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How to hook up a subwoofer?

Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 8:43 am
by NViejeP
I know this can be done very easily. But I'm just double checking.

I just got my amp installed with my speakers, and with glasswolf's help, I leanred how to turn off the HPF and now theres actually bass and boy does it sound amazing.

However, I do not have enouhg money to get a sub just yet, however when I do, the shop said they can do it for me for a small charge to install.

Just to save as much money as I can, how do I go about installing my subwoofer? I just drive the sub into the box right? May need to borrow my friend's power tools. I'm getting an RE SE 12 which is dual 4 ohm and I watn to wire to 2 ohm. How do I go about doing that? I attach the plugs from the sub onto the terminal cup on the box?

Also once I have the sub and box fully set up, how do I connect the sub to the amp? They left me a kind of small cable, one is a square one is a circle, which one is x? I basically seperate them, strip them, and then plug them into the terminal cup right? Do I use those things with the rubber protector attached to a little metal U?

Sorry for such an easy queston, but I just want to make sure I do it right.

And while we're talking about subs.. check out this box I mgiht get for an RE SE.. do you think it'll be fine?

http://www.audio-n-more.com/Merchant2/m ... ENC12type1

My local shop said they can custom make me a sealed box for like $80-$85..

Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 8:51 am
by solacedagony
For 71$ PLUS shipping, I woud definately get the box made by the shop, because it'll be stronger than that one, and might even be priced less.
If you're feeling particularly creative, you could build your own. Sealed boxes are very easy to build, and would probably be cheaper, material-wise, as long as you had the equipment to do the job.

Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 9:00 am
by NViejeP
I dont have the equipment to do the job, I dont know how to do the job, and I dont think I want to experiment because In the end I will probably screw it up. Haha

Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 10:10 am
by ridr4lif
Wiring up a sub is cake. You just need to wire your sub down to 2 ohms. This site is a good one for wiring diagrams:
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/rftech/wiringwizard.asp

Then you just need to plug positive into positive, and negative into negative.

Its very easy.

Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 8:49 pm
by NViejeP
Okay I'm confident I can do the sub.

But what do you guys think about this box:
http://www.audio-n-more.com/Merchant2/m ... ENC12type1

OR SHOULD I get it custom done by the local shop for like $80.

OR SHOULD go get it custom done for $90 from this shop?
http://www.klausaudio.com/caraudio/subw ... oductid=17

Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 10:28 pm
by solacedagony
Experimenting, learning, and having fun are what it's all about. Plus you have the pride of knowing you built/installed what's in your car. Obviously, it's a little hard if you don't have the tools at your disposal. I would check out the work quality of the shop and possibly ask them to build a box for you. I would try to avoid buying a box on the internet for the simple reason of shipping expenses (MDF is heavy!).

Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 4:45 am
by smoker
if your unsure about your ability to do it right....then have a shop do it. it sounds like you are learning and understanding the electrical side of things is more important at this point than learning woodworking