How To Put A Subwoofer In A Car Based On Sub Type

Installing a sub is much easier than you think.

If you want to learn how to put a subwoofer in your car, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find out that most subs are fairly easy to install, as long as you have the right tools to connect the system and mount the enclosure.

If you’ve bought best car subwoofer for deep bass for your particular setup, it will be compatible with your existing system and should come in an enclosure that will blend in with your vehicle’s interior.

Once you have all the basic tools and your new sub, read our installation guide, which will provide you with all of the steps to follow for a faster, simpler installation.

Putting Subwoofers In A Car: Guide

Continue reading to learn how to correctly install a sub based on sub and enclosure type and find out what type of sub can bring out the best in your car’s stereo system.

Basic Installation

The sub is a specialized speaker that’s designed to reproduce low notes. They’re so popular because they produce strong, deep bass. They also enhance the sound of your other speakers by diverting notes that a standard speaker will often struggle to reproduce.

In general, subs are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. The unpowered sub is probably the most common type.

This sub doesn’t come with a built-in amp for power, so it must be connected to an external amp in order to draw power. While some subs can be used with an enclosure box to save on space, most models will need a strong full-sized enclosure in order to properly function.

A basic sub installation is a cinch. All you have to do is mount the sub to an appropriate enclosure, connecting the leads to the enclosure’s terminal cup, then use the included hardware. This process shouldn’t take more than twenty minutes.

Next, you’ll run the wiring to the amp. You’ll have a few options in terms of how you want to wire your subwoofer. For max output, you can wire it in parallel.

Ready-Made Models

Ready-made subs like the Rockville RW10CA 10″ 800 Watt Slim Low Profile Active Powered Car Subwoofer are the easiest way to boost the level of bass in your system because the manufacturer has already built the enclosure and installed the sub.

Some models that feature a ready-made enclosure may come with two or three subs. You can choose the size of sub and style you want, based on the other components in your system, the amount of space you have to work with, and your amp.

In certain makes and models of cars, a non-amplified, ready-made sub will be installed in the trunk. If you’re providing it with enough power, the bass the sub produces will be strong enough to easily penetrate the backseat in your car.

All you need to do is connect the wires from the amp to the speaker, and make sure the enclosure itself is stable and secure in the trunk. This can be accomplished by using brackets and straps.

Powered Sub Installation

If you want to install a sub that’s equipped with a built-in amp, then you won’t have to worry about hooking up speaker wires. However, you will need to install a patch cord. For turn-on and ground leads, and for power, you’ll need an amp wiring kit. This involves running wire under your car seats.

The powered sub is usually very easy to use and highly portable. Since they’re portable they can be quickly removed and also take up less space compared to a separate sub and amp setup.

Pre-Fab Enclosures

Ready-made subwoofers definitely have their advantages, but component subs with a pre-fab enclosure provide the buyer with more options if they want to go with an appropriate enclosure and a component sub. While it’s more work in terms of the installation process, the buyer will get to create the exact type of sound they want.

Additionally, there’s more control over sound quality, as far as choosing the sub or subs that will best suit your musical needs, and choosing the type of enclosure that will best optimize the sub’s sonic properties.

Most models of component subs don’t come with their own hardware, which means you’ll need to purchase your own. Additionally, you may need to buy hardware and speaker wire to connect the speaker or speakers to the terminal cup in the enclosure. Last of all, you will need to find some straps or brackets to secure the enclosure in your vehicle and prevent it from sliding around.

Related Questions

Do I Have to Get a Sub for My Car’s Audio System?

Yes and no. Many people want to know how to improve car sound and are surprised to learn that subs aren’t just for heavy bass tracks.

In fact, they can also enhance the sound of your other speakers and allow you to hear your music in a way that you never have before. So, regardless of the type of genre you normally listen to, a sub can make a world of difference in terms of sound quality and fullness.

How Do I Install Subs in Trunk?

As we mentioned earlier, installing a sub in a trunk is pretty simple. Most subs produce sound that’s strong enough to penetrate the backseat. You may need to wire the sub to your speakers or an amp, depending on the type of sub you’ve purchased. However, most sub enthusiasts can agree that a trunk installation is the simplest install option for subs by far.

How To Put Subwoofer In Car: Final Thoughts

For the most part, figuring out how to put a subwoofer in your car is fairly simple and often depends on the type of sub and enclosure you purchase, the amount of space you have in your vehicle, and even the vehicle’s make and model.

But even the most complex setup will only take around an hour to install. If you’re still not sure how to properly install your new sub and enclosure, then visit your local car stereo store or your mechanic and learn what type of hardware and wiring you’ll need or you can always fork over the cash and have the sub professionally installed.