Compact small powered subwoofer for my TJ

**Jerry Bransford** · 11-05-2009, 03:50 PM

The back of my TJ is filled with two big metal storage containers so I don't have sufficient room for a traditional subwoofer. I have my Infinity 475a amp mounted on the front of a big aluminum storage container where the back seat used to be and there is just enough room remaining on that side for something like this... Kenwood - KSC-SW10 which is a powered subwoofer from Kenwood.

I need something no larger than that and it definitely can't be any deeper.

I'm an old guy so I won't be trying to compete in audio contests, I just want to be able to hear more bass. The powered subwoofers I have looked at, like that Kenwood, have an upper cutoff at about 120Hz which is right about where I need it to be for my existing 5.25" and 6.5" Polk speakers. So has anyone actually heard this kind of powered subwoofer? Is it "acceptable" for needs like I have describe?

Please, no suggestions I build an enclosure or go for an 8" or whatever and add another amp. A self-contained powered subwoofer is what I want for its small size and simplicity, I just am curious if anyone has installed one and has any comments as to its ability to provide decent... not earth shattering... bass. This is a trail Jeep not a street Jeep so exceptional bass is of no importance to me.

I asked this question in another thread recently but never got an answer...

rubibluejay · 11-05-2009, 04:41 PM

Jerry, I don't think that the KSC-SW10 would be worth it in your application. It only puts out 38 watts RMS...roughly half of what your Infinity 475a (75 x 4 RMS @ 4 Ohms) amp puts out. While the 5x7 woofer & 5x7 passive radiator would help with the lows, it's not enough power to make a noticeable difference.

Jay

**Jerry Bransford** · 11-05-2009, 07:32 PM

38 watts RMS?? Crap, how in the world did I miss that! It took a little digging since not even Kenwood mentions its RMS rating but Crutchfield confirmed the 38 watt figure. Yep you're right, my noisy Jeep will require more watts than that, thanks for letting me know about its true wattage figure.

Does anyone know of a similar compact powered subwoofer with more RMS wattage power?

**alexrule123** · 11-05-2009, 07:53 PM

My uncle has this in his Suburban and it sounds nice and it says 200 wrms which should be more than enough. Infinity - Car Audio

DFWCook · 11-06-2009, 02:53 AM

Jerry I would suggest to you a completely different approach to the subwoofer. Add a transducer such as an Aura Pro Bass Shaker or a Clark Synthesis transducer. The reason I say this is when most people want to add a subwoofer they do so not for the audio of it but for the feel of it. If your audio system sounds great and you just want some more bass this will give the bass your system has more definition by way of feel. You wont have to worry about disturbing the neighbors or even SPL laws. These units are quite small and need very little power. They will not shake your jeep apart either. This has been a simple trick to do for many years where space is very limited. If you decide to do this I would suggest that you add some dynomat or other sound deadening material to the surface where you plan to mount the transducer as to help with its function. Yes I know sounds like its defeating its purpose but it helps. Parts Express has a good selection of these and they are surprisingly inexpensive.

**SirGCal** · 11-06-2009, 09:39 AM

Transducers shake the car. They aren't speakers, but basically a powered moving weight design to shake the structure. Personally I hate em but...

Basslinks are also bigger than the Kenwood item. They work well but aren't exactly Jeep friendly simply because you have to have room on both sides for the driver and radiator to function, they're big, etc.

Jerry, if you do the kenwood, consider stuffing it somewhere up front. The closer to you, the better it will sound. If you still have the center console sub, instead consider upgrading it. You'll probably be able to get what you're looking for without using any more room than that. Reinforce the box and upgrade it to a more potent 6.5" or 8" product. Drop in a new amp; etc.

**Jerry Bransford** · 11-06-2009, 09:59 AM

My TJ is too old, it has no factory subwoofer. The only place I can fit a subwoofer is in the space between the passsenger seat and the back of the aluminum box that takes up most of the back.

My amp is mounted on the front driver's side of the big aluminum box shown here, I only have a little room on the passenger side between the box and passenger seat for any sub.

I'm definitely not interested in a transducer, I know about them and what they do.

rubibluejay · 11-06-2009, 10:50 PM

I wouldn't purchase it due to the price tag, but it might work for your application.

ZRS-W8 - 8" 600W Low Profile Active Power Enclosed Subwoofer

Jay

**Jerry Bransford** · 11-07-2009, 08:23 AM

Yeah that is SWEET but I can't really see spending that much for a subwoofer for my particular needs. That one would be ideal however, I think I'll see if I can't find a used one of those. Thanks for that suggestion!

gily25 · 11-09-2009, 10:13 AM

Look around for the BOSS all in one subwoofer they can usually be found cheapest of the all in ones.

**Jerry Bransford** · 11-09-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gily25

Look around for the BOSS all in one subwoofer they can usually be found cheapest of the all in ones.

Thanks, that actually looks really good, if not a little too good to all be true. The specs of the most appropriately sized BOSS subwoofer I found say it puts out 400 RMS watts, I am not ready to swallow that high of a wattage rating for its $99 price.

Click on BOSS BASS600 Car subwoofer - 400 Watt to see its claimed specs.

How can it put out 400 RMS watts and be a ready-to-use 8" subwoofer for that price?

I have a feeling its speaker may be rated to handle 400 RMS watts but I'm having trouble believing its amplifier is actually putting out 400 RMS watts.

**SirGCal** · 11-09-2009, 01:41 PM

Well, while it will work; BOSS is not you're very top of the line brand. Actually it's pretty bargain basement. But that still doesn't mean junk. But I'll bet top $ that if you tested it to actual spec, it would test out around 200W RMS real usable juice without distortion.

The other catch is going to be, is it's resistent enough to prevent pinging, etc. I doubt it but... For that price, it's worth a shot honestly. It fits what you're looking for and it's cheap. Amazon has them for the same price BTW...

**Jerry Bransford** · 11-09-2009, 01:44 PM

Pinging? Audio-wise, that's a new term for me.

But even if it's only 200 RMS watts, that seems enough for my rig. And if I get one, I'll go through Amazon. Thanks SirGCal.

**SirGCal** · 11-09-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

Pinging? Audio-wise, that's a new term for me.

But even if it's only 200 RMS watts, that seems enough for my rig. And if I get one, I'll go through Amazon. Thanks SirGCal.

Uhhh... Think tapping on a plastic or fiberglass trashcan... That sound that it makes. The resonant pinging... Cheap sub boxes do the same thing. IF it does, you can probably fix it with a simple piece of Dynamat or similar type material on the outside or inside of the enclosure. If the item is ported (just a generalization), you might also get a port noise which you can fix by rounding off the edges of the port tubes.

axehead · 11-09-2009, 05:00 PM

Jerry, forgive me for ignoring your request about building a box. but with you having 300 watts rms (75x4) of fill you are going to need at least 300 watts rms in a sub. which brings up SirGCal's in seat box, a local stereo shop built one for me for $200. maybe one in your area could do the same?

i went with 2 jl audio 8" W3's ($350 for the pair), but i could have gone with a single 10" ($110). my sub amp was $180.

do you still have a back seat?