Ha the last sub one is the exact same model as mine. It's quite big and takes up quite a bit of space in the boot (will take a pic if interested). I paid £30 I think and that included a 2 channel Blaupunkt 400w amp (which I use in bridged mode to power the sub) and an RCA interconnect. The amp looks like it is screwed to the back of the sub. Most recommend against this as supposedly it can lead to the amp failing due to vibrations, and I think the usual method is to screw to back of the seat. Probably doesn't matter to be honest. With how much I ended up spending on cables for power etc in the end I'd say that about £50 is a reasonable price, and seems it has a decent amp too. Amp new seems to be about £100.

The enclosure of the Sony one, not sure if it appears to be homemade. The JBL one is definitely a factory made box and feels quite solid.

Only other consideration is sealed vs. vented/ported enclosure, the JBL is ported.

Ha the last sub one is the exact same model as mine. It's quite big and takes up quite a bit of space in the boot (will take a pic if interested). I paid £30 I think and that included a 2 channel Blaupunkt 400w amp (which I use in bridged mode to power the sub) and an RCA interconnect. The amp looks like it is screwed to the back of the sub. Most recommend against this as supposedly it can lead to the amp failing due to vibrations, and I think the usual method is to screw to back of the seat. Probably doesn't matter to be honest. With how much I ended up spending on cables for power etc in the end I'd say that about £50 is a reasonable price, and seems it has a decent amp too. Amp new seems to be about £100.

The enclosure of the Sony one, not sure if it appears to be homemade. The JBL one is definitely a factory made box and feels quite solid.

Only other consideration is sealed vs. vented/ported enclosure, the JBL is ported.

Couldn't I just unscrew the amp from the sub and stick it elsewhere? Would love to see a photo of your set up to try and appreciate how much space it'll take up. Is your JBL better than the listing you found on ebay?

Couldn't I just unscrew the amp from the sub and stick it elsewhere?

Only potential pitfall I can think is if very long screws had been used - guess the answer is to just put the screws back in. Will try take a pic tomorrow or maybe even one of those pointless youtube vids of the system playing a toon . Here's some pics of another install in a Fabia http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/195613-fabia-refurb-underway/page__view__findpost__p__2463288

The one I linked to can't really tell. Even the lister is unsure if it's a 10" or 12", there's no specs for the amp, and the picture gives little away. Might be a bargain though if it sells close to the starting bid.

Looking forward to your youtube video :p It will be a huge compromise with bootspace...suppose I could just take the subwoofer out on days when I need the extra space. Or get a roofbox.

How much will all the wires set me back? About £20?

And thoughts on these:

Vibe Slick with 4channel Kewood Amp

Bolt subs and sony amp

Edge sw with built in amp

double edges with built in amp

Edited 29 September, 201114 yr by fsa

Been struggling a few days to get the USB hard drive working on my head unit. Finally figured out I've exceeded the 1500 folder limit by putting too much music on so need to be more selective.

Cables will need power cable, ground cable, rca cable, cable for remote wire (sometimes these are integrated into an rca cable), and speaker cable.

Power cable http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WELDING-CABLE-230-AMP-25MM-RED-PER-METRE-NO-35MM-200-/190296525338?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c4e8e8a1a about 5 meters £19.95

Ground cable http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WELDING-CABLE-230-AMP-25MM-BLACK-PER-METRE-NO-35MM-200-/190444143196?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c575b025c 1 meter £3.99

both 25mm cross-section, equivalent to slightly more than 4AWG, and would allow for future upgrades.

RCA cable http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Vehicle-Parts-Accessories-/131090/i.html?_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A2%257C39%253A1%257C72%253A5251&rt=nc&_nkw=rca+5m&_catref=1&_sac=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_sop=15&_sc=1 £5 upwards

Speaker cable http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390076976161?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 should be acceptable £5.25

Remote cable, need about 5m of any type of cable, 5amp cable would be fine.

Then you need a fuse holder and fuse, easiest to work with is an AGU type as pictured in Techie's post. Can be had for a couple of quid on ebay.

When I was working it all out I got to this point with the calculator then dashed off to Halfords to get this http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_723215_langId_-1_categoryId_165626 only down sides of the kit are the power cable appears to be Copper Clad Aluminium (CCA) as opposed to pure copper (which I'd hope the ebay one above is) and the included speaker cable is quite thin and not really useful for a subwoofer.

This kit another option http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Autoleads-PC4-60CCA-4-AWG-750w-Max-Amplifier-Wiring-Kit-/180695801170?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item2a124f1d52

Is that little black case the battery powered tyre pump? And that bag's one of those velcro backed ones from tesco, right? Great minds thinking alike and all that!

£50 for a full sw, amp, wires set sounds reasonable then.

About the upgraded rear loudspeakers from Blaupunkt...the wiring instructions are only for those without OEM rear speakers, right? Or do I have to run new wires down to the front? Just received my set and was thinking if it isn't a direct swap, then I'll await fitting till I get hold of a sw.

You guess correct

If you have rear speakers already (mine didn't) the wiring will be there, just need to adapt existing wiring (plugs on the end won't fit the new speakers). Think this is outlined in the guide post. If not wiring will take same run as much of subwoofer wiring, and need to get behind stereo for both, so best done same time.

Looks like I'll have to get hold of some 3-way crimps before I carry on.

With regards to the sw wiring...I read in one of your earlier posts you removed the passenger front seat to run the RCA. Is there not any 'anti-interference wire wrap' I could put around the power cable to reduce interference and run them both together under the inner sill panel?

I think most if not all RCA cables are already shielded. Some also have some sort of magnet things on the ends to prevent interference. The guide link I posted to Talkaudio says that if you keep the cables 5cm apart you should be fine. You'd probably achieve 5cm separation if you cable tied the power cable to where the other power cables run, and just pushed the RCA cable under the side of the carpet as far as possible.

Video below. Pioneer P7900UB. Standard front speakers. Blaupunkt rear speakers. JBL 1260BR anniversary edition subwoofer powered by Blaupunkt GTA2 special edition mk II amp. Doesn't sound too brilliant on this which I guess is a limitation of the camera used to record, but guess it gives an idea of the effect a subwoofer adds.

Just picked this up.

Looks bloody awesome! Upgraded the HU to this one as I was desperate for some sort of bluetooth handsfree capability. Hooking up a Parrot kit seemed too longwinded....and this HU has extra RCA inputs for additional front and rear speakers....if I ever felt that way inclined.

I still haven't got round to installing all of my audio bits. I have installed a Parrot Asteroid head unit which runs Android so I have a 320GB hard drive in the glove box along with a line in cable and an iPod connector. I also have a USB extension comign out under the heater controls for charging phone/flash drives etc... I have a Genesis Profile Four amp mounted in the glove box which I still need to wire up (it will be done this coming weekend!!!) and some Pioneer components and sound deadening for the front doors. If I want a sub it's going to have to be an underseat job, I'm not going to lose any boot space for one. I'll post up some pics of the install when i'm done if anyone is interested.

Why not do a stealth sub install in the spare wheel well where the toolbox goes, and put the tools somewhere else? Surely not impossible to do...

Why not do a stealth sub install in the spare wheel well where the toolbox goes, and put the tools somewhere else? Surely not impossible to do...

That's an interesting idea. I'm going to see what it sounds like without, the other issue i've always had with subs in the boot is that with a parcel shelf in at lower volumes I barely notice it's there, unless you whack the bass up, and then it's too aggressive when you pump the volume. That's why I was thinking about doing an under seat install with something like a stealth sub. I'm not one for thumping bass, just something to fill in the lower frequencies if needed.

Just wondering where the remote cable you mentioned in your itinerary goes.....

The set I picked up has a fused power cable, shorter earth cable, RCA cable and speaker wires. Seller said that is everything it came with when they removed the sw from their newly-acquired car. Everything seems self explanatory, but just wondering if anything is missing before I hook it all up over the weekend.

Seems the manual for the amp is here http://www.alpine-electronics.co.uk/products/details/v-power-amplifiers/mrp-m352.html

A remote cable connects with the blue cable from the back of the headunit. It is also often used for aerial amplifiers and remote antennas.

Any old cable should do the job really. http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_200645_categoryId_255229_langId_-1?cm_sp=Intelligent_Offer-_-Product_Details_Zone_1-_-Blank&iozone=PDPz1 would be ok. Some RCA's have a remote cable integrated.

For an earth there's a factory earth location provided behind the carpet in the boot passenger side, uses a 10mm nut. An 8mm ring terminal would fit.

Seems the manual for the amp is here http://www.alpine-electronics.co.uk/products/details/v-power-amplifiers/mrp-m352.html

A remote cable connects with the blue cable from the back of the headunit. It is also often used for aerial amplifiers and remote antennas.

Any old cable should do the job really. http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_200645_categoryId_255229_langId_-1?cm_sp=Intelligent_Offer-_-Product_Details_Zone_1-_-Blank&iozone=PDPz1 would be ok. Some RCA's have a remote cable integrated.

For an earth there's a factory earth location provided behind the carpet in the boot passenger side, uses a 10mm nut. An 8mm ring terminal would fit.

Any way of finding out if the included RCA has remote integrated...or just wire it up and see?

I'm gonna detach the amp from sw housing and screw it on the back of the seat like you did...more accessible that way.

Thanks!

Also....there is a blue powered antenna cable behind the HU...how do I know if this only comes on when the radio is on? Or is it better to piggyback an ignition-on accessory fuse? (apart from good old trial and error...)

Standard spade connectors for SW-amp connection will do...or the gold ones?

Edited 11 October, 201114 yr by fsa

If an RCA has a remote cable it's just an extra wire running along it, the same way the two cables are joined together. Blue wire on stereo only comes on when the stereo itself is turned on. There should be a light on the amp which will indicate when it is on.

Gold connectors can be had quite cheap on ebay. They're in different sizes for different wire gauges.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Amplifier-amp-wiring-fork-terminals-2-red-2-black-8-AWG-/160543859326?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item256128e27e

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Amplifier-amp-wiring-ring-terminals-2-red-2-black-8-AWG-/160543883703?pt=UK_In_Car_Technology&hash=item25612941b7

Thank you for all your help. Took 2 hours to get it up and running. I had trouble removing the panel by the front lower seatbelt attachment so the wires are exposed at that point....everywhere else went fine. What did you use to cut the hole in the grommets for the wire to go through? I have yet to secure the amp onto the back of the seat....but one thing is for sure...sounds bloody amazing!

Still playing around with all the HU settings to optimise the 'thumping'....i've gotta read up a bit more on all this i guess.

Think I just used a screwdriver to puncture the grommets, and went at it some more if I couldn't get the wire through

Are the grommets there to stop water getting in where it shouldn't? Or to stop the cables chafing against the metal edge?

Also, if you don't mind.....do you keep your HU EQ on a preset mode or you've tinkered with it some more? And the black strap you've tied your sw down with....is it one of those luggage holding straps?

Picked up the luggage straps as a pack of two from tesco.

Ended up flattening the EQ out a bit more since the vid thought the high end was probably a bit loud.

I got a bit lost when it came to the reverse/normal phase setting on the SW. I believe the best setting is the one that sounds the loudest. Something to do with having the speakers move in the same direction so they don't cancel each other out. So if you have the wires hooked up correctly and the speaker pointing to the boot, the correct setting is reverse.

Wouldn't worry if there's a bit of a gap in the grommets. I think in the one nearest the glovebox I put a grommet inside the grommet as I had one spare. If waters going to get through I imagine it will be like a swimming pool in there

Ended up flattening the EQ out a bit more since the vid thought the high end was probably a bit loud.

I got a bit lost when it came to the reverse/normal phase setting on the SW. I believe the best setting is the one that sounds the loudest. Something to do with having the speakers move in the same direction so they don't cancel each other out. So if you have the wires hooked up correctly and the speaker pointing to the boot, the correct setting is reverse.

Wouldn't worry if there's a bit of a gap in the grommets. I think in the one nearest the glovebox I put a grommet inside the grommet as I had one spare. If waters going to get through I imagine it will be like a swimming pool in there

Would it give better sound by turning the sw around so it points towards the rear seats and remove the parcel shelf then....even though that runs the risk of advertising to pikeys...?

Ok, so its more important to seal up the inner smaller grommet by the glovebox than the larger outer one.

The HU EQ adjuster has all these graphs to adjust bass, mid and treble....a bit too high tech for a novice like me, so ive left it on the preset 'Dynamic' setting.....top notes don't get flushed out by the bass as much there.

No idea. Just turned mine around as although it looks cool to see the speaker when the boot is open I'm loathed to put any shopping in front of it. Seems louder without adjusting any settings other than the phase to normal. In terms of sound quality doesn't sound much different, possibly slightly better.

Very close to disconnecting front tweeters now....suddenly got very shrilly. I'm guessing the OEM fronts don't have built-in tweeters like the blaupunkts?