Thinking of installing a powered sub. Easy?

[stillageek]

I am thinking about installing a self powered sub. I am not an audiophile and just want enough bass to fill in where the factory speakers fail. Car audio is still new to me. I installed a Pioneer Avic D3, Bluetooth and XM radio by myself.

I am reading up on installing a powered sub and see that I need to tap the battery directly along with a fuse. How easy is it to fish a power cable through the firewall? Are there any plugged up holes that are easy to use?

 

[dima_rus]

yes, there are plugged up holes in the firewall and it is pretty easy to get the power wire through it, but getting it all the way to the trunk is a pain in the ass. It is not difficult, just time cosuming.
Good luck with your project.

 

[mde8965]

So did you decide to go ahead and do it or not? I have an Infinity Basslink II and I think it is really great. It really fills in the major weaknesses of the stock system. Anyway, the easiest place to go through the firewall is the passenger side, behind the glove box. What I did is opened the hood and there is a very large wire loom going through the firewall on the passenger side. I started from the front to the pack. I shoved my 4 gauge wire from the engine compartment in through that loom and picked it up inside and ran it back to the back.

The rest goes just like some of the information in this forum suggests...

Good luck.

 

[Henika]

So did you decide to go ahead and do it or not? I have an Infinity Basslink II and I think it is really great. It really fills in the major weaknesses of the stock system. Anyway, the easiest place to go through the firewall is the passenger side, behind the glove box. What I did is opened the hood and there is a very large wire loom going through the firewall on the passenger side. I started from the front to the pack. I shoved my 4 gauge wire from the engine compartment in through that loom and picked it up inside and ran it back to the back.

The rest goes just like some of the information in this forum suggests...

Good luck.

I'm also thinking of putting a basslink in my mz5. Can I ask where you mounted it, and do you have some pics?

 

[stillageek]

I am awaiting the UPS man. I decided on the Kenwood KSC-SW10 5-Inch x 7-Inch 150W Max Powered Subwoofer with Remote Control. I wanted something small and easy to conceal. I had Bazooka bass tubes installed in two previous cars (Toyota Matrix and a Saturn SC2) that performed okay for the price...but were bulky. I got a really good price on the Kenwood from Amazon ($120 after a 25% American Express Wish List Discount...also picked up a Mac 500 GB Time Capsule for $216!). I liked the Infinity Basslink...but it was too large for what I want. I am planning on installing the Kenwood under one of the front seats. Will post pics when done sometime later this week.

 

[stillageek]

Installation done. Getting the power cable from the cabin to the battery was a little problematic. I am still very new to car stereo. I am a computer geek and pilot first. That being said I ended up running it up the driver side pillar and found a channel that runs behind where the driver side rear view mirror sits. The cable slid through fine and then I attached it to the battery. I wanted to install the sub under the front seats...but it was too high. I then wanted to install it between the second row seats...but it was too wide. Boo. I have had my 3rd row folded since new so I just installed it on the back of the 3rd row between the 2nd row Captains chairs. I am happy overall. It's not a "thumpin" loud subwoofer, it just fills in where the factory speakers fall off.

I can't think of anything else I want to install in my 5. To date I have done the following:

Pioneer Avic D3 touchscreen Navigation system

Pioneer Bluetooth System (integrated with the Avic D3)

Pioneer XM Radio (integrated with the Avic D3)

Boyo Nightvision Backup camera (displayed on the Avic D3)

Kenwood KSC-Sw10 Sub woofer - mounted in the hatch area

Shark fin Antenna color matched to my car (replaced the factory traditional antenna)

Mazda Auto Dimming rear view mirror with compass (not car stereo…but the install was kinda tricky)

Superwhite LED's for map lights, 2nd row overhead light and license plate lights

Shark fin antenna

Yellow Gels over fog lights

All weather Mats

Rear Bumper Cover

Rear Cargo Cover

Rear Cargo Mat

Tinted Windows

All that for a car I drive 500 miles a month.......

 

[mde8965]

I'm also thinking of putting a basslink in my mz5. Can I ask where you mounted it, and do you have some pics?

Sorry, no pics right now. But I mounted it behind the third row seat angled toward the driver side corner. Instead of hard mounting it to the floor, I used bungie cords around the base of the unit to the cargo net hook in the corner. I have dogs and carry things often and all I have to do is unhook the bungies to remove it. When I wired it I used butt connectors so the wiring also unplugs easily. 60 seconds and it is out. Not much more than that to put it back in.