Stock Subwoofer

RXMmazdaspeed · Nov 4, 2003

Has anyone put in a new system or an aftermarket subwoofer? I've gone through two of these kenwoods and not even pushing them hard, not only do they sound like s*** but the casing vibrates like crazy. I was looking at the ma audio 8" which has a max output of 800 watts. I'm trying to put a system together that won't compramise the pretty low weight we already have on the cars. I'm thinking either go with a single sub in a box and get rid of the casing, put a stronger more powerful sub in the casing we already have, or making a custom casing to put in the same location as the stock one(made of fiberglass or something light). Any ideas, comments, help, anything? Thanks

1sty · Nov 4, 2003

Yep, me and the boys in the car audio section have covered this a bunch. Alot of good info to be had on the subject in the car audio section.

Also 800 is a peak power figure and essentualy irrelavent.

Any 8" sub isn't going to make a big difference in volume but realibilty can certainly be better. Be warned the stock sub is a 8 ohm sub to aviod heating up the amp which is ( I AM SO GOING TO BEAT DOWN THE CLOWN AT MAZDA THAT CAME UP WITH THIS) inverted. Another sub can be as low as 4 ohms but will create more heat and since the amp can't vent, it may cook itself.

I would honestly drop the enclosure, do a small single 10" in an MDF box (doesn't way any more) and move the amp to the rear seat back or even under a front seat to keep it extra safe.

Welcome to the site and keep in mind I am usualy around to asnwer any audio related question.

Although it is a MSP, the audio is just standard aftermarket stuff. So if you have an issue with anything, posting in the audio section will help you out immensly. We have several professional installers and even some shop owners on the board. Not to mention many others that have great wisom to share.

RXMmazdaspeed · Nov 4, 2003

sounds good.. is there a big weight difference between a 10 and 12, cause if i drop the casing i might just go with an alpine type r 12 and a good amp.. any ideas on subs also? i'm gonna go check out the audio section now too.. thanks for the help

mp5jeff · Nov 4, 2003

weight difference between a 10 and 12 will depend on the sub, if its the same brand and sub, then it wont be a big difference

chkmgnt58 · Nov 4, 2003

what my guys are doing (Earmark Car Audio, won 4 national awards for install out of Plano, Texas) is to totally take out the sub and amp and the whole casing its in, build a custom box, and fit in a JL 12W6 powered by a JL 500X1, then with a 400X2 powering my new MB Quartz components up front... all i have to say is *drool*.. now if i just had that 3500 sittin around

1sty · Nov 4, 2003

For a great sub that doens't way much I like the JL audio 10 or 12 W0. Often 10's and 12's have the same motor stuctures and basicly the same weight. However the box for a 12 is usualy twice as big and thats where the weight comes in.

Do a single 12" or 10" JL audio in one of JLs boxes and you won't ever notice the extra 10 Ib (literaly 10, if even that much) and it will sound ALOT better then the stock 8".

1sty · Nov 4, 2003

chkmgnt58 said:
what my guys are doing (Earmark Car Audio, won 4 national awards for install out of Plano, Texas) is to totally take out the sub and amp and the whole casing its in, build a custom box, and fit in a JL 12W6 powered by a JL 500X1, then with a 400X2 powering my new MB Quartz components up front... all i have to say is *drool*.. now if i just had that 3500 sittin around

Just some thoughts:

Is that a 12W6AE (older style) or the 12W6v2?
The 500/1 is a sick amp, nice choice.
I am not aware of a 400x2, there is a Jl 300/2?
Take a LONG time listening to the quarts before buying them, especialy comparing them and even listen to them in a car. I find alot of people regret there MB Quart speaker decisions.

RXMmazdaspeed · Nov 4, 2003

how do the JL audio's sound compared to the type r's, my neighbor has a custom box with 2 12" type r's with a beast amp and its one of the best systems i've heard around.. i've honestly never heard the JL's unless it was in a car and i didnt get to see them

505zoom · Nov 4, 2003

JL's rule

chkmgnt58 · Nov 4, 2003

1st MP3 in NH, yeah i meant the 300X2 sorry that was a typo. and its the 12W6v2... god its awesome. now i've heard so much about components, either the Quartz or the Focal or the Boston. each shop i've been to says different. Car Toys (a joke to me) said Focal, Tweeter (gettin respectable) said quartz, and then earmark said to go for Bostons. what do you think? all the same price so i'll buy w/e you say probably

dallas_miamiMP3 · Nov 4, 2003

sorry to butt in but one question is the Mazdaspeed sub better than the stock MP3 sub? Which has more bump

RXMmazdaspeed · Nov 4, 2003

honestly when i first got it i was surprised.. for an 8 inch it sounded pretty good.. but about a month later it stopped working, got it replaced because of warranty, and the one it got replaced with never worked properly.. so now i'm tryin to get somethin together that will hit hard, yet not add the weight.

1sty · Nov 4, 2003

RXMmazdaspeed said:
how do the JL audio's sound compared to the type r's, my neighbor has a custom box with 2 12" type r's with a beast amp and its one of the best systems i've heard around.. i've honestly never heard the JL's unless it was in a car and i didnt get to see them

I would take a single JL audio 12W3 over 2 alpine type Rs any day!!

I am not an alpine fan when it comes to bass. Subs or amps

dallas_miamiMP3 · Nov 4, 2003

really. why did it stop working?

RXMmazdaspeed · Nov 4, 2003

alright well i'll definitely check them out when i start putting this little project together.. how do the prices compare to other subs and what would b a good amp for a single 12" JL.. sorry audio isn't my best area of interest.. thanks

1sty · Nov 4, 2003

chkmgnt58 said:
1st MP3 in NH, yeah i meant the 300X2 sorry that was a typo. and its the 12W6v2... god its awesome. now i've heard so much about components, either the Quartz or the Focal or the Boston. each shop i've been to says different. Car Toys (a joke to me) said Focal, Tweeter (gettin respectable) said quartz, and then earmark said to go for Bostons. what do you think? all the same price so i'll buy w/e you say probably

Actualy I have 2 12W6v2, 2 JL 300/2's a Jl 1000/1 and a sit load of JL XR componetns sitting behind me right now

. Just a matter of inding time to install

Listen to only one thing about speakers, THE SPEAKERS!!!!!
The only opinon that matters with speakers is yours. Personaly the Boston Acoustics Zs have no equal to my ear. The FOcals were VERY disapointing and all but require an EQ and quarts are way to bright and never smooth. They make you tired of listening very quickly. These are just my opinoins though. I work at tweeter so I listen to the Z's alot. I must have them. Other then them the JL audio Vr series is the friggen deal of a life time for speaker that sounds that good. I got 2 sets of those too

RXMmazdaspeed · Nov 4, 2003

dallas_miamiMP3 said:
really. why did it stop working?

i really don't know.. one day i just didnt hear any bass.. went to the dealership and they said it was defective and i went back to get it replaced with another.. the other must have been defective as well as it never hit at all.. it just sounds like complete s***.. and because i'm at college i haven't been able to get it replaced or my car flashed.. hopefully getting it flashed soon tho.. i probably won't bother replacing my sub until i get everything together for my new system.. i have big plans for my winter break with working and everything.. i actually can't wait.

1sty · Nov 4, 2003

dallas_miamiMP3 said:
sorry to butt in but one question is the Mazdaspeed sub better than the stock MP3 sub? Which has more bump

The MP3 sub will be louder, The MSP sub may sound better (tighter) to some people.

1sty · Nov 4, 2003

RXMmazdaspeed said:
i really don't know.. one day i just didnt hear any bass.. went to the dealership and they said it was defective and i went back to get it replaced with another.. the other must have been defective as well as it never hit at all.. it just sounds like complete s***.. and because i'm at college i haven't been able to get it replaced or my car flashed.. hopefully getting it flashed soon tho.. i probably won't bother replacing my sub until i get everything together for my new system.. i have big plans for my winter break with working and everything.. i actually can't wait.

There are a few reasons.
Some are just defective and have bad tinsel leads.
Mazda set the gains way to high on the amps and that mixed with people turing up the bass adjustment ends up killing the sub do to distotion.

Only use the NF level!!!
Never the bass adjustment.

The bass adjustment sends more bass (distortion) to everything, not just the sub. The NF level is a distortion free adjustment that will only increase the subs volume thus sparing the speakers in the car form damage aswell.

RXMmazdaspeed · Nov 4, 2003

what sub comes in the mp3?

Stock Subwoofer

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