What do I need to install a subwoofer?

Question

I would like to buy a subwoofer for my car what do i need? I have a 50W sony cd player 2 front door panle speakers and 2 6x9 rear 200w speakers. nothing else. What do I need and how do I install it? any ideas

Answer 1

The answer to this question is really long.
So I will try to summarize this the best I can.

1. SUBWOOFER(S)
- always look at the RMS wattage, which is the real wattage.
- these need to be wired to achieve the correct ohm load you want from the amp.
- here is how to use the voice coils and ohm loads......
http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/S-iKpi2AFn5S0/learningcenter/car/subwoofers_wiring.html
2. SUBWOOFER ENCLOSURE (BOX)
- for best results you should go with the recommended size for your subwoofers.
- there are three types of boxes: sealed, ported, bandpass....you might want to research them to know which one you want.
3. AMPLIFIER(S)
- always look at the RMS wattage, which is the real wattage.
- you need to know the total RMS of your sub(s), and find out how many ohms you will need to have in order to get that rating from your amp.
- different amps will have different ratings.
- 1 channel amps (mono) are specifically made for subwoofers. even if you have 10 subwoofers, you still get a 1 channel amp.
4. POWER CABLE
- depending on how high your wattage is and how long the wire will be, you will need a certain gauge (thickness).
- here’s a link for how to know this........
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/x_from_mex/WireGuage.jpg
- you will need a power cable long enough to reach from the cars battery to the amplifier.
- if you have a capacitor(cap), than the wire will go from the battery to the cap, than from the cap to the amp.
- you will also need a fuse located no more than 18" of wire away from the battery. the fuse should equal the total of all the fuses located on your amplifier.
5. GROUND CABLE
- you will only need one for the amplifier.
- it should be no longer than 18" from the amp to the chassis(frame of the car).
- if you are getting a cap, than the ground cable should be no more than 18" from the cap to the chassis, and have another ground cable long enough to reach from the cap to the amp
6. OTHER WIRES
- you will need the speaker wire to wire them subs how you decide and then to the amp.
- you will need RCA cables going from the head unit(car radio) to the amp
- you will need a remote turn on wire going from the head unit to the amp. this wire will make your amp turn on/off along with your head unit.
- if your amp has a dB knob(amp volume)... you will run that from the amp to wherever you wish to install the dB knob.
7. CAPACITOR
- this is not completely necessary. but too long to explain what it is exactly.
- this should be placed as close to the amp as possible.
- you should research this to see if you want to add it to your audio
8. CAR BATTERY
- chances are that you will need to buy a new car battery.
- the most used and recommended car battery are optima yellow top batteries. these can be expensive, so look on the internet for these.
9. ALTERNATER
- this is not necessary to upgrade immediately.
- but you might want to research to see if you will need to upgrade eventually

You should research all of these things first to make a good decision about what to get. Ask a million questions until you completely understand.

Answer 2

u will need the subwoofer, depending on the wattage of the woofer you would need a amp with enough power to push the sub, u need a amp kit (ground wire, power wire, remote wire, rca cables, speaker wire, fuse and fuse housing). You would probably be better off getting a in the subwoofer kit. Comes with amp, woofer, and amp kit. You can get those at, walmart, target, circuit city, best buy, and Fry's electronic(www.outpost.com).

If u got to www.crutchfield.com, they have a step by step video on how to install a amp and woofer.

Answer 3

An amp, a sub, an amp wiring kit oh and fuese if the amp doesn' have them already, and possibly a new rear windscreen if the sub is to powerful and the gains are set to full. And possibly some ear plugs or really hard seats for passengers so they can get a back massage while in your car! lol

Answer 4

You will need an RCA cable from your deck to the new amp you but a amp wiring kit a box and the sub. When you go to buy this stuff let me know i will get you a price. Thanks

Answer 5

short and sweet, heres what you need.

a subwoofer
a amp that is the same rms as the subwoofer
a box for the subwoofer
a amp install kit
someone that knows what there doing when they install it for you

Answer 6

at least you need to have sub woofer output or brand new amplifier to operate sub woofer.