Let me preface by saying that I'm not looking for the kind of bass that shakes the houses on either side of the street as you drive by. I am looking for a quality, tight bass response greater than (obviously) what a 6x9 would put out.

Focal makes a 5" sub that I'm considering putting under the front seat or perhaps even replacing 2 of the front door speakers with a pair (not sure if they'll fit).

Would it make sense to you for me to replace the 6 1/2's (I have the Hi-Fi system)? Any thoughts?

Cheers,

Adam

 

5" sub? I would never purchase a sub smaller than 8" personally. Even if it IS made by the almighty "Focal". An 8" sub is going to hit much lower than a 5", and if it is installed in a small(er) sealed box, will provide you with nice, clean, tight bass response.

With subs, you are moving a lot more air than a standard speaker, so you want the box/sub mount to be nice and solid. I wouldn't recommend mounting subs in the door. Too much flexing IMO.

 

Definately stay away from the door as ratt pointed out. A sub's output has just as much to do with the enclosure the speaker is in than it does the speaker itself.

When I worked as an installer, I did do a couple of systems with these "smaller" subs. Not Focal specifically, but Clarion makes a little aplified enclosure with a 5 or a 6 in it. Also I think it's JL that makes a 5" sub. Just running 1 or 2 is really not gonna make enough difference to be worth the effort.Not a single customer that heard them (If they could hear them at all) was happy with the Clarion, and the JL system I installed used 4 of their 5's and I've heard more output from a single 8" in the trunk or a good quality pair of 6x9's with similar power running to them.

 

I put the Kenwood KSC 1100 with an active and passive 6.5" and I am pleased with the tight bass it provides. just my .02

 

Thanks for your help folks!
I think I'll look into replacing the stock 6x9's first and then take things from there. Maybe I'll try installing a sub in the boot later. I'm hesitant though to loose any more space back there.

Cheers,

Adam

 

I have an 03,

I turned the location of the 6X9's into 1 cubic foot sealed enclosures..

just barely got 8" subs behind the stock grills. it is stealth with terrific sound.

200x2 amp under the drivers seat.

Ann

 

While the focal 5" may not go low, I bet it hits as hard as Mike Tyson. I wouldn't compare them to a Clarion in any sense.

They should have a good enclosure and ample watts to push them though. Definiately not in the door being powered by the stock amp.

 

got any pics of this setup?
are you running stock head unit? HK?
-glen

 

Hey Familiar,
What made you pick that particular unit anyway? Just curious, was it the best fit for space, cheapest, ....? Still no pics of it in huh?

 

OK after being a member since early 2002, I have finally loaded some pics in my gallery...LOL!

There are several threads on amp and head unit installs, but not many on hidden sub woofers.
First I tried 6X9 true subs in place of stock speakers, driven by a Blaupunkt
200 watt amp that fit in the cubby in the boot (line level to RCA converter on stock head unit).
Then I upgraded the fronts to CDT CF 6.5's.... Then changed out the head unit to Alpine 9815 with Alpine 100x4 (under passenger seat) to drive fronts. This then upstaged the subs, so i upgraded again and switched to the 8" ED's driven by the 2X200 amp under the drivers seat.

I am hearing impaired (not due to loud music) so this gives me loud, undistorted sound.
Of course this only works when I am alone in the car You can't imagine how Kodo drummers sound!

Ann

 

birdman, I picked it based on size and price mostly. Also a crutchfield article (ill see if i can find it) comparing it to another compact sub (i believe a JBL). I have had trouble getting pictures of it because...well... its hidden. It is under the seat, unseen and pushing air into the cavity below the passenger seat, but ill see if i cant give you an idea of how it looks

 

Thanks. No need to shoot pics now, (unless you take it apart....). I wanted to see pics of it going in, with the seat out.

Speaking of the seat, I had a few minutes to blow the other day, and tried quickly to remove the seat to have a look. I couldn't get the seat uncrewed for the life of me. You have to take the 4 "star" screws out right? were they REALLY tight when you removed them? i couldn't budge it.

Also, did you use the speaker level input on the Kenwood sub, or did you also install a line converter and use the RCA input?

 

best buy installed a line converter. the screws were tight but i got em eventually. if you need more help im just a PM away

 

You dont need to remove the screw, the two black tabs on each inner side of the seat, bend them in or out slightly and tilt the seat forward or back, then look on the opposite end of the seat. It's hinged, find the slot and the seat comes out. Hope this makes sense.

 

Actually, doesn't make sense. Where are these tabs, on the track part of the seat, on the parts that mount to the floor, or on the seta itself....? Can I ask you to snap a shot of this?

 

In this pic, if you go to the center of the seats and lay them down, there are tabs to the r/L of main screw, pry them left or right(cant remember) and follow my instructions from there.

 

The tabs are between the two rear seatbacks. Go straight down with a screw driver. There are two bent tongues of of black steel. One for each seatback. You have to pry one back so it frees the hub of a rod coming out of the seatback.

Then see this thread for the rest of the story.

 

ahhhhh, no wonder I couldn't figure out what you were referring to!!

We are talking the FRONT passenger seat, not the rears.

Thanks for the info anyway guys.

 

Sorry!!!