Let your ears be the judge if you want to go this route.
 
I have a 10" JL in a enclosure meant to be behind the seat in a standard cab pickup. It doesn't take up a whole lot of room and has really good low end. It's not boomy, just clean sounding.
 
Victor_inox said:
do you have RCA outs on your head unit?it`s gonna sound like shid, you do realise that, righ?
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Since you've already stated in previous posts that you think this section is a joke, why do you keep trolling through just to stomp on people's ideas? Maybe it WILL sound bad, maybe it won't--he obviously DOESN'T think so, so why would you even say that, except to try to sound "superior"? The gist of the previous posts makes it clear that it's a longshot--no need to kick the guy in the teeth for thinking outside the box. If you're just going to bash people, stay out of the section.
 
BucknutBob said:
First off, what do you want it to sound like? Do you like massive thump to impress all the stereo-heads, or do you want musical bass to blend in and not call attention to itself? Do you want to keep as much space as possible? Do you have RCA jacks on your radio? Are you already running an amp for the other speakers? How loud do you want it to be? How much are you wanting to spend?
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Agree with BucknutBob, you need to define what you want and how far you're willing to go to do it. If you're happy with current setup and just want a to add bass this from another thread might help: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/audio-electronics/112910-school-me-speakers-amps-3.html#post1042327

BTW ONE IMPORTANT THING TO DO without spending a penny is make sure your speakers are all in phase (all positive (red) wires are connected to positive terminals, all negative (black) wires connected to negative terminals. When speakers are out of phase you lose bass. If you are sensitive to out-of-phase conditions, you can stand between two speakers and you'd feel like something is tickling inside your head - between your ears. I get that when I enter a room for example where speakers are out of phase.

ANOTHER important thing you could do with minimal expense is put your speakers in sturdy enclosures OR apply damping material inside the body panels behind your speakers. You lose bass when the bass energy coming from behind your woofer is wasted rattling the car body. An enclosure, especially one with port (hole) in front, aka Bass-reflex enclosure will direct that energy into the cabin, not the body panels. With or without fancy electronics, you need to take care of the acoustics.
 
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You're getting some good feedback here. My input is just that you will want to keep a real close eye on that inverter. If its a cheap unit, it's unlikely to be up to the job and a fire is not such a remote possibility.
 
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