Adding under-the-seat car subwoofer

[captrajesh]

I have Pioneer ICU in my Linea and had replaced the stock speakers with Focal component speakers a few years ago which are installed on the front doors.

After I added my Rhythmic subwoofer to the stereo setup, I understood what difference the subwoofer does to the sound.

So thinking of doing the same in the car. My son specialises in finding out good deals and unearthed this: https://www.amazon.in/Zoook-Monster-Underseat-Subwoofer-Amplifier/dp/B082HWMDN6/ref=mp_s_a_1_11_mod_primary_lightning_deal?dchild=1&keywords=car+amplifier&qid=1603162489&refinements=p_n_condition-type:8609960031&rnid=8609959031&s=electronics&sbo=Tc8eqSFhUl4VwMzbE4fw/w==&smid=A14CZOWI0VEHLG&sprefix=car+am&sr=1-11

I'm not convinced if this would make substantial difference. Is anyone using it?

Looking for some user experience.

 

[kapvin]

I have Pioneer ICU in my Linea and had replaced the stock speakers with Focal component speakers a few years ago which are installed on the front doors.

After I added my Rhythmic subwoofer to the stereo setup, I understood what difference the subwoofer does to the sound.

So thinking of doing the same in the car. My son specialises in finding out good deals and unearthed this: https://www.amazon.in/Zoook-Monster-Underseat-Subwoofer-Amplifier/dp/B082HWMDN6/ref=mp_s_a_1_11_mod_primary_lightning_deal?dchild=1&keywords=car+amplifier&qid=1603162489&refinements=p_n_condition-type:8609960031&rnid=8609959031&s=electronics&sbo=Tc8eqSFhUl4VwMzbE4fw/w==&smid=A14CZOWI0VEHLG&sprefix=car+am&sr=1-11

I'm not convinced if this would make substantial difference. Is anyone using it?

Looking for some user experience.

underseat woofers work with constraints which are quite extra-ordinary. it is difficult to make them sound good without good matching amp and filter design.

Dimensionally this unit you shared looks great. but please do confirm a positive experience with someone whose ears you trust. otherwise Alpine, Blau and JBL make underseat woofers whose specs you can trust and sound you can predict.

 

[rksingh1]

I have a Blaupunkt XLF8A underseat sub - while I was skeptical initially - I am happy with these underseat subs. I haven't tried zoom - but looking at the specs and reviews, it looks good.

 

[captrajesh]

.this unit you shared looks great. but please do confirm a positive experience with someone whose ears you trust. otherwise Alpine, Blau and JBL make underseat woofers whose specs you can trust and sound you can predict.

Thanks for the advice @kapvin; wanted to add some low end to the music which is my only company during my one-hour dreary commute but since It's an old car, I wanted something at a modest outlay. Hence my query here which has good number of members whose ears and words are trustworthy I guess.

I have a Blaupunkt XLF8A underseat sub - while I was skeptical initially - I am happy with these underseat subs. I haven't tried zoom - but looking at the specs and reviews, it looks good.

just checked it out. It costs 11.5k! ouch.

 

[kapvin]

Thanks for the advice @kapvin; wanted to add some low end to the music which is my only company during my one-hour dreary commute but since It's an old car, I wanted something at a modest outlay. Hence my query here which has good number of members whose ears and words are trustworthy I guess.


just checked it out. It costs 11.5k! ouch.

Thanks for the advice @kapvin; wanted to add some low end to the music which is my only company during my one-hour dreary commute but since It's an old car, I wanted something at a modest outlay. Hence my query here which has good number of members whose ears and words are trustworthy I guess.


just checked it out. It costs 11.5k! ouch.

Well, might be useful to remember that an underseat woofer is pretty much the easiest thing to transfer when you upgrade your car.

Thanks for the advice @kapvin; wanted to add some low end to the music which is my only company during my one-hour dreary commute but since It's an old car, I wanted something at a modest outlay. Hence my query here which has good number of members whose ears and words are trustworthy I guess.


just checked it out. It costs 11.5k! ouch.

Well, might be useful to remember that an undersea woofer is pretty much the easiest thing to transfer when you upgrade your car.

1 hour commute? You absolutely should have a sub. And don’t think of it as double the price, think of it as *only* 6k more expensive.

 

[sydney]

Install a low profile slim sub woofer. I have one from infinity installed

 

[rksingh1]

It costs 11.5k! ouch

Yeah, when I went to car audio store, I saw infinity or Blaupunkt, he didn't have any cheaper than these that I liked. Between those two, Blaupunkt was 4k cheaper.

Plus the install guy did a good job (very important aspect with car audio install).

I used to drive like more than 1.5hrs everyday and I felt a good sub might be long term good investment. I feel it lived upto the expectations. I did have a problem with preouts though. There are 4 channels from my car, for the 4 door speakers. They all were routed to amp first, now, two go to amp and 2 to sub. Essentially turning my 4 channel amp useless.

 

[shuv]

Not under seat, but JBL has a variant that fits in the spare wheel well.

Also look at the Helix U 8A/10A.

 

[Kannan]

@captrajesh there is an Alpine model which I have heard and is very good, but a little on the higher side, around 20k if I remember right. Will update on model number

Ok...guess your budget is not that high

 

[kapvin]

Not under seat, but JBL has a variant that fits in the spare wheel well.

Also look at the Helix U 8A/10A.

While it’s a challenge to get deep bass, an under seat woofer can be acoustically best as time aligning it is easier. Subs at the rear of the car sometimes give the feeling the bass is arriving after the rest of the music, noticeable even to everyday ears.

I have 2 underseat woofers as oem (Harmon/kardon) in my car and while they are not the last word in extension or clarity the overall sound is quite cohesive

 

[edjamesx]

I have Pioneer ICU in my Linea and had replaced the stock speakers with Focal component speakers a few years ago which are installed on the front doors.

After I added my Rhythmic subwoofer to the stereo setup, I understood what difference the subwoofer does to the sound.

So thinking of doing the same in the car. My son specialises in finding out good deals and unearthed this: https://www.amazon.in/Zoook-Monster-Underseat-Subwoofer-Amplifier/dp/B082HWMDN6/ref=mp_s_a_1_11_mod_primary_lightning_deal?dchild=1&keywords=car+amplifier&qid=1603162489&refinements=p_n_condition-type:8609960031&rnid=8609959031&s=electronics&sbo=Tc8eqSFhUl4VwMzbE4fw/w==&smid=A14CZOWI0VEHLG&sprefix=car+am&sr=1-11

I'm not convinced if this would make substantial difference. Is anyone using it?

Looking for some user experience.

Whats the Type of CAR you own

If it's sedan or any bigger car 12" sub in the Boot will be best to have. Would recommend under seat subs only for small cars like I10/ or maruti celerio. Also Under seat subs are expensive and they are not cost effective. With that cost you can get 12" sub and good AMP , which would be better any day. Under seat subs can be considered only if there's space issue.

One more alternative option .If you are ready to put a 6" to 8" inch holes in your car doors , you can install two subs in each door ,but it should be carefully installed with wood rings to reduce vibrations and more damping in the doors needed. This will also sound nice...

 

[Dr.Lakshay]

It depends on your use case scenario. If bootspace is essential and you want just a little bass and that too not low bass then an underseat should serve you fine. But an underseat sub will never come close to a normal sub and an amp. If boot space is essential opt for slim profile sub and amp combo for your boot. Else go with full blown 12incher that will make you very happy if you love bass.
If you want to keep the budget low, I will advice you to get a used sub and buy one of those Chinese v12 amps. They are great for budget installs. I still run mine even after almost 10years!

 

[kapvin]

It depends on your use case scenario. If bootspace is essential and you want just a little bass and that too not low bass then an underseat should serve you fine. But an underseat sub will never come close to a normal sub and an amp. If boot space is essential opt for slim profile sub and amp combo for your boot. Else go with full blown 12incher that will make you very happy if you love bass.
If you want to keep the budget low, I will advice you to get a used sub and buy one of those Chinese v12 amps. They are great for budget installs. I still run mine even after almost 10years!

Hi,

I have respectfully disagree that size is a quality determinant. Or even an bass extension determinant. After all this is Hifi vision not one of the auto forums. So I am assuming a question here requires a more Hifi answer than in other forums.

Large sub+ improperly set up enclosure—>ringing one note bass, plus time alignment issues plus boot space Consumption. Also today most of the big box brands seem to be selling india version of subs and they are typically high Qts drivers which will give ringing bass in any box except infinite baffle. (bad idea unless you want a boom box — then good idea)

@captrajesh I would humbly submit your initial idea was fine. Get a known brand; they would have worked out the maths and physics of the driver+amp+enclosure+placement (underseat). So you just have to set up the crossover according to your door speakers. Of course a quality 12” in a well set up box will give you great sound. But such a sub alone will cost min 8k+ then add enclosure and amp and wiring cost (rca and battery cable) I cannot imagine less than 20k. And then a big box in your boot.

All the best!

 

[Deleted member 15865]

Was imagining some model names for under-the-seat car sub:

‘Base Bass’
‘Seat Beat’
‘Thunder Under’
‘Lo Belo’

Sorry Captain, couldn’t add much beyond some cheer to your search.

 

[Dr.Lakshay]

Hi,

I have respectfully disagree that size is a quality determinant. Or even an bass extension determinant. After all this is Hifi vision not one of the auto forums. So I am assuming a question here requires a more Hifi answer than in other forums.

Large sub+ improperly set up enclosure—>ringing one note bass, plus time alignment issues plus boot space Consumption. Also today most of the big box brands seem to be selling india version of subs and they are typically high Qts drivers which will give ringing bass in any box except infinite baffle. (bad idea unless you want a boom box — then good idea)

@captrajesh I would humbly submit your initial idea was fine. Get a known brand; they would have worked out the maths and physics of the driver+amp+enclosure+placement (underseat). So you just have to set up the crossover according to your door speakers. Of course a quality 12” in a well set up box will give you great sound. But such a sub alone will cost min 8k+ then add enclosure and amp and wiring cost (rca and battery cable) I cannot imagine less than 20k. And then a big box in your boot.

All the best!

Each to his own! You can't compare an improperly tuned sub to an optimized underseat sub! That's just unfair.
Each approach has its own merits and demerits. That's why my first line was that it depends on the use case scenario of the op. Since he's coming from the addition of a rhythmik sub (pretty high end IMO) in a stereo setup, I feel he must have high expectations from an underseat sub which it will not fulfill. Best would be to audition. And since I have auditioned both, I can say I'm not a fan of underseat subs, unless you want to offload your stereo speakers (so that they can play more freely) and get a some boost in bass as an added benefit.

 

[captrajesh]

Replying to so many posts requires a laptop/ PC so the delay in updating. Being a bargain hunter that I am, placed my order for the Zoook FWIW. If it doesn't satisfy me, I can always shift it to my daughter's (small) car which I'll be buying when her regular classes start. At least, I'll get a fair idea of what an under seat sub can do.

1 hour commute?

I used to drive like more than 1.5hrs everyday

Actually, it's 40-45 minutes in the morning and 1:15-1:30 hours while returning.

Not under seat, but JBL has a variant that fits in the spare wheel well.

Also look at the Helix U 8A/10A.

@captrajesh there is an Alpine model which I have heard and is very good, but a little on the higher side, around 20k if I remember right. Will update on model number

Ok...guess your budget is not that high

Not the question of budget @Kannan. Difficult to justify to wifey on spending so much on an old car. But yeah, will come back for suggestions if Zoook doesn't cut ice.

Subs at the rear of the car sometimes give the feeling the bass is arriving after the rest of the music, noticeable even to everyday ears.

Absolutely true if the installer doesn't know what he's doing.

Whats the Type of CAR you own

It's Fiat Linea. I had mentioned it in post#1.

If you are ready to put a 6" to 8" inch holes in your car doors , you can install two subs in each door ,but it should be carefully installed with wood rings to reduce vibrations and more damping in the doors needed. This will also sound nice...

That's how the Focals are installed on the front doors. So no space there I guess.

It depends on your use case scenario. If boot space is essential and you want just a little bass and that too not low bass then an under seat should serve you fine.

You nailed it doc. Just want some extension in the lows.

@captrajesh I would humbly submit your initial idea was fine. Get a known brand; they would have worked out the maths and physics of the driver+amp+enclosure+placement (underseat).

Thanks Kapil. I checked out their website before biting the bullet. It's a professional looking site of a French company. So I'm taking a blind leap of faith.

If you want to keep the budget low, I will advice you to get a used sub and buy one of those Chinese v12 amps. They are great for budget installs. I still run mine even after almost 10years!

Sorry doc but I'm a strong proponent of no China policy. Hope this thread doesn't digress from here on.

 

[captrajesh]

placed my order for the Zoook FWIW.

Zoook has arrived. Despite good packing, the courier buggers managed to dent the grill.

 

[rksingh1]

Its got RJ11 connector for remote control?

 

[lifewater]

Zoook has arrived. Despite good packing, the courier buggers managed to dent the grill.

Hi Capt. congratulations, do let us know how it sounds..

 

[kapvin]

Zoook has arrived. Despite good packing, the courier buggers managed to dent the grill.

please play a low frequency tone at high volume to see that the dented grille does not touch the cone at high excursion. that's the only worry. otherwise its going under the seat, right?

hope you enjoy your commute a whole lot more with this.

my own experience is what whenever I had music on in a traffic filled commute, I would reach home later than without music. but because I took the long route home, I simply drove slower and more "passively" But I did arrive in a much much better mood.